I believe itll be all right, boys! I can see the passage beyond already. Well only need to clear a bit more, and we shall have a hole big enough to squeeze through.
They worked and worked. Paul became tired and they had to let him have a rest. Two hours went by. George felt rather anxious. He did not want Mr. Diaz to discover that Paul and Mike had escaped before they had all got safely away in the boat.
At last there was a hole big enough to squeeze through. One by one they got through it, and then George did a funny thing.
He glanced up at the roof near the block and then, taking a big stone, he struck the roof hard. A shower of earth fell at once.
George! What are you doing? cried Jack.
Im just making a small roof-fall, grinned George, his teeth flashing in the light of Jacks torch. If I can fill up the hole weve made in the block, well be all right. We dont want our dear friend Mr. Diaz to squeeze through the hole too!
Good idea, said Jack. Now hadnt we better go on, George? Its getting late.
Sh! said George suddenly. Everyone stood perfectly quiet in the passage. Switch off your torches, whispered George. I can hear something.
They all switched off their torches. Sounds were coming near - voices - angry voices!
Oh, do lets go, whispered Mike. But George shook his head in the darkness and whispered No.
We dont want them to hear us, he said in a low tone. They may guess where this leads to if they hear us, and go rushing off to the beach to find our boat. I think were safe enough if we keep quiet. Put your arm round Paul, Jack - hes frightened, poor kid!
They stood there in perfect silence. They heard Mr. Diaz and Luiz and someone else talking. They came to the roof-fall in the other passage and exclaimed about it.
Look at that! They cant have gone down that way!
It might have fallen after they had gone, said the sleepy voice of Luiz. Then a sharper voice spoke loudly.
This is disgraceful - to let the boy slip through your fingers like this! Are you sure there is no other way out of this passage?
Theres a branch off it somewhere here, came Luizs voice. Footsteps came up to the blockage through which George and the others had managed to squeeze.
Theres a great pile of stones here, said Mr. Diaz, peering over the stones that the boys had piled up. And another roof-fall or something beyond. They couldnt possibly have got through that. No, it looks as if they escaped down that passage to Peep-Hole, and the roof fell after they had gone through. Well, our best course is to go back to the Old House and make a raid on Peep-Hole. The boys are sure to be there.
The voices and the footsteps grew fainter. At last they could no longer be heard. Everybody sighed with relief.
Now we can get on, said George
cheerfully. I thought somehow they wouldnt guess wed gone this way - and anyway they dont know that it leads down to the passage to the shore-cave. Come on!
They stumbled down the secret passage and at last came to an opening in the ground at their feet. Jack shone his torch down.
This is where our passage joins the shore-passage, he cried in excitement. Well have to jump down into it. No wonder we didnt spot it when we used the shore-passage - we didnt dream of looking for holes in the roof, did we?
They all jumped down into the passage below. Then they made their way quickly to the cave, sliding down into it, holding safely to the rope that swung there to help them.
I wonder if the girls are there in the boat all right, said Mike.
The girls were there! They had been there for hours, anxiously waiting with Dimmy. They had not been able to imagine what could have happened to everyone!
They had talked at first, and then had watched and waited for the boys. But they hadnt come. Then Nora had begun to worry.
Oh dear! They ought to be here now. Whatever can have happened?
Perhaps Mr. Diaz or someone was in the room for ages with Mike and Paul, said Peggy sensibly. Jack and George couldnt possibly rescue them if anyone was with the others.
Thats true, said Dimmy. Well, we must wait in patience. We cant do anything else! Are you two warm enough?
Im glad of my coat, said Peggy. Its a funny thing, but excitement makes me feel rather cold!
They waited for another hour. Now all of them were anxious and worried, though Dimmy tried not to show it. Then Nora gave a low cry.
Look! I can see the light of a torch over there in the shore-cave! It must be them!
It was! Jack, Mike, Paul, and George hurried across the sand in silence. They were tired and stiff now, but they knew that a long row awaited them! They were pleased that everything had at last gone well.
Oh, Mike, dear Mike! said Nora joyfully, so glad to have her brother back again that the tears fell down her cold cheeks. Mike hugged her and Peggy kissed kind old Dimmy, and got into the boat with the others. It was a good thing it was a big boat!
I must say good-bye, said Dimmy hurriedly. Dont push off yet, George - youve forgotten Im not going with you!