But Mary refused to be left alone, and Dickie was secretly rather relieved, so together they climbed down the ladder and advanced slowly across the floor of the cave. But they had no torch, and over by the entrance to the galleries it was very dark, so, while they could still see the light from their look-out behind them, they stood and called.

Back came his voice again.

"Are you near, kids? Listen. I've twisted my ankle and can't walk. I'm just by the front corner of the gallery, but the torch is weak now and maybe you can't see it. Watch now and I'll flash it. Watch carefully."

They strained their eyes and suddenly saw a tiny yellow glow in the darkness ahead.

"Keep it on," Dickie yelled. "We can see you. We're coming!"

But Mary had fallen twice and hurt her knee and Dickie had banged his head on the damp wall of the gallery before they reached him; and when they did find him they fell over him.

"Oh, gosh!" Dickie whispered when he had picked himself up. "He's fainted or something. Here we are, Uncle. Wake up! WAKE UP!" and he shook him vigorously.

The torch was out now and had apparently fallen from his fingers, and it was too dark to see him as he lay up against the wall of the gallery. There was no sound but their breathing and the drip of moisture falling from the roof.

Then Mary spoke, and her voice sounded loud and clear.

"We've got to get him out of here somehow, Dickie. We're 'sponsible for him, and we've just got to do it... It's specially important, too, because you know who he is, don't you, twin?"

Dickie's face was close against hers in the darkness and she sensed him shaking his head.

"Silly little boy," she teased. "It's Uncle Micah's Charles come home again. I'm sure it is. How else would he know about this place and ask all those questions?... Look out! He's moving... Don't let him know we know."

In the darkness they felt him move and then he groaned.

"All right, Uncle. Dickie and me are here. Don't worry any more."

He laughed shakily. "Well done, kids... Must have passed out for a minute... tripped over a loose rock..."

After he had rested a little they helped him up and he stood unsteadily on his left foot with one hand on the wall and the other on Dickie's shoulder.

"Now then," he said. "The torch is finished, so we've got to get back to the cave. Can you see the daylight ahead, Mary?"

"Yes," she said. "It's easier now we're going back... And when Dickie's tired you can lean on me."