“If anyone does come here to look for us, and it’s quite likely,” he said, “we must really have all our plans made as to what to do, and know exactly where to hide. People who are really looking for us won’t just sit about on that beach as the trippers did, you know - they will hunt all over the island.”
“Well, let’s go and explore the caves to-day,” said Mike. “I’ll get the lantern.”
So, with the lantern swinging in his hand, and a box of matches ready in his pocket to light it, Jack led the way to the caves. The children had found three openings into the hillside - one where the hens had been put, another larger one, and a third very tiny one through which they could hardly crawl.
“We’ll go in through the biggest entrance,” said Jack. He lighted the lantern, and went into the dark cave. It seemed strange to leave the hot July sunshine. Nora shivered. She thought the caves were rather queer. But she didn’t say anything, only kept very close to Mike.
Jack swung the lantern round and lit up all the corners. It was a large cave - but not of much use for hiding in, for every corner could be easily seen. Big cobwebs hung here and there, and there was a musty smell of bats.
Mike went all round the walls, peeping and prying - and right at the very back of the cave he discovered a curious thing. The wall was split from about six feet downwards, and a big crack, about two feet across, yawned there. At first it seemed as if the crack simply showed rock behind it - but it didn’t. There was a narrow, winding passage there, half hidden by a jutting-out piece of rock.
“Look here!” cried Mike, in excitement. “Here’s a passage right in the very rock of the hillside itself. Come on, Jack, bring your lantern here. I wonder if it goes very far back.”
Jack lifted up his lantern and the others saw the curious half-hidden passage, the entrance to which was by the crack in the wall. Jack went through the crack and walked a little way down the passage.
“Come on!” he cried. “It’s all right! The air smells fresh here, and the passage seems to lead to somewhere.”
The children crowded after him in excitement. What an adventure this was!