.

"We can't get out the way you came in," he said. "Or, if we could, it's too
risky. But there's another way. I've been in here since these people
started putting their traps around, and I know where most of them are. Come
on!"

Harry was glad to obey. He had no hankering for command. The thing to do
was to get out as quickly as he could. And so he followed, though he had
qualms when he saw that, instead of going toward the wall, they were
heading straight in and toward the great grey house. They circled the woods
that gave them the essential protection of darkness, and always they got
further and further from the place where Dick and Harry had entered. Harry
understood, of course, that there were other ways of getting out but it
took a few words to make him realize the present situation as it actually
was.

"There's a spot on the other side they don't really guard at all," said his
companion. "It's where the river runs by the place. They think no one would
come that way. And I don't believe they know anything at all about what I'm
going to show you."

Soon Harry heard the water rustling. And then, to his surprise, his guide
led him straight into a tangle of shrubbery. It was hard going for him, for
his ankle pained him a good deal, but he managed it. And in a moment the
other boy spoke, and, for the first time, in a natural voice.

"I say, I'm glad we're here!" he said, heartily. "D'ye see?"

"It looks like a cave," said Harry.

"It is, but it's more than that, too. This place is no end old, you know.
It was here when they fought the Wars of the Roses, I've heard. And come
on--I'll show you something!"

He led the way on into the cave, which narrowed as they went. But Harry,
pointing his flashlight ahead, saw that it was not going to stop.

"Oh! A secret passage! I understand now!" he exclaimed, finally.

"Isn't it jolly?" said the other. "Can't you imagine what fun we used to
have here when we played about? You see, this may have been used to bring
in food in time of siege. There used to be another spur of this tunnel that
ran right into the house. But that was all let go to pot, for some reason.
This is all that is left. But it's enough. It runs way down under the
river--and in a jiffy we'll be out in the meadows on the other side. I say,
what's your name?"

They hadn't had time to exchange the information each naturally craved
about the other before. And now, as they realized it, they both laughed.
Har