The stone did not
give the fraction of the breadth of a hair.
"We'll have to go back and get some of your
big tunnel blasting powder, Tom," suggested Ned.
As he spoke old Goosal glided forward. He
had remained behind them in the passage while
they were trying to move the rock. Now he
said something in Spanish.
"What does he mean?" asked Ned.
"He asks that he be allowed to try," translated
Professor Bumper. "Sometimes, he says, there
is a secret way of opening stone doors in these
underground caves. Let him try."
Goosal seemed to be running his fingers lightly
over the outer edge of the door. He was muttering
to himself in his Indian tongue.
Suddenly he uttered an exclamation, and, as
he did so, there was a noise from the door itself.
It was a grinding, scraping sound, a rumble as
though rocks were being rolled one against the
other.
Then the astonished eyes of the adventurers
saw the great stone door revolve on its axis
and swing to one side, leaving a passage open
through which they could pass. Goosal had
discovered the hidden mechanism.
What lay before them?
CHAPTER XXV
THE IDOL OF GOLD
"Forward! cried Tom Swift.
"Where?" asked Mr Damon, hanging back for
an instant. "Bless my compass, Tom! do you
know where you're going?"
"I haven't the least idea, but it must lead to
something, or the ancients who made this
revolving stone door wouldn't have taken such care
to block the passage."
"Ask Goosal if he knows anything about it,"
suggested Mr.
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