nt of us. We were following when the naval officer
shouted up to us to run round to this entrance and make our way in
there, for he could go no further."

"I am here, Conway," a faint voice said from the other end of the
cabin; "but I have broken my leg I think, and Desmond has knocked all
the wind out of my body."

Ralph hastened to the spot whence the voice came and found Captain
O'Connor lying on the ground, and Lieutenant Desmond insensible beside
him.

"What has happened?" Ralph exclaimed. "Have they shot you?"

"No. Hold the torch up and you will see the way we came."

The soldier did so, and Ralph looking up saw a hole in the top of the
cave twenty feet above.

"You don't mean to say you came through there, O'Connor?"

"I did, worse luck to it!" O'Connor said. "The passage got steeper and
steeper, and at last my foot slipped, and I shot down and came plump
into the middle of a peat fire; and a moment later Desmond shot down
on to the top of me. We scattered the fire all over the place, as you
can imagine; but I burned my hands and face, and I believe the leg of
my breeches is on fire--something is hurting me confoundedly."

"Yes, it is all smoldering!" Ralph exclaimed, putting it out with his
hands.

"Have you got them all?" Captain O'Connor asked.

"Everyone; not one has made his escape. It would have fared badly with
us, though, if Lieutenant Adcock had not sent down the men to our
assistance. Where is your leg broken, O'Connor?"

"Above the knee," the captain said.

"Here is some whisky and water," Ralph said, handing him his bottle.
"Now, I will see what has happened to Desmond," and he stooped over
the insensible officer.

"He has got a nasty gash on his forehead, and I think his right arm is
broken," he said. "I will pour a little spirits between his lips, and
then he had better be carried out into the air."

This was done; and then Ralph went outside, and shouted to Sergeant
Morris to bring down another twenty men.

"If you please, sir," one of the coast-guard men said, touching his
hat, "I don't see any signs of our officer. Have you seen him?"

"No," Ralph said. "Perhaps he is still in that passage. You had better
run up to the top and see."

Two minutes later the man returned:

"He's down there, sir; but he says he can't get up or down."

"You had better run down to the boat at once," Ralph said. "I see she
is close inshore. Bring a couple more of your men up with you and a
rope