Take that lamp - go
to the wall yonder, and in that corner, near the floor, you will
see a small iron ring. Pull it - it does not require much force
- and you will find an opening leading through another vault; at
the end there is a broken flight of stairs, mount them, and you
will find yourself in the same place from which you fell. Fly,
fly! There is not a second to lose!"
"How can I fly? how can I leave you dying here?"
"I am not dying!" she wildly cried, lifting both hands from the
wound to push him away, while the blood flowed over the floor.
"But we will both die if you stay. Go-go-go!"
The footsteps had paused st his door. The bolts were beginning
to be withdrawn. He lifted the lamp, flew across his prison,
found the ring, and took a pull at it with desperate strength.
Part of what appeared to be the solid wall drew out, disclosing
an aperture through which he could just squeeze sideways. Quick
as thought he was through, forgetting the lamp in his haste. The
portion of the wall slid noiselessly back, just as the prison
door was thrown open, and the dwarfs voice was heard, socially
inviting him, like Mrs.
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