Screwing up his courage, he set out. It seemed horribly dark in the narrow passage as he moved along it with his back to the light; but Duke went bravely forward till he reached the platform. Once more he caused a flight of birds; but he was prepared for this now, and it startled him less. In vain he searched for the matches; they were not to be found.
Duke made a discovery, however. He came upon the entrance to a path tunnelled through the cliff at a sharp angle to the one which he and Noel had descended. Venturing into it, he perceived to his delight that it rose steeply, and there was a spark of light at its far end. It was a narrower and more rugged path than the other. In places huge stones blocked the way and threatened to make progress impossible; but Duke clambered over them and struggled on, climbing on hands and knees.
The light grew clearer as he went on, till at last he saw before him an opening, veiled by a curtain of brambles, through which a man might have climbed.
The next minute a welcome sound reached Duke's ears. It was the loud, deep bark of a dog.
"Nero! Nero!" Duke shouted, almost beside himself with joy.
Ere he could reach the opening, he saw the dog's dark body pass it, then return, his black muzzle sniffing about the brambles. With a great effort Duke struggled up the last steep bit, pitched head foremost through the brambles, and found himself lying on a grassy slope not far from the top of the cliff, with Nero standing over him. Recovering himself after a few moments, he followed Nero, whose master was not far off, along a little path to the safe ground above.
While Duke was making his way up the hard, steep path, Noel continued to sleep. He was roused by the sound of voices close at hand. He felt sick and giddy as he sat up and looked about him in bewilderment. What strange place was this that he was in, and where was Duke?
Recollection came to him in a moment and added to his distress at Duke's absence. Where could he be? His was not one of the voices which he now heard again and knew that he had already heard in his dreams.
"You must not mind wetting your feet, Ned," said a man's voice. "I can't bring the boat any nearer. You'll just have to wade."
There followed the sound of knocks and splashes with smothered cries and laughter.