Tales of Terror and Mystery
The New Catacomb
"Ithinkthattheplacewhereweturnoffissomewherehere.Yes,thisisit,roundthecornerofthetrattoria.Now,itisaverynarrowpath,soperhapsIhadbettergoinfrontandyoucanfollow."
Hehadlithislantern,andbyitslighttheywereenabledtofollowanarrowanddevioustrackwhichwoundacrossthemarshesoftheCampagna.ThegreatAqueductofoldRomelaylikeamonstrouscaterpillaracrossthemoonlitlandscape,andtheirroadledthemunderoneofitshugearches,andpastthecircleofcrumblingbrickswhichmarkstheoldarena.AtlastBurgerstoppedatasolitarywoodencow-house,andhedrewakeyfromhispocket."Surelyyourcatacombisnotinsideahouse!"criedKennedy.
"Theentrancetoitis.Thatisjustthesafeguardwhichwehaveagainstanyoneelsediscoveringit."
"Doestheproprietorknowofit?"
"Nothe.Hehadfoundoneortwoobjectswhichmademealmostcertainthathishousewasbuiltontheentrancetosuchaplace.SoIrenteditfromhim,anddidmyexcavationsformyself.Comein,andshutthedoorbehindyou."
Itwasalong,emptybuilding,withthemangersofthecowsalongonewall.Burgerputhislanterndownontheground,andshadeditslightinalldirectionssaveonebydrapinghisovercoatroundit.
"Itmightexciteremarkifanyonesawalightinthislonelyplace,"saidhe."Justhelpmetomovethisboarding."
Theflooringwaslooseinthecorner,andplankbyplankthetwosavantsraiseditandleaneditagainstthewall.Belowtherewasasquareapertureandastairofoldstonestepswhichledawaydownintothebowelsoftheearth.
