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opening which seemed to lead through solid stone。 And at the far end of
the opening Tom Swift saw a glimmer of light
Stooping down； he looked through the hole thus strangely opened and
what he saw caused him to cry out in wonder。
〃It's the tunnel！〃 he cried。 〃I can look right clown into the tunnel。 It's
the incandescent lights I see。 I can look right at the ledge of rock where I
kept watch that day； and where I sawwhere I saw the face of
Waddington！〃 he cried。 〃It wasn't a dream after all。 This is a shaft
connecting with the tunnel。 We didn't discover it because this rock fits
right in the opening in the roof。 It must have been there all the while； and
some blast brought it to light。 Is this how the men got out； or were taken
out of the tunnel； Masni？〃 Tom asked。
〃This how；〃 said the Indian woman。 〃See； here rope！〃
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She pawed aside a mound of earth； and disclosed a rope buried there； a
rope knotted at intervals。 This； let down through the hole in the roof of the
tunnel； provided a means of escape； and in such a manner that the
disappearance of the men was most mysterious。
〃I see how it is！〃 cried Tom。 〃Some one interested； Waddington
probably； who knew about this old secret shaft going down into the earth；
used it as soon as our blasting was opened that far。 They got the men out
this way； and hid them in the secret valley。〃
〃But what for？〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃To cripple us！ To cause the strike by making our other workers afraid
of some evil spirit！ The men were taken away secretly； and； doubtless；
have been kept in idleness ever sincepaid to stay away so the mystery
would be all the deeper。 Our rivals finding they couldn't stop us in any
other way have taken our laborers away from us。〃
〃Bless my meal ticket！ It does look like that！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃Of course that's the secret！〃 cried Tom。 〃Blakeson & Grinder； or some
of their toolsprobably the bearded man or Waddingtonfound out about
this shaft which led down into our tunnel。 They induced the first ten men
to quit； and when Tim went to get the fuse the rope was let down； and the
men climbed up here； one after the other。 Those Indians can climb like
cats。 Once the ten were out the shaft was closed with the rock； and the ten
men taken off to the valley to be secreted there。
〃The same was done with the next fifteen； and； I suppose； if the strike
hadn't come； more of our workers would have been induced to leave in
this way。 They're probably being better paid than when earning their
wages； and their relatives must know where they are； and also be given a
bonus to keep still。 No wonder they didn't make a fuss。
〃And no wonder we couldn't find any opening in the tunnel roof。 This
rock must fit in as smoothly as a secret drawer in the kind of old desk
where missing wills are found in stories。〃
〃You say you saw Waddington； or the bearded man？〃 asked Mr。
Damon。
〃At the time；〃 replied Tom； 〃I thought it was a dream。 Now I know it
wasn't。 He must have opened the shaft just as I awakened from a doze。 He
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saw me and closed it again。 He may have been getting ready then to take
off more of our men； so as to scare the others。 Well； we've found out the
trick。〃
〃And what are you going to do next？〃 asked Mr。 Dam~n。
〃Get those missing men back。 That will break the hoodoo； and the
others will come back to work。 Then we'll get on the trail of Wadding ton；
or Blakeson & Grinder； and put a stop to this business。 We know their
secret now。〃
〃You mean to get the men out of the secret valley； Tom？〃
〃Yes。 There must be some other way into it than down the rock where
we were。 How about it； Masni？〃 and he inquired as to the valley。 The
Indian woman gave Tom to understand that there was another entrance。
〃Well； close up this shaft now before some one sees us at itthe
bearded man； for example；〃 Tom suggested。 He took another look down
into the tunnel； which was now deserted on account of the strike； and then
Masni pressed on the mechanism that worked the stone。 She showed Tom
how to do it。
〃Just a counter…balanced rock operating on the same principle as does
a window；〃 Tom explained； after a brief examination。 〃Probably some of
the old Indian tribes made this shaft for ceremonial purposes。 They never
dreamed we would drive a tunnel along at the bottom of it。 The shaft
probably opened into a cave； and one of our blasts made it part of the
tunnel。 Well； this is part of the secret； anyhow。 Much obliged to you；
Masni！〃
The Indian woman had indeed revealed valuable information。 They
covered the secret rock with brush； as it had been； hid the rope and came
away。 But Tom knew how to find the place again。
Events moved rapidly from then on。 The Titus brothers were more than
astonished when Tom told them what he had learned。 Masni had told him
how to get into the secret valley by a round about； but easy trail； and
thither Tom； the contractors； Mr。 Damon and some of the white tunnel
workers went the next day。
The sequestered men； taken completely by surprise； tried to bolt when
they saw that they were discovered； and then； shamefacedly enough；
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admitted their part in the trick。
They would not； however； reveal who had helped them escape from
the tunnel。 Threats and promises of rewards were alike unavailing； but
Tom and his employers knew well enough who it was。 The tunnel workers
seemed rather tired of living in comparative luxury and idleness； and
agreed to come back to their labors。
They packed up their few belongings； mostly cooking pots and pans；
and marched out of the valley to the village at Rimac。
And so the strike was broken。
The reappearance of the missing men； in better health and spirits than
when they went away； acted like magic。 The other men； who had missed
their wages； crowded back int