And they talked. How they talked! They were so thrilled with the nights adventure that it was dawn before they thought of really going to bed.
You see, what happened was they signalled to the boat to come in with the smuggled goods, whatever they were, said Jack, for the twentieth time, and Mr. Diaz and his friend slipped down from the Old House to the shore by the secret passage that leads to that cave - and then they took the goods up that way back to the Old House. So we never saw them.
When can we explore the cave for that secret passage, Jack? said Peggy longingly.
To-morrow! said Jack, hugging his knees, as he sat in Mikes bed.
To-day you mean! said Mike, with a laugh, and he pointed to where the eastern sky was beginning to shine with a silvery light. Its to-day now. Come on, we really must go to sleep for a bit!
The girls went down to their room. The boys settled into their beds and were asleep in a few seconds. It seemed as if they had only been in bed for a few minutes when Dimmy awakened them at half-past seven.
Are you never going to wake to-day? she said in amazement. Did you keep awake half the night, you naughty children?
Perhaps we did, Dimmy, perhaps we did! said Jack, with a laugh - and not another word would he say to explain why they were all such sleepyheads that morning!
The Secret Passage!
I dont understand whats the matter with you all to-day. she said, as she passed them their cocoa. First you yawn, then you giggle, then you rub your hands together in glee, then you yawn again. Are you planning any mischief?
Oh no, Dimmy, said everyone together.
Well, see you dont, said Dimmy.
Dimmy, would you give us a picnic lunch, please? said Jack. Wed like to be out till tea.
Very well, said Dimmy. You shall have some little veal and ham pies that I made yesterday, some ginger cake, and some ripe plums and lemonade. Will that do? Oh, and you can have some hard-boiled eggs, too, if you like.
Lovely! said everybody. Nora got up and hugged Dimmy. Youre a dear! she said. Its lovely staying with you!
Dimmy prepared their lunch whilst the children
collected electric torches, and also candles and matches in case their torches failed. They talked excitedly. It was lovely to be going to find a secret passage.
Dimmy gave them the lunch done up in two kit-bags. Jack put one on his back and Mike put the other on his. They called good-bye and ran off down the garden path to the cliff. Down the steep rocky steps they went, on to the beach.
The sea had been right up to the cliff and had washed away the footsteps of the night before. But the children knew which cave the men had come from and they made their way there, first looking to see that nobody else was on the beach too.
They came to the cave. The entrance was large and open. The cave ran back a good way, and was very dark and damp. Seaweed grew from the walls, and at the foot the red and green sea anemones grew, like lumps of jelly, waiting for the tide to sweep into the cave again so that they might open like flowers.
The children switched on their torches. They swung them here and there, all around the cave, looking for the passage that led from the cave.
At first they could find nothing at all. Its nothing but walls, walls, walls, said Mike, flashing his torch round the damp rock that made the sides of the cave. And at the back it just ends in rock too. Oh dear - I wonder if after all there isnt a passage!
Look here! shouted Jack suddenly. Whats this? He held his torch fairly high up one wall. The children crowded round eagerly. They saw rough steps hewn in the rock - and they could see that the seaweed that grew around had been bruised and torn.
See that seaweed? said Jack excitedly. Well, somebody has trodden on that! Thats the way - up there! Come on, everybody!
With their torches flashing the children tried to climb up the steep rocky steps in the cave-wall. They were slippery, and it was very difficult.
Suddenly Peggy caught sight of something that looked like a black worm hanging down the wall, and she shone her torch on it.
Heres a rope! she said. Look! Look! It must be to pull ourselves up by!
The others stared at the rope. Mike caught hold of it.
It hung down from a black hole at the top of the rocky wall, and as he pulled it, it held firm.
Yes, thats what it is! said Mike. Its fastened to something overhead, and is meant to help anyone using this cave. Ill go up first with the ropes help, and you others can follow.
It was easy to get up the slippery, rocky steps with the rope to help them. Mike swung himself through the dark opening at the top of the sloping wall. He shone his torch around.
He was in another cave, but much smaller. A few boxes and barrels lay around empty and half broken.
Mike called down excitedly. This has been used by smugglers in the olden days! There are still the old boxes here that must have brought the brandy and silks and things that the smugglers hid. Come along, you others!
One by one they scrambled up. Jack kicked the boxes. They were all empty. Unpacked by smugglers years and years ago! said Jack. He shone his torch round the cave. Where do we go from here? he wondered. Ah, look - is that a door or something over there?