“What do you mean?” said the others, puzzled.
“Come and see,” said Fatty.
So down the tree they went, and, led by Fatty, went round to the kitchen entrance. It began to snow again as they walked round, and Fatty was pleased.
“The snow will hide our footmarks,” he said. “I was a bit worried about those. Ah, look - this is what I hoped to see!”
He pointed down to the ground to a spot that he had rubbed clear of snow with his boot. The others saw a round iron lid, whose crevices were black with old coal-dust.
“An outside coal-hole,” said Fatty. “Now you all know that a coal-hole leads into a coal-cellar - and that steps lead up to the kitchen from the coal-cellar - and so any one slipping down this coal-hole can get into the house!”
“Jolly good, Fatty!” said every one admiringly.
“But do you think we’d better go down in these clothes?” added Pip. “We’d get filthy, and I know my mother would ask all sorts of awkward questions.”
“Yes - we can’t go down now,” said Fatty. “I shall go down myself tonight!”
The others looked at him in awe. To go down to Milton House, the mystery place, at night, and get down the coalhole! It seemed a most heroic feat to every one.