e, faint
rays were there to meet them from the other end, the light striking in
strongly from the bottom of the walled-up entrance, and showing that the
floor which they had to follow was damp, but every drop of water had
drained away.

On reaching the end, it was quite light; and a little examination proved
that other stones at the bottom were sufficiently loose to be easily
pushed out, Fred sending out a couple, which went down into deep water
at once.

"I wouldn't have done that," said Scarlett. "It's like opening a way
for any one right into our house."

"But any one will not know the way," replied Fred, as he went down on
hands and knees, and thrust out his head and shoulders. "Easy enough to
get out now," he said, as he thrust the bushes aside, "only we should
want the boat. Water's quite deep here. Stop a moment!" he cried
excitedly, as he twisted himself round and looked up before drawing his
head back. "Why, Scar, we could climb up or down there as easily as
could be."

"Could we?"

Scarlett crept partly out in turn, and looked up for a minute or two.

"Yes," he said, as he returned, "that would be easy enough."

"Then, do you know what we have to do next?"

"No."

"Go and stop up the big hole in the wood."

Scarlett thought for a moment, and then agreed, following his companion
to the opening, and climbing out in turn.

"How shall we do it?" he said.

"The rougher the better," cried Fred, who was by far the more practical
of the two. "Let's get great dead branches, and lay them over anyhow,
leaving a hole like a chimney, so as to give light. Come along; I'll
show you. The more natural the better, in case any one should come
here."

"Which is not likely," replied Scarlett.

"I don't know; Nat might. Work away."

They did work away, and with good effect. They had no difficulty in
getting plenty of rough pieces, which they laid across, first like the
rafters over a shed, and then piled others upon them in the most
careless-looking fashion, after which some long strands of ivy and
bramble were dragged across, to act the double purpose of binding all
together and looking natural.

"But they seem as if they had been just placed there," said Scarlett,
looking rather dissatisfied with their work.

"Of course they do to-day; but before a week has gone by, they'll have
all their leaves turned up to the light, and go on growing fast. Now,
then, who could tell that there was a way down t