In another breath his voice hissed through the gloom in a sharp, startled command: "Good God, Nat, come here!" Something in the strange fierceness of Neil's words startled Nathaniel, like the thrilling twinges of an electric shock.

He darted across the cell and found Marion's brother with his shoulder against the door.
"It's open!" he whispered.

"The door--is--open!" The hinges creaked under his weight.

A current of air struck them in the face.

Another instant and they stood in the corridor, listening, crushing back the breath in their lungs, not daring to speak.