"He has worse than that, Watty," said Hugh grimly. "Are the others all right?"
"Yes, your ludship. Ah? Mister Jack, sir, there you are. One moment, sir, until I 'ave 'is ludship loose, and I'll give you a bit of a rub." He sawed away at Hugh's ropes, while I slapped my cold legs with hands I could scarcely move. "Why, your ludship, when we came outside we talked things over, and first off Professor King 'e says that 'e's going in. But I pointed out to 'im 'ow somebody should stay with the young lady, and as 'e was 'er father and I was valet to your ludship, it was plain that 'e should stick by the launch, whilst I—"
"Never mind any more," Hugh cut him off, as he disposed of the last wrappings. "We can talk things over later. Help us to get our circulation back. Rub, man, rub! That's it."
Presently we were able to walk stiffly. Our first concern was to lower Nikka into the drain. He was so weak that he took very little interest in the rescue. His initial flare of understanding was succeeded by a semi-stupor, and his tortured shoulder must have been agonizing, although he never complained. We had Watkins go down ahead of him, and Hugh and I, between us, eased him gently through the hole, and Watkins caught him around the waist and steadied him. My instinct was to follow them immediately, but Hugh checked me.
"See here," he said, "now that we've got this secret entrance, why do we need to let the enemy know of it?"
"How do you mean?" I asked stupidly.
"Can't we cover up our tracks?" he pursued. "Here, Watty," he called into the drain, "hand up that crowbar."
Watkins extended it, a look of alarm on his face.
"I do 'ope, your ludship, you won't run into another mess," he remonstrated. "Best come along right away, sir, before Tootoo and 'is friends twig what we've done. Really, your ludship—and I'll need some one to 'elp me with Mister Nikka."
"You get started," returned Hugh. "We'll be all right, but we have a job to do first. Get on. We'll catch up with you."