“All right,” said Mike. “Come on. We can easily rush back if we hear Ranni and Pilescu coming.”
They made their way up the narrow, curving passage, leaving behind them the noise of the great waterfall. But before they were half-way up, they heard the sound of someone else coming down!
“That must be Ranni and Pilescu coming back!” said Mike, in a low voice. “Come on — we’ll get back. We don’t want to get into trouble for not waiting, as we were told.’
They stumbled back down the rocky passage, and came out once more into the cave of the waterfall. It was still falling at the other end, with a mightier roar than ever.
“Here they come!” said Mike, as a light shone out of the passage. He flashed his own torch upwards to welcome Ranni and Pilescu.
And then he and the other two boys stared in horror. Certainly it was Ranni and Pilescu returning — but returning as prisoners! Once again they were captives, angry, but completely helpless! Six or seven robbers were behind them, kicking them and pushing them, holding sharp-pointed knives behind their backs to urge them on.
“Ranni! What’s happened?” cried Paul, springing forward.
But before anything could be explained, the robbers, with cries of satisfaction, leapt at the three boys and forced their arms behind them. Mike tried his hardest to get out his scout-knife but it was impossible!
The robbers bound the boys’ arms and legs together with thongs of supple leather. No matter how they struggled, they could not free themselves. They were placed on the floor of the cave, like trussed chickens. Rani and Pilescu stood roaring like angry bulls, trying to free their own hands, which had been tightly tied behind them as before. The robbers tripped them defly to the ground and tied their legs together, too.
Small as they were, the Secret Forest robbers were very strong. Ranni and Pilescu were big giants of men, but the robbers swarmed over them like ants, and by their very smallness and deftness they overcame the two big men.