all along till we
find a place that has been built like a wall, and then search for this
hole."

"And how about the ivy all over it?"

Scarlett was silent for a while.

"I had forgotten all about the ivy," he said.

"If we could tell about where it was, I dare say we could soon find it."

"Yes, but we can't tell yet."

"And we shan't find out by stopping here, Scar; and oh, I say--"

"What's the matter?"

"The water's right up in my pockets. Come along back."

"But we've got to go in the dark."

"Can't help it. I don't mind so much now, for we can't go wrong. Come
along."

Fred took the lead now, and they went steadily back, feeling their way
along by the damp wall, and casting back from time to time regretful
looks at the bright star of light, which grew less and less, and then
disappeared; but as it passed from sight, they saw to their great
delight that there was a faint dawn, as it were, on ahead, and this grew
brighter and brighter, till they seemed to turn a corner, and saw the
bright rays shooting down through the hole, which they reached with a
rather confused but correct notion that about here the passage took a
double curve, somewhat in the shape of the letter S; but they were too
eager to get out into the wood again to give much attention to the
configuration of the place.

"Hah!" exclaimed Fred, taking a long breath, and then beginning to
squeeze the water out of his nether garment, "that's better. I say,
hadn't we better hide this hole?"

"I don't think we need; nobody ever comes here. Let's go and have a
look down by the lake."

CHAPTER NINE.

SOMETHING THE MATTER.

The two lads were so accustomed to rough country life and to making
wading expeditions for trout in the little rivers, or rushing in after
the waves down by the seashore, that, after giving their garments a
thorough good wring, they soon forgot all about the dampness in the
interest of searching for the entrance to the secret passage down by the
lake.

"I know how it must all have been," said Scarlett. "When our house was
built, there must have been wars. I dare say it was in the War of the
Roses, and that place was contrived, so that in case of need any one
could escape."

"Yes; and if the place was taken, the rightful owners could get in
again."

"And now it's all peace," said Scarlett, thoughtfully, "and we can make
it our cave, and do what we like there."

"But it isn't all peace," said Fred. "I hear