Lets sit down here for a minute, said Jack. They sat down on the old boxes and barrels. Ill tell you what happened, said Jack. I tiptoed through the scullery to the door that leads into the tower from there - and slipped up the winding staircase to the top - but the top door was locked. And there was somebody crying behind it!
Crying! said Nora, in surprise. Is there a prisoner in the tower, then?
Must be, said Jack. And it sounds like a boy or a girl, too! Isnt it mysterious?
Perhaps theyre not smuggling silks and things, then, but have got a prisoner, said Peggy seriously. Perhaps it was the prisoner they brought in last night by that motor-boat and took through
the secret passage to the tower.
I think youre right, Peggy, said Jack. Now well have to find out somehow who it is!
Well, I should think the prisoner will look out of the tower window sometime! said Nora. We could borrow Dimmys field-glasses and keep a watch, couldnt we? Then we should see what sort of a prisoner it is.
Good idea, Nora, said Mike. We could easily take it in turns to keep watch for that.
I feel jolly hungry. said Peggy. Isnt it about time we had our dinner? All this exploring has taken ages. Whats the time, Jack?
Jack looked at his watch. Its getting late, he said. Well go back to the beach and eat our dinner there. Come on! We dont want to eat in this dark, dismal room!
They went back to the secret passage. It was easier going down it than up. Bending their heads down every now and again the children made their way down it, stumbling over the rough, rocky path underfoot. Noras torch had no more light showing in it, so she walked close behind Jack, trying to see by the light of his.
At last they came to the cave that was over the shore cave. The rope hung down through the hole that led to the steps down the cave-wall. Jack got hold of it. He began to climb down - but he hadnt gone far before he gave a shout of dismay.
I say! What do you thinks happened?
What? cried everyone anxiously.
Why, the tides come in whilst weve been exploring, and the shore cave is full of water! shouted Jack. Its almost up to the roof of the cave. We cant possibly get down this way.
He climbed back into the cave above. The children looked at each other gloomily by the light of their torches.
What idiots we are! said Mike. We never thought about the tide. If we had thought wed have known it was coming in and that wed be nicely caught by it. It wont be out of this cave for ages.
What are we going to do? said Nora. Im so hungry. Cant we eat our dinner now?
Its damp and cold here, said Jack, with a shiver. We shall all get chills if we sit in this cave. Wed better go back to that underground room. At least its dry there. We can light our candles and eat our food by their light. Our torches wont last much longer if we use them such a lot.
So back they toiled up the secret passage till they came to the underground room. And there, where many a time the smugglers had sat and feasted and smoked, the four children undid their kit-bags and took out all the delicious things that Dimmy had put in for them.
Veal and ham pies had never tasted quite so good! And as for the ginger cake, the children could have done with twice as much! They finished up every scrap of everything, hard-boiled eggs and all, and then drank the sweet lemonade.
Thats better, said Jack, grinning round at the others by the light of four shining candles. I was hungry.
Mike looked at his watch. Its four oclock, he said. I dont suppose that cave will be clear till at least half-past five - and even then the beach is washed by huge waves that might sweep us off our feet. What a bore!
Im simply longing to have a look at the tower of the Old House from the window of our tower, said Nora. I do want to see who the prisoner is. Wouldnt it be lovely if we could rescue him!
Jack, couldnt we escape through the grounds straightaway now? said Peggy. If we went up into the cellars again, and into the scullery, and down the tradesmens entrance to the back gate we could easily get home in ten minutes - instead of waiting for hours for the tide to go out of the cave!
Well, well have to be jolly careful, said Jack, who also didnt want to wait for hours for the tide. Ill go first as usual and see that alls clear.
They all went up the eighteen steps into the cellar. Jack slipped up the steps to the scullery. No one was there. He could hear voices in the kitchen, but he guessed that the maids there were having their tea.
Everything was quiet. Jack gave a low whistle and the others came up the steps quietly. They tiptoed to the back door, where a row of empty milk-bottles stood, waiting for the milkman.
And then they saw something that filled them with dismay! Two big Airedale dogs were roaming about the garden!
Look! whispered Jack. Theyll never let us pass. Id forgotten that theyd got dogs to guard the place.
Nora looked as if she were going to cry. First it was the tide that stopped them - and now it was two dogs.