"There is water," he said, and began to lift off the stones, one by
one.
Toto helped him quickly. There were only three or four, and they were
not heavy. When the mouth of the shaft was uncovered all three knelt
down and listened, instinctively lowering their lanterns into the
blackness below. The shaft was not wider than a good-sized old-
fashioned chimney, like those in Roman palaces, up and down which
sweeps can just manage to climb.
The three men listened, and distinctly heard the steady falling of a
small stream of water upon the stones at the bottom.
"It is raining," Toto said confidently, but he was evidently as much
surprised by the sound as the others. "There must be some
communication with the gutters in the courtyard," he added.
"There is probably a thunderstorm," answered Malipieri. "We can hear
nothing down here."
"If I had gone down again, I should have been drowned," Toto said,
shaking his head. "Do you hear? Half the water from the courtyard must
be running down there!"
The sound of the falling stream increased to a hollow roar.
"Do you think the water can rise in the shaft?" asked Malipieri.
"Not unless the river rises and backs into it," replied Toto. "The
drain is large below."
"That cannot be 'lost water,' can it?"
"No. That is impossible.
Pages:
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187