"Carry on, then," said the Scoutmaster, dropping into a phrase reminiscent of his former service in the Royal Navy.
The Leader of the "Wolves" was not a fellow to rush headlong into danger. He knew that if Tassh had the courage and determination he could hold the entrance to the inner cave with impunity.
Placing his hat on the end of a staff he thrust it through the narrow opening. Nothing happened.
"The fellow's missed his opportunity," said Simpson to Neale in a low tone. "So here goes."
Wriggling through the "needle's-eye," Simpson gained the spacious vault. He waited, his staff held in readiness to defend himself from attack, until Neale and Jock Fraser joined him.
Bill's electric torch now served a useful purpose, augmented by the light of several candles. The rest of the "Wolves" were quickly on the scene, and in quite a blaze of light the Scouts followed the trail which in his flight the rascally butler had made no attempt to conceal.
[Illustration: "'Hands up instantly or I'll fire!' ordered Mr. Buckley sternly."—Page 237.]
The tracks led straight to the place where Atherton had previously found the burnt matches. But in place of the smooth sand there gaped a deep hole, from which the rays of a lantern were visible.