“It would be throwing away one’s life to go in there,” Captain O’Connor said.  “At any rate we have got them secure, and they must come out in time.  But it would be madness to crawl in there on one’s hands and feet to be picked off by those scoundrels at their ease.  Now, lads, two of you stand by this entrance.  Keep out of the line of fire, and be ready with your bayonets to run any one through who comes out.  Let the rest scatter and search round this place.  They may have another entrance.  If so, we must find it.  In the first place, it may be easier of entry; in the second they might escape from it after dark.”

Again the search began.

“Do you think it is likely to be higher up or lower down, O’Connor?” Lieutenant Desmond asked.

“There is no saying, Desmond; the passage seems to go straight in.  I should fancy above rather than below.”

For a long time they searched without success; then Ralph, who had gone higher up the rocks than the rest, came upon a clump of low bushes growing between some large bowlders.  There was nothing suspicious about them, and he was just turning away when he perceived a slight odor of peat smoke.

Silently he made his way down to the captain.

“I have found another entrance,” he said.  “At any rate I think so; for I certainly smelled smoke.  If we go quietly we may take them unawares.”

Captain O’Connor passed the word along for the men to gather silently, and Ralph then led the way up to the clump of bushes.

“Yes, I can smell the peat plainly enough.  Now, Conway, do you search among the bushes.  Carefully, lad, we don’t know what the place is like.”

Cautiously Ralph pushed the bushes aside.  He saw at once that these had been carefully trained to cover a large hole.  This was about three feet wide; and descended at a sharp angle, forming a sloping passage of sufficient height for a man to stand upright.  Captain O’Connor knelt down and looked in.

“This looks more possible,” he said; “but it’s very steep.  I should say it is not used by them, but acts as a sort of chimney to ventilate the cavern and let the smoke out.  At any rate we will try it; but we must take our boots off so as to get a better hold on the rocks, beside we shall make less noise.  Blunt and Jervis, do you go down to the other entrance again.  It is likely enough that they may try to make a bolt that way if they hear us coming.  Keep a sharp lookout down there, and be sure no one escapes.”

“Don’t you think, Captain O’Connor, that it will be a good thing to enter from there also the moment a row is heard going on within.  Their attention will be taken up with your attack, and we may get in without being noticed.”

“That’s a very good idea, Conway; and you shall carry it out.  Take two more men with you, and make your way in as soon as you hear us engaged.  But remember that it is quite possible we may not be able to get down.  This passage may get almost perpendicular presently; and though I mean to go if possible, even if I have a straight drop for it, it may close up and be altogether impracticable.  So don’t you try to enter till you are quite sure they are engaged with us, otherwise you will be only throwing away your life.”