CHAPTER XXIII
"IS IT A RESCUE?"
"Can you see anything, Tom? Any lever or anything by which we can raise the stone gate?"
It was Ned who spoke, and he addressed his chum, who was closely examining the pedestal of the fallen golden statue.
"Bless my soul!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "we've got to find some way out of here soon—or"
He did not finish the sentence, but they all knew what he meant.
"Oh good landy!" cried Eradicate. "What's gwine t' become ob us?"
"Don't you see anything, Tom?" repeated Ned.
"Not a thing. Not a sign of a lever or handle by which the stone might be raised. But wait. I'm going to get on top of the pedestal."
He managed to scramble up by stepping on and clinging to various ornamental projections, and soon gained the flat place where the big golden statue had rested. But he saw at a glance that it was as smooth as a billiard table.
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