His heart gave a sudden bursting leap into his throat when he felt something give.

Another effort--and in the powder-choked vault there rang out a thrilling cry of triumph.

His hands were free! He reached forward to the fuse, and this time a moaning, wordless sob fell from him, faint, terrifying, with all the horror that might fill a human soul in its inarticulate note.

He could not reach the fuse because of the thong about his neck! He felt for his knife.

He had left it in his room.