They rounded the last bit of the ledge, and, by the light of Ranni’s torch, saw that at last they were in the big cave, from which led the passage that would take them to the cave below the temple. They all felt very thankful indeed.
There was no sign of the robbers. The five of them went cautiously into the cave and looked round. By the light of Ranni’s torch the waterfall seemed to be much bigger than they had remembered. It fell from a great hole in the roof of the cave, and then ran down the channel to the tunnel, where it disappeared.
“It is greater now,” said Ranni. “It must be much swollen by all the rain that fell yesterday. It already fills the hole through which it falls.”
“What will happen if the hole can’t take all the extra water?” asked Jack, curiously.
“I don’t know,” said Ranni. “Now, what shall we do next? Where are those robbers? Are they lying in wait for us somewhere? Are they up in the cave below the temple — or have they gone out on the mountain-side to rob again?”
“Well there’s nothing for it but to go and see,” said Pilescu. You boys stay down here, whilst Ranni and I go through the passage to the other cave.”
“No — we’ll go with you,” said Paul, at once.
“That would be foolish,” said Pilescu. “There is no need for all of us to put ourselves in danger. You will stay here until I or Ranni come back to tell you that it is safe for us all to go back down the mountain-side to the castle.”
The boys watched the two big Baronians disappear into the narrow passage at the end of the cave opposite the great waterfall. It was difficult to stay behind and wait in patience. They sat in a corner and watched the tremendous fall of water at the other end of the cave.
“It’s roaring as if it was angry!” said Jack. “I don’t believe that hole is big enough now for all the volume of water to pour through. It will burst it bigger. I’m sure of it!”