Then together they started off down the new path, farther from home and farther even from the road they knew. They whistled and called frantically till their lips and voices ached. Once, very far ahead, they heard Mackie bark, and so they pressed on in the dark, forgetting how tired they were, forgetting how long it would take them to get back, forgetting everything except that their beloved Macbeth was somewhere ahead chasing something which he would never catch and that they could not go back without him.

Soon the path broadened and led them through a wood. Once out of the shadows of the whispering trees they were startled by some big, rugged shadows. Dickie stopped abruptly.

"What are they, twin?"

They advanced slowly, hand in hand. The shadows did not move, so they went nearer. Then the moon came out again and they saw the ruined cottages.

"They're horrid!" said Mary with a shudder. "They look dead."

They whistled again and called in vain, and so, rather despairingly now, and with lagging steps, they trudged on up the track, which had now broadened into a lane. Twice they heard Macbeth yelp excitedly in front of them; twice they hurried on as the road climbed steeply, and twice they were disappointed when they turned a corner.

But at last they reached journey's end and saw before them the towering cliffs that now barred their way. They could go no farther. The road just disappeared under their feet, and they found themselves on a grassy plateau with the dingle at their backs and the entrance to a dark cave in front of them. Before the cave was Macbeth, with his head on one side and one paw lifted as he listened. At the sound of the twins' voices he wagged his tail, but did not turn. Mary called him sharply again. He whined and barked, but did not move.

"He can hear something," said Dickie. "Come on."

The moon came out again as they crossed the grass, and, at the same instant, they both heard the distant murmur of men's voices. Dickie felt Mary's hand shake in his, and, although he could feel his own heart thumping in fear, he went bravely forward.

At the sound of the voices, the dog barked again and dashed ahead into the dark entrance of the cave.

The children went closer and saw at once that it was not quite an ordinary cave, but more like the entrance to a mine which was partly blocked with stones and rocks.

Mary stepped cautiously forward.

"Look, Dickie! Some of the stones are loose. They've fallen from somewhere, but I can squeeze in. Mackie, come here at once! And here's a whopping big rock, Dickie. DICKIE! IT MOVED! Of course it did, you chump! Come and try for yourself. I TELL YOU IT MOVED!... I don't like this place either. Come out, Mackie, you naughty, naughty dog!"