She made her way cautiously to the door. She felt for the iron ring, turned it and opened the door. It was very, very dark, and she could see nothing at all in front of her. She put out her foot carefully. Was she at the top of the spiral staircase?

She found that she was. She held out her hands on either side, touching the stone walls of the curious little stairway, and went slowly down, step by step.

“Oh dear — am I going the right way? The stairs seem to be going on so long!” thought Jo. “I don’t like it — but I MUST go on!”

Chapter Eighteen

Jo has an adventure on her own

Jo came to the end of the spiral stairway at last. She found herself on the level once more, and remembered the little straight passage that led to the secret room from the stairway. Good, good, good! Now she would soon be in the room and could lie down on the bench.

She went through the doorway of the secret room without knowing it, because it was so dark. She groped her way along, and suddenly felt the edge of the bench.

“Here at last,” she said thankfully, out loud.

And then poor Jo got a dreadful shock! A pair of strong arms went round her and held her fast! She screamed and struggled, her heart beating in wild alarm. Who was it? Oh, if only she had a light!

And then a torch was switched on, and held to her face. “Oho! You must be Jo, I suppose,” said Pottersham’s voice. “I wondered who you were when one of those kids yelled out for you! I thought you must be wandering somewhere about. I guessed you’d come this way, and I sat on the bench and waited for you.”

“Let me go,” said Jo fiercely and struggled like a wild cat. The man only held her all the more tightly. He was very strong.

Jo suddenly put down her face and bit his hand. He gave a shout and loosened his hold. Jo was almost free when he caught her again, and shook her like a rat. “You little wild cat! Don’t you do that again!”

Jo did it again, even more fiercely, and the man dropped her on to the ground, nursing his hand. Jo made for the entrance of the room, but again the man was too quick and she found herself held again.

“I’ll tie you up,” said the man, furiously. “I’ll rope you so that you won’t be able to move! And I’ll leave you here in the dark till I come back again.”

He took a rope from round his waist and proceeded to tie Jo up so thoroughly that she could hardly move. Her hands were behind her back, her legs were tied at knees and ankles. She rolled about the floor, calling the man all the names she knew.