A moment the light remained fixed; then it was raised, lowered, and moved from side to side as if the holder were examining the ground; then it advanced.

“Stop!” thundered Mr. Hume.  “Stand back.  There is a chasm at your feet.”

He had suddenly remembered the platform on which he and Venning had emerged on their first attempt after leaving the Cave of Skulls, and somehow he felt that the person who held that light had strayed to that very place in ignorance.

He heard a startled exclamation, saw the light fall from the person’s band, and marked its swift descent, before the flame was extinguished by the rush of air; then it was his turn to fall back.

“Who are you?”

“It’s Dick,” shouted Venning, with a sob in his voice.

“Dick,” muttered the Hunter, cold to the heart at the thought of the falling light.

“Hurrah!” There was no mistaking that shout.  “Where are you?  How can I get to you?”

“For God’s sake, don’t move!” cried the Hunter, in a shaken voice.  “Stay where you are.  We’ll join you.”

From below there came a shrill clamour, but the Hunter, never pausing to give the creatures a thought, lifted Venning in his arms and felt his way to the cave, clambered up through the hole, found the other exit hidden by the mat, and crept down the broken passage beyond.  In a turn of the passage they saw Compton’s face peering out under a lighted candle, the one visible object in the darkness, set in a strained expression, in which were blended joy, anxiety, and wonder.

They gripped hands in silence, then—­

“We’ve found the boat,” said Venning.

“What is that noise down below?” asked Dick.

“Have you got any food?” This from Mr. Hume.

“A sackful.”

“Then let us eat first of all.”

They sat down there and then and ate, and when they had eaten they were silent, because the creatures below were silent too, and Mr. Hume knew that then they were dangerous.  He went back to stand behind the mat knife in hand, ready to attack, for now that he had got his two boys back, he said to himself grimly that he would stand no nonsense.  Back in that dark passage Dick sat with his friend’s head on his shoulder, and one limp hand grasped in his, marvelling much at the mystery of the place and at the providential meeting.  He had cause to wonder how Venning had borne the horrors of the underground as well as he had, for towards the morning it seemed as if those ghouls of darkness vied with each other in producing the most appalling shrieks, howls, and bursts of mirthless laughter.  They played ventriloquial tricks in the passages and caverns, making the sounds come from different points after varying intervals of silence; and all the time, as could be gathered from occasional words in the incoherent gabble, uttering threats against the white men.

Then, at the very break of dawn, after a couple of hours of silence, the plot they had formed was put into shape.