So the two girls and Dimmy began to pack up all kinds of food. There was a joint of meat, two dozen tarts, a tin of cakes of all kinds, a tin of biscuits, some tins of soup and fruit, potatoes and peas from the garden, and a basket of ripe plums. Cocoa was put into the box of food, and tins of milk. Nora remembered the sugar, and Peggy thought of the salt. It was really exciting packing everything up.
George carried the big box down to the boat and stowed it there. Jack followed with two baskets. Dimmy hurriedly stuffed a box of black currant lozenges into one basket, in case any of them caught cold that night.
I think thats everything, said Dimmy. You must wear your coats to-night, for the weather is a bit colder. Good gracious me, what an adventure this is! I never thought Id have such a time at my age!
Dimmy dear, I wish you were coming with us to our lovely secret island, said Peggy. Youd love it so. Youll be lonely without us here, wont you?
Yes, said Dimmy. But perhaps youll soon be back again. Anyway, it will be nice to have Mike safe. I dont like to think of him up there in that tower all the time.
The night came quickly, for they had all been busy. It was arranged that George and Jack should go to rescue the two boys about half-past eleven. George had already been to the next village and had rung up his brother at Longrigg to tell him to have a car ready for the children. In fact, George was really marvellous.
Now its time to go, said George, looking at the enormous watch he kept in his waistcoat pocket. Miss Dimity, you will go down to my boat with the girls, wont you, in a few minutes. Jack and I will bring the boys back here by the secret passage and slip down to the boat too. Then we can set off.
Good luck, George! said Nora. Good luck, Jack!
Dimmy and the girls went to the tower-room with them and watched them climb up the chimney. They heard them groping round the narrow way behind the chimney to the iron ladder. Then there was silence.
Wed better get Mikes coat and an extra coat for Prince Paul, said Dimmy. Then well make our way to the beach and sit in the boat till the others come. Ill just give you both a drink of hot milk first, for I can see you are shivering!
Its with excitement, not with cold, said Nora. But she was glad of the hot milk all the same.
I do wonder how George and Jack are getting on, said Peggy. I wonder if theyve reached the Old House tower yet.
George and Jack were getting on very well. They had climbed down the iron ladder, their torches between their teeth. They had gone through the little room below, where the old old toys still lay, and had made their way through the narrow passage underground that led to the Old House.
When they came to the part where they had cleared away the fallen roof that afternoon George shone his torch round. It looks to me as if another bit of the roof will fall in at any moment, said George anxiously. I hope it lasts till we get back.
So do I, said Jack. It would be awful to be caught because the roof fell in. Gracious, George - a bit of its tumbling in now - some stones fell on my coat.
Well, lets hope for the best, said George. Come on.
On they went, and presently came to where another narrow passage forked off from the one they were following.
Thats the passage to the secret way between the shore-cave and the cellars of the Old House, said Jack. Its a pity that is blocked up too, George, or we might have tried it.
The two had already seen that afternoon that the passage joining theirs to the shore-cave passage was blocked up with fallen stones, and they had not tried to clear it, for, as George said, it might be blocked up all the way. It was quicker to use the passage from one tower to the other, and to return to Peep-Hole and run down to the beach by the cliff-path.
They soon came to the iron ladder that led up
the inside of the walls of the Old House tower. They climbed it as quietly as they could. They came to a narrow ledge running round the back of a chimney-place. They squeezed round it, and found themselves in a small dark place with stone walls all around.
Feel for an iron ring, whispered George. There is sure to be one here. If we can find it, well slip my rope into it, and both pull hard. I reckon the stone will swivel round just like ours at Peep-Hole did.
So they felt about for an iron ring, and shone their torches here and there - and at last George found the ring! He slipped his rope into it and knotted it. Then he and Jack pulled this way and that way - and suddenly the stone in which the iron ring was set groaned a little, swung slowly round - and there, in front of George and Jack, was the entrance to the fireplace built in the top room of the Old House tower!
Voices came up from the room below. George and Jack stood perfectly still and listened. Mr. Diaz was speaking.
At dawn to-morrow you will come with me, Paul - and we will leave Mike here for a few days, just to give him a lesson not to put his nose into things that dont concern him! Anna will see to him, and set him free next week.