Five On A Secret Trail Part 11

'Can we cut it open?' asked George.

'No. I don't think so. It's made of really strong leather. We would need a special knife to cut through it - an ordinary pen-knife wouldn't be any use,' said Julian. 'I think we'll just have to a.s.sume that we've got the goods, and hope for the best. If they're not in here, it's just bad luck. Someone else has got them, if so.'

They all looked at the tantalizing bag.

Now they would have to wait for ages before they found out whether their efforts had been successful or not!

'Well - what do we do now?' said George, feeling suddenly flat. 'Go back all through that long tunnel once more? I'll be glad to be in the open air again, won't you?'

'Rather!' said Julian. 'Well - I suppose we'd better get down through that hole again.'

'Wait!' said Anne, her sharp eyes catching sight of something. 'Look - what does all this mean?'

She shone her torch on to various signs on the wall.

Again there were arrows drawn in white chalk - but, very oddly, a line of them ran downwards across the wall of the little rocky room, right to the edge of the hole - and another line of arrows pointing the other way, ran horizontally across the wall!

'Well - do you suppose that's just meant to muddle people?' said d.i.c.k, puzzled. 'We know jolly well that the way out of this room is down that hole, because that's the way we came into it.'

'Perhaps the other line of arrows means that there's a second way out,' suggested George. They all looked round the little rocky room. There didn't seem any way out at all.

'Where's Timmy?' said Anne, suddenly, flas.h.i.+ng her torch round. 'He's not here! Has he fallen down the hole? I never heard him yelp!'

At once there was a great to-do. 'Timmy, Timmy, Timmy! TIMMY! Where are you?'

George whistled shrilly, and the noise echoed round and round the little room. Then, from somewhere, there was a bark. How relieved everyone was.

'Where is he? Where did that bark come from?' said d.i.c.k. 'It didn't sound as if it came from below, down that hole!'

There came another welcome bark, and the sound of Timmy's feet. Then to everyone's amazement, he appeared in the little rocky room as if by magic - appearing straight out of the wall, it seemed!

'Timmy! Where were you? Where have you come from!' cried George, and ran to see. She came to a standstill and exclaimed loudly.

'Oh! What idiots we are! Why, just behind this big jutting-out piece of rock, there's another pa.s.sage!'

So there was! A very, very narrow one, it is true - and completely hidden from the children because of tlie enormous slab of rock that jutted out from the wall and hid it! They stood and stared at it, s.h.i.+ning their torches on the narrow way. The arrows ran round the wall to it.

'We never even looked properly!' said d.i.c.k. 'Still - it's a pa.s.sage that would be extremely dificult to spot - hidden round the corner of that rock - and very narrow at that. Well, I do know one thing for certain about that man called Paul!'

'What?' asked Anne.

'He's thin - thin as a rake!' said d.i.c.k. 'No one but a skinny fellow could squeeze through this opening! I doubt if you can, Julian - you're the biggest of us.'

'Well, what about trying'?' said George. 'What does everyone say? This might be an easier, shorter way out - or it might be a harder, longer one.'

'It won't be longer,' said Harry. 'By my reckoning we must be pretty well near the Camp now. It's likely that the way leads straight there - though where it comes out I can't imagine. Guy and I have explored the Camp pretty thoroughly.'

d.i.c.k suddenly thought of something he hid noticed at the Camp - the big hole behind the slab of stone, where he had seen the baby rabbit a day or two before! What had Guy said about that? He had said there was a great hole underground, which had been explored - but that it was probably just an ancient storage place for food or for loot! He turned eagerly to Harry.

'Harry - would this lead to that enormous hole underground - the one that Guy once told me had been explored, but was of no interest - probably just an old store-place'?'

'Let me see,' said Harry. 'Yes - yes, it might lead to that. Most of these underground ways are throughways - ways that lead from one place to another. They don't as a rule stop suddenly, but have usually been of use as secret escape-routes or something of that kind. I think you may be right, d.i.c.k - we're fairly near the Camp, I'm sure, and we may quite well find that if we go on, instead of going back, we shall come into the Camp itself - probably through that great hole!'

'Then come on,' said Julian. 'It will certainly be a shorter way!'

They tried to squeeze through the narrow opening that led out of the little rocky room. d.i.c.k got through all right, and so did the others - but poor Julian found it very very dificult and almost gave up.

'You shouldn't eat so much,' said d.i.c.k, unkindly. 'Go on - one more try, Ju - I'll haul on your arm at the same time!'

Julian got through, groaning. 'I'm squashed flat!' he said. 'Now, if anyone makes any more jokes about too much breakfast, I'll pull his nose!'

The pa.s.sage grew wider immediately, and everyone was thankful. It ran fairly straight, and then went steeply downwards, so that the five slithered about, and Timmy found himself suddenly running. Then it came to a stop - a complete stop! This time it was not a blank wall of rock that faced them - it was something else.

'A roof-fall!' groaned d.i.c.k. 'Look at that! Now we're done!'

It certainly looked most formidable. Earth, rocks and stones had fallen from the roof and blocked up the whole pa.s.sage-way. There was no use in going on - they would just have to turn and go back!

'Blow it!' said d.i.c.k, and kicked at the ma.s.s of earth. 'Well - there's no use staying here - we'd better turn back. My torch isn't too good now, and neither is yours, George. We don't want to lose any time - if our torches give out, we shall find things very difficult.'

They turned to go back, feeling very despondent. 'Come on, Timmy!' said George. But Timmy didn't come. He stood beside the roof-fall, looking very puzzled, his ears c.o.c.ked and his head on one side. Then he suddenly gave a sharp bark.

It made everyone jump almost out of their skins, for the sound echoed round and about in a very queer way.

'Don't, Timmy!' said George, almost angrily. 'Whatever's the matter? Come along!'

But Timmy didn't come. He began to paw at the pile of earth and rocks in front of him, and barked without stopping. Wuff-wuff-wuff-wuff-wuff-WUFF!

'What's up?' said Julian, startled. 'Timmy, what on earth's the matter?'

Timmy took absolutely no notice, but went on feverishly sc.r.a.ping at the roof-fall, sending earth and stones flying all over the others.

'There's something he wants to get at - something behind this roof-fall,' said d.i.c.k. 'Or perhaps somebody - make him stop barking, George, and we'll listen ourselves and see if we can hear anything.'

George silenced Timmy with difficulty, and made him stand quiet and still. Then they all listened intently - and a sound came at once to their ears.

'Yap-yap-wuff-wuff-wuff!'

'It's Jet!' yelled Harry, making everyone jump violently again. 'Jet! Then Guy must be with him. He never leaves Guy! What's Guy doing here? He may be hurt. GUY! GUY! Jet!'

Timmy began to bark wildly again and to sc.r.a.pe more furiously than ever. Julian shouted to the others above the barking.

'If we can hear Jet barking, this roof-fall can't be very big. We'd better try and get through it. Two of us can work in turn with Timmy. We can't all work at once, the pa.s.sage is too narrow.'

Then began some very hard work - but it didn't last as long as Julian feared, because, quite suddenly, the ma.s.s of rubble and rock s.h.i.+fted as they worked, and a gap appeared at the top of the heap, between it and the roof.

d.i.c.k began to scramble up, but Julian called to him at once. 'Be careful, a.s.s! The roof can't be too good here - it may come down again, and you'll be buried. Go carefully!'

But before d.i.c.k could go any further, a little figure appeared on the top of the rubble above their heads, and slid down to them yapping loudly, and waving a long wiry tail!

'Jet! Oh, Jet! Where's Guy?' cried Harry, as the little dog leapt into his arms and licked his face lavishly, barking joyfully in between the licks.

'GUY!' yelled Julian. 'Are you there?'

A weak voice came back. 'Yes! Who's that?' An absolute volley of voices anwered him.

'It's us! And Harry! We're coming to you, we shan't be long!'

And it wasn't long, either, before the roof-fall was slowly and carefully climbed by each one - though Timmy, of course, scrambled up, over and down at top speed!

On the other side of the roof-fall was a pa.s.sage, of course, the continuation of the one the children had come along. Guy was there, sitting down, looking very pale. Jet flung himself on him and licked him as if he hadn't seen him for a month, instead of just a minute or two before!

'Hallo!' said Guy, in a small voice. 'I'm all right. It's just my ankle, that's all. I'm jolly glad to...'

But before he could say a word more, Harry was beside him, his arms round him, his voice choking.

'Guy! Oh, Guy! I've been a beast, I wouldn't be friends! What happened to you? Are you really all right? Oh Guy, we are friends again, aren't we?'

'Look out Harry, old son,' said Julian gently. 'He's fainted. Now just let's be sensible and everything will come all right. Flap your hanky at him, d.i.c.k, and give him a little air. It's only the excitement!'

In half a minute Guy opened his eyes and smiled weakly. 'Sorry!' he said. 'I'm all right now. I only hope this isn't a dream, and that you really are here!'

'You bet we are!' said d.i.c.k. 'Have a bit of chocolate, then you'll know we're real!'

'Good idea!' said Julian. 'We'll all have some - and I've some biscuits in my pocket too. We'll eat and talk - and we'll make plans at the same time. Catch, Guy - here's a biscuit!'

Chapter Eighteen

THE WAY OUT

Guy soon told his story. It was much as the others had imagined.

'I was fast asleep this morning, with Jet curled up to me,' he said. 'He began to bark and I wondered why, so I got up to see - and I saw four people in the camp.'

'The four we know!' said d.i.c.k, and Julian nodded. 'Go on, Guy.'

'They were looking all over the place,' said Guy, 'prising up rocks, messing about - so I yelled at them. But they only laughed. Then one of the men, who was trying to prise up a slab - the slab that covers that great hole underground, Harry - you remember it? - well, this man gave a yell and said 'I've got it! This is the way in - down here, behind this slab!'

Guy stopped, looking very angry. Jet licked him comfortably. 'Well,' he went on, 'I set Jet on them, and they kicked him cruelly - so I went for them.'

'You're a plucky one, aren't you!' said d.i.c.k, admiringly. 'Did you knock them all out, by any chance?'

'No. Of course not,' said Guy. 'One of the men pretty well knocked me out though. He hit me on the head and I went down, dazed. I heard him say "drat this kid - he'll be fetching help, and we shan't be able to get down and hunt for the goods." And then another man said "We'll take him with us then," and they got hold of me and dragged me through the opening.'

'But how did they get down into that great hole?' said Harry in wonder. 'There is such a steep drop into it. You need a rope.'

'Oh, they had a rope all right,' said Guy, munching his biscuit and chocolate and looking decidedly better. 'One of the men had one tied round and round his waist. They knotted it fast round a rock - that big one we can't move, Harry - and then they swung down on it. All except the woman. She said she'd stay at the top and keep watch. She hid behind a bush some way off.'

'I never saw her when I came along!' said Harry. 'I never thought of looking there! What about you? Did you get down too?'

'Yes. I screamed and shouted and kicked and howled, but it wasn't a bit of good. They made me swing down the rope - and I fell off half-way down and hurt my ankle. I howled at the top of my voice for help, and they hurried me along with them, shaking me like a rat.'

'The beasts!' said Harry, fervently. 'Oh, the beasts!'

'I heard one of them say that there should be a tunnel out of the hole somewhere, it was marked on Paul's plan - whatever that may be - and then I think I must have fainted - the pain of my ankle, you know. And when I came to myself again, we were all here, the three men and I - beside this roof-fall - though I really don't know how we got here. They must have dragged me along with them!'

'And that's all, is it?' asked Julian.

'Not quite. They were furious when they saw the roof-fall, but as soon as they began to scrabble in it a rock rolled down and hit one of the men quite a crack - and after that they were afraid to do anything. They stood and talked for a bit - and then they decided to go and get some tools, and come down again to see if they could remove all this stuff and get through it.'

'Good gracious!' said Julian, startled. 'Then they may be back at any moment?'

'I suppose so. They left me here because they couldn't think of anything else to do with me! They knew I couldn't walk, because of my ankle. I think it's broken. So of course, I couldn't possibly find my way out myself! And here I've been waiting for those brutes to come back, and to hack through the rubble to go after whatever it is they want!'

Everyone began to feel rather uncomfortable at the thought that three violent men might be appearing at any moment. 'Is it very far to the opening you came down?' asked Julian. But Guy didn't know. He had fainted, as he had said, and he didn't even know what way they had come.

'It can't be far,' said Harry. 'I think it would be worth while trying to find the opening, see if the men have left the ropes there, and get out that way. If Guy's ankle really is broken, he couldn't possibly manage to go back the long way we've come.'

'No. That's true,' said Julian, thoughtfully. 'Well, that's what we'll do then. But we'll go jolly cautiously, without a sound, because it might be just our luck to meet those fellows on their way back here!'

'Shall we start?' said George. 'What about Guy?'

Julian knelt down beside the boy, and gently examined his ankle. 'I've done my First Aid Training, like everybody else!' he said. 'And I ought to know if his ankle is broken or just sprained.'

He examined the swollen ankle carefully. 'It's not broken. I believe I could bandage it tightly with a couple of large hankies. Give me yours, d.i.c.k.'

The others watched admiringly as Julian deftly and confidently bandaged Guy's swollen ankle. 'There!' he said. 'You can perhaps hobble on it now, Guy. It may hurt, but I don't think it will damage it. Try. You'll have to go barefoot because your ankle is too swollen for your shoe to go on.'

Very gingerly Guy stood up, helped by Harry. He tried his hurt foot, and it certainly seemed all right to hobble on, though it was very painful. He grinned round at the others' anxious faces.

'It's fine!' he said. 'Come on, let's go! We don't want to b.u.mp into those fellows if we can help it. Thank goodness we've got Jet and Timmy.'

They set off down the pa.s.sage, flas.h.i.+ng their torches in front as usual, to show them the way. The tunnel was quite wide and high here, and in a very short time came out into an enormous pit underground.

'Ah - this is the hole I saw down behind the slab where the rabbit went,' said d.i.c.k. 'We weren't very far from the camp, as we thought. I'm surprised that when this pit was explored, the underground pa.s.sages were not discovered, Guy!'

'I expect the men exploring it came to the roof-fall and thought there was nothing beyond,' said Guy. 'Or maybe they were afraid of going further in case of further falls. They can be very dangerous, you know. Many a man has been buried under one and never heard of again.'