They sat down on the stone steps in a row, one above the other. They were cold, hungry and miserable. What could they do now? Make their way back to the cave, and then go on down the under-sea tunnel?

“I don’t want to do that,” said Uncle Quentin. “I’m so afraid that if there is an explosion, it may crack the rocky bed of the sea, which is the roof of the tunnel — and then water would pour in. It wouldn’t be pleasant if we happened to be there at that moment.”

“Oh no. Don’t let’s be trapped like that,” said George with a shudder. “I couldn’t bear it.”

“Perhaps I could get something to explode this stone away,” said her father, after a while. “I’ve got plenty of stuff if only I’ve time to put it together.”

“Listen!” said Julian, suddenly. “I can hear something outside this wall. Sh!”

They all listened intently. Timmy whined and scratched at the stone that would not move.

“It’s voices!” cried Dick. “Lots of them. Who can it be?”

“Be quiet,” said Julian, fiercely. “We must find out!”

“I know, I know!” said George, suddenly. “It’s the fishermen who have come over in their boats! That’s why the men didn’t wait till half past ten! That’s why they’ve gone in such a hurry! They saw the fisher-boats coming!”

“Then Anne must have brought them!” cried Dick. “She must have run home to Aunt Fanny, told her everything and given the news to the fishermen — and they’ve come to rescue us! Anne! ANNE! WE’RE HERE!”

Timmy began to bark deafeningly. The others encouraged him, because they felt certain that Timmy’s bark was louder than their shouts!

“WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!”

Anne heard the barking and the shouting as soon as she ran into the little stone room. “Where are you? Where are you?” she yelled.

“HERE! HERE! MOVE THE STONE!” yelled Julian, shouting so loudly that everyone near him jumped violently.

“Move aside, Miss — I can see which stone it is,” said a man’s deep voice. It was one of the fishermen. He felt round and about the stone in the recess, sure it was the right one because it was cleaner than the others through being used as an entrance.

Suddenly he touched the right place, and found a tiny iron spike. He pulled it down — and the lever swung back behind it, and pulled the stone aside!

Everyone hurried out, one on top of the other! The six fishermen standing in the little room stared in astonishment. Aunt Fanny was there too, and Anne. Aunt Fanny ran to her husband as soon as he appeared — but to her surprise he pushed her away quite roughly.

He ran out of the room, and hurried to the tower. Was he in time to save the island and everyone on it? Oh hurry, hurry!

Chapter Twenty-one

The end of the adventure

“Where’s he gone?” said Aunt Fanny, quite hurt. Nobody answered. Julian, George and Martin were watching the tower with anxious intensity. If only Uncle Quentin would appear at the top. Ah — there he was!