"We'd like something to eat, thank you," Dickie said. "But you'll 'scuse us asking, but we don't know who you are. An' what are you doing here, anyway?... Maybe we don't trust you..."

"You're wearing uniform," Mary broke in suddenly, "but you're not English."

"You talk like the pictures," Dickie said thoughtfully, and then laughed. "Gosh! I know what you are! You're an American soldier - you're a Yankee Doodle."

"You've said it, kiddo. I'm the U.S. Army, but there's just a few more of us here as well... Come and meet the other half."

Then taking the twins by the hand, he led them away into the darkness, with Macbeth trotting sadly at their heels. It was difficult for the children to know where they were going, but as Dickie flashed the torch from side to side it seemed as if they were in a high-walled gallery. For a little they walked uphill and then turning a sharp corner they felt a fresh and pleasant breeze and caught the smell of wood smoke. Next moment they saw the flicker of a fire and another American voice called out:

"What you found, Jerry? What was the thump? Shore sounded like a fall of rock to me."

Then the twins were introduced to Jake, but they were both so sleepy that they could say little more than "Thank you" when their friends poured them out mugs of bitter coffee and broke open a packet of biscuits.

Mary did her best to help Dickie to tell their story, but sleep to her was what food was to him, and as she was nodding most of the time she knew that what they had to tell sounded rather impossible. But Dickie rambled on with his mouth full of biscuit, and Jerry and Jake were very kind and friendly. The little wood fire burned cheerfully, but did not give enough light for them to see where they were, though the echoes suggested that they were still in the cave. Dimly Mary felt Jake's strong arm folding her in a blanket, and then holding her comfortably against his side. Her head slipped sideways against his shoulder and she remembered no more.