The light was brought. It was seen that the man who had sprung upon the Red Captain's back had pinioned his arms to his sides, and held them there in spite of the efforts of the ruffian to free himself. Two of the soldiers took off their belts and fastened them together, passed them between the back of the man and his captor, and then strapped his arms firmly to his side. The man who held them then released his grip.
"Stand over him with fixed bayonets, and if he moves run him through. Now, where's Captain O'Connor?"
"I don't know, sir. He and Mr. Desmond and the lieutenant went down the hole in front of us. We were following when the naval officer shouted up to us to run round to this entrance and make our way in there, for he could go no further."
"I am here, Conway," a faint voice said from the other end of the cabin; "but I have broken my leg, I think, and Desmond has knocked all the wind out of my body."
Ralph hastened to the spot from whence the voice came, and found Captain O'Connor lying on the ground, and Lieutenant Desmond insensible beside him.
"What has happened?" Ralph exclaimed. "Have they shot you?"
"No. Hold the torch up and you will see the way we came."
The soldier did so, and Ralph, looking up, saw a hole in the top of the cave twenty feet above.
"You don't mean to say you came through there, O'Connor?"
"I did, worse luck to it?" O'Connor said. "The passage got steeper and steeper, and at last my foot slipped, and I shot down, and came plump into the middle of a peat fire; and a moment later Desmond shot down on to the top of me. We scattered the fire all over the place, as you can imagine; but I burnt my hands and face, and I believe the leg of my breeches is on fire—something is hurting me furiously."