The boys were very hungry indeed, but they dared not go to ask for food. They whispered together, wondering what to do. Behind them was the deep, dark forest. In front was the great pool, out of which flowed the river, disappearing into the depths of the Secret Forest.
“Do you suppose all the robbers have gone up to the temple-cave?” whispered Mike. Jack shook his head. “No,” he said. “I only saw five or six. Hundreds must live here. Sh! Look, there are some children!”
The boys saw four or five children coming from the forest, going towards the huts. They had nothing on at all, except for a strip of skin round their waists. They were dirty, and their bright hair was tangled and long. They wore bright bird-feathers behind their ears, and looked real little ruffians.
A woman appeared at the door of one hut, and the children shouted to her. Paul turned to the others.
“Did you understand what those children said? They said they had been to see the big men who were prisoners! So Ranni and Pilescu must be here somewhere. Shall we try going along that path where the children came from?”
“We should get completely lost in the Secret Forest,” said Mike, feeling scared. “There are probably wolves here too. I almost wish we hadn’t come. We should have waited and come with the others!”
“We will go down the forest path,” said Paul, suddenly becoming the Prince of Baronia again. “Stay here if you do not wish to follow me. I, myself, will find Ranni and Pilescu!”
There was nothing for it but to follow Paul. He skirted the pool carefully and then found the narrow path down which the robber-children had come. It ran between the thickly-growing trees, and was evidently much used. Here and there the trees were curiously marked as if with an axe.
“Perhaps it’s the way the robbers have of marking their way through the forest,” said Paul.
“Yes — sort of signposts,” answered Jack, who had thought the same thing. “Well, as long as I see those marks, I shan’t feel lost!” They went on down the narrow, twisting path. It curved round trees, wandered between the thick trunks, and seemed never-ending. Now and again the children saw the axe-marks on a tree-trunk again. The forest was very quiet and still. No wind moved the branches of the trees. No bird sang. It was very mysterious and silent.