When he had gone，Patsy said：
"Of course there is some easy way to get inside the wall，and to get out again.Are we so stupid that none of us can penetrate the secret of the cunning Spaniard who built this place？"The challenge merely led them to regard one another with perplexed looks.
"The fact that they're alive，after all these hours，"saidyoung Hahn，"is proof that they are supplied with air，and plenty of it.Then there is an opening，somewhere or other.""Also，"added Arthur，reflectively，"they are now opposite the second story rooms，when they must have entered the hollow wall at the first floor—perhaps from the nursery.That proves there is a stairway，or at least a ladder，inside."At this moment a maid entered to say that Mrs.Weldon had awakened and was calling hystericallya for her baby.The doctor and Patsy at once hurried to Louise's bedside，wherethe girl said：
"Don't worry，dear.Little Jane has been found and is now in this very house.So try to be quiet and go to sleep again.""Bring her to me；bring my darling at once！"beggedLouise.But the doctor now interfered.
"I don't wish to disturb baby at present，"he said positively."I think the child is sleeping.You have been quite ill，Mrs.Weldon，and I must insist on your remaining quiet.Here；drink this，if you please."Louise，reassured，drank the potion and presently sankinto another doze.Dr.Knox remained beside her for a time but Patsy hurried back to the blue room，eager to assist in the rescue of the prisoners.
"I'm afraid we're a stupid lot，"Uncle John was sayingas she entered；"or else the Spanish don was remarkably clever.We know the wall is hollow，and we know there's an opening，yet we can't solve the riddle."But here came Miguel and two strong men laden with steel bars，cold chisels and picks.For a time it was a quandarya where to attack the wall，but Arthur ？nally chose the place just back of the bed and bade the men begin their work.
The adobe proved harder than the hardest brick.Old Miguel knew that it must be broken away bit by bit，for he was not unacquainted with the material，yet even under his skillful direction the work progressed with aggravatingb slowness.
Daylight gradually crept into the room and rendered lampsunnecessary.The morning discovered a very disheveleda，heavy—eyed group，not a single member of which was willing to retire from the fascinating scene of rescue.
Patsy went away to arouse Sing Fing and the servants，some of whom she found had remained awake all night.In half an hour steaming hot coffee was brought to the blue room and gratefully consumed by the weary watchers.Breakfast of a substantial character would soon be ready and it was agreed that part of them should eat at one time while the others remained to watch and to call them promptly if anything new developed.
Arthur，too nervous to stand idly by，insisted onattacking the wall in another place and Runyon assisted him，the latter's strength and muscle winning the admiration of all observers.He worked fiercely for a time，driving in the bar with stalwart blows and chipping off huge pieces of adobe.Then，dripping with perspiration，he retired in favor of Arthur and rested by taking a seat in the window，where the cool morning air could fan him.
Patsy noticed Runyon in this position，his back againstthe redwood planks and his legs stretched out on the window—seat；but the work on the wall drew her attention，as it did that of everyone else.
Suddenly there was a crash and a loud report—followed bya shrill cry—and as every eye turned to the window they foundthat Runyon's great body had absolutely disappeared.A rush was made to the window，but he did not seem to have fallen out.There was no sign of him at all.As if by magic，he was gone.
While they stood amazed and half frightened by the marvel of the thing，Patsy recovered suf？ciently to say：
"Quick—let us get below！He must be under those rose vines，perhaps crushed and badly hurt."So they made for the door and ？ocked downstairs and out into the garden.The vines seemed undisturbed.When the men pushed them aside there was no evidence of the big rancher to be seen.In fact，they were all convinced that Runyon had not fallen out of the window.
Slowly they returned to the blue room，where the majorexclaimed，with positive emphasis：
"This room is haunted.Don't talk to me ！There's no other explanation.If we don't watch out，we'll all disappear—and that'll be the end of us ！"