When they came to the part where they had cleared away the fallen roof that afternoon George shone his torch round. “It looks to me as if another bit of the roof will fall in at any moment,” said George anxiously. “I hope it lasts till we get back.”
“So do I,” said Jack. “It would be awful to be caught because the roof fell in. Gracious, George - a bit of it’s tumbling in now - some stones fell on my coat.”
“Well, let’s hope for the best,” said George. “Come on.”
On they went, and presently came to where another narrow passage forked off from the one they were following.
“That’s the passage to the secret way between the shore-cave and the cellars of the Old House,” said Jack. “It’s a pity that is blocked up too, George, or we might have tried it.”
The two had already seen that afternoon that the passage joining theirs to the shore-cave passage was blocked up with fallen stones, and they had not tried to clear it, for, as George said, it might be blocked up all the way. It was quicker to use the passage from one tower to the other, and to return to Peep-Hole and run down to the beach by the cliff-path.
They soon came to the iron ladder that led up the inside of the walls of the Old House tower. They climbed it as quietly as they could. They came to a narrow ledge running round the back of a chimney-place. They squeezed round it, and found themselves in a small dark place with stone walls all around.
“Feel for an iron ring,” whispered George. “There is sure to be one here. If we can find it, we’ll slip my rope into it, and both pull hard. I reckon the stone will swivel round just like ours at Peep-Hole did.”
So they felt about for an iron ring, and shone their torches here and there - and at last George found the ring! He slipped his rope into it and knotted it. Then he and Jack pulled this way and that way - and suddenly the stone in which the iron ring was set groaned a little, swung slowly round - and there, in front of George and Jack, was the entrance to the fireplace built in the top room of the Old House tower!
Voices came up from the room below. George and Jack stood perfectly still and listened. Mr. Diaz was speaking.