"I can smell a peat fire!" one of the men exclaimed.
"This is the entrance, no doubt," Captain O'Connor said. "See, the
bottom is evidently worn by feet. The passage must have been used for a
long time; but it's an awkward place to follow desperate men into."
"It is, indeed," Lieutenant Adcock agreed. "They could shoot us down one
by one as we go in. They would see us against the light, while we
should be able to make out nothing."
"Surrender in there!" Captain O'Connor shouted. "You can't get away;
and I promise you all a fair trial."
His summons was followed by a taunting laugh; and a moment later there
was a sharp sound within, and a rifle-bullet struck the side of the
entrance and flew out.
"It would be throwing away one's life to go in there," Captain O'Connor
said. "At any rate we have got them secure, and they must come out in
time. But it would be madness to crawl in there on one's hands and feet
to be picked off by those scoundrels at their ease. Now, lads, two of
you stand by this entrance. Keep out of the line of fire, and be ready
with your bayonets to run anyone through who comes out. Let the rest
scatter and search round this place. They may have another entrance.
If so, we must find it. In the first place, it may be easier of entry;
in the second, they might escape from it after dark."
Again the search began.
"Do you think it is likely to be higher up or lower down, O'Connor?"
Lieutenant Desmond asked.
"There is no saying, Desmond. But as the passage seems to go straight
in, I should fancy above rather than below."
For a long time they searched without success; then Ralph, who had gone
higher up the rocks than the rest, came upon a clump of low bushes
growing between some large boulders. There was nothing suspicious about
them, and he was just turning away when he perceived a slight odour of
peat smoke.
Silently he made his way down to the captain.
"I have found another entrance," he said. "At any rate I think so; for I
certainly smelt smoke. If we go quietly we may take them unawares."
Captain O'Connor passed the word along for the men to gather silently,
and Ralph then led the way up to the clump of bushes.
"Yes, I can smell the peat plainly enough. Now, Conway, do you search
among the bushes. Carefully, lad; we don't know what the place is
like."
Cautiously Ralph pushed the bushes aside. He saw at once that these had
been carefully trained to cover a large hole. This was about three feet
wide, and descended at a sharp angle, forming a sloping passage of
sufficient height for a man to stand upright. Captain O'Connor knelt
down and looked in.
"This looks more possible," he said; "but it's very steep. I should say
it is not used by them, but acts as a sort of chimney to ventilate the
cavern and let the smoke out. At any rate we will try it; but we must
take our boots off so as to get a better hold on the rocks, besides we
shall make less noise. Blunt and Jervis, do you go down to the other
entrance again. It is likely enough that they may try to make a bolt
that way if they hear us coming. Keep a sharp look-out down there, and
be sure no one escapes."
"Don't you think, Captain O'Connor, that it will be a good thing to
enter from there also the moment a row is heard going on within. Their
attention will be taken up with your attack, and we may get in without
being noticed."
"That's a very good idea, Conway; and you shall carry it out. Take two
more men with you, and make your way in as soon as you hear us engaged.
But remember that it is quite possible we may not be able to get down.
This passage may get almost perpendicular presently; and though I mean
to go if possible, even if I have a straight drop for it, it may close
up and be altogether impracticable. So don't you try to enter till you
are quite sure they are engaged with us, otherwise you will be only
throwing away your life."
"I understand, sir," Ralph said as he turned to go off. "If you get in
you can reckon on our assistance immediately; if not, we shall make no
move."