A dozen more shots were fired.  One of the coast-guard men was shot through the shoulder; but this was the only casualty, for the quick movements of the men as they scrambled over the bowlders disconcerted the aim of those above.  Breathless and panting the four officers gained the spot from which the shots had been fired, the men close up behind them; but not a soul was to be seen.

“Wait a moment till you get breath, lads,” their leader said.  “They can’t be far from here.  We will find their hiding-place presently, never fear.”

As they stood panting there was a shout from above.  The soldiers were standing along the edge of the cliff, looking down upon the fight.  Sergeant Morris waved his arm.

“They have made away to your left, sir!” he shouted at the top of his voice.  “We have just caught sight of them among the rocks!”

In two or three minutes Captain O’Connor led the way in that direction.

“Keep your eyes sharply about, lads.  No doubt the place is cunningly hidden.  Search among every clump of bushes between the rocks.”

Presently the sergeant shouted down again from above: 

“I think you are far enough now, sir!  We did not catch sight of them beyond that!”

For an hour the search continued, but without avail.

“They must be here somewhere, lads!” Captain O’Connor said.  “We will find them if we have to stop here a week, and have provisions brought down from the village.  It’s pretty evident there is no opening between the great rocks or we must have found it.  We must examine the smaller bowlders.  They may have one so placed that it can be dropped down over the entrance.  That flat slab is a likely-looking place, for instance.  Three or four of you get hold of it and heave it up.”

The men gathered round to lift it.  Ralph stooped down and peeped under as they did so.

“Hurrah!” he shouted, “there is an opening here.”

Several of the others now got hold of the stone.  It was up-ended and thrown backward, and the entrance to a passage some three feet high and two feet wide was revealed.

“I can smell a peat fire!” one of the men exclaimed.

“This is the entrance, no doubt,” Captain O’Connor said.  “See, the bottom is evidently worn by feet.  The passage must have been used for a long time; but it’s an awkward place to follow desperate men into.”

“It is, indeed,” Lieutenant Adcock agreed.  “They could shoot us down one after one as we go in.  They would see us against the light, while we should be able to make out nothing.”

“Surrender in there!” Captain O’Connor shouted.  “You can’t get away; and I promise you all a fair trial.”

His summons was followed by a taunting laugh; and a moment later there was a sharp sound within, and a rifle bullet struck the side of the entrance and flew out.