Part 8 (1/2)

But Norah would not listen to such a suggestion. What if her back did ache, it was not every day that she had the chance of such an adventure; besides, she had no particular wish to be left alone in the dark, while it yet remained to be proved how she was to turn round when the time came for the return journey. For five minutes longer they trudged forward in silence, then Rex's stick struck against some other substance than stone, and his outstretched hand came across a bar of iron. It proved to be a half-closed grating, shutting out the entrance into the further portion of the pa.s.sage, but he was not to be turned aside by such a trifle as this, and after much pus.h.i.+ng and banging managed to raise it sufficiently to make it possible to scramble underneath. Norah followed in agile fas.h.i.+on, but hardly had she done so than there came the sound of a fall, and a sharp, metallic click.

”What's that?” cried Rex quickly, and Norah stretched out her hand to discover the cause of the noise. It came, into contact with something hard and cold, and her heart gave a leap of fear, for she realised in an instant that the trap-door had fallen, and that the click which they had heard had been the catch with which it had swung into its rightful position.

”I--I think something has fastened the grating,” she said faintly. ”I can't make it move. We shan't be able to get back this way.”

”Oh, what nonsense! Let me come and try,” said Rex impatiently, but the pa.s.sage was so narrow at this point that it was impossible for him to pa.s.s, and he had to content himself with directing Norah's efforts.

”I'll hold the lantern; look up and down and see if you can find the fastening. Push upwards! Put your fingers in the holes, and tug with all your might. ... Try it the other way. ... Kick it with your feet!”

Norah worked with all her strength--and she was a strong, well-grown girl, with no small muscular power--but the grating stood firm as a rock, and resisted all her efforts. ”It's no use, Rex,” she panted desperately; and there was silence for a few moments, broken by a sound which was strangely like the beating of two anxious hearts.

”Well, we shall just have to go on then, that's all,” said Rex shortly.

”A pa.s.sage is bound to lead somewhere, I suppose. The worst that can happen is that we may have a walk home, and you couldn't come to much harm in that coat!”

”Oh no! I shall be all right,” said Norah bravely. For a few moments she had been horribly frightened, but Rex's matter-of-fact speech had restored her confidence in his leaders.h.i.+p. Of course the pa.s.sage must have an outlet. She considered where they would come out, and even smiled faintly to herself at the thought of the comical figure which she would cut, striding through the lanes in the squire's old yellow mackintosh. She was determined to let Rex see that though she was only a girl, she could be as brave as any boy; but it was difficult to keep up her spirits during the next ten minutes, for the pa.s.sage seemed to grow narrower all the time, while the air was close and heavy. A long time seemed to pa.s.s while they groped their way forward, then suddenly Rex's stick struck against some obstacle directly in his path, and he stopped short.

”What is it?” cried Norah fearfully. It seemed an endless time to the poor child before he answered, in a voice so strained and hoa.r.s.e as to be hardly recognisable.

”The pa.s.sage is blocked. It is walled up. We cannot get any further!”

Rex lifted the lantern as he spoke and looked anxiously into the girl's face, but Norah said nothing. It seemed as if she could not realise the meaning of his words, but there was a dizzy feeling in her head as if a catherine-wheel were whirling round and round, and she felt suddenly weak and tired, so that she was obliged to sit down and lean against the wall.

Rex bent over her with an anxious face.

”You are not going to faint, Norah?”

”Oh, no; I am--quite well.”

There was a long silence, then--”Rex,” said Norah, in a very weak little voice, ”did anyone know that you were down in the cellars to-day?”

Rex cleared his throat in miserable embarra.s.sment.

”No, Norah. I am afraid no one saw me.”

”Will they miss the keys?”

”They are very old keys, Norah. n.o.body uses them.”

A little frightened gasp sounded in his ear, but Norah said no more.

Rex clenched his fist and banged it fiercely on his knee.

”Idiot! idiot that I was! What business had I to let you come. It's all my fault. It was no place for a girl; but the opening looked right enough, and I thought--”

”I know. Besides, you asked me if I would like an adventure, and I said I would. I came of my own free will. Don't be angry with yourself, Rex; it is as much my fault as yours.”

”You are a little brick, Norah,” said a husky voice, and Rex's hand gripped hers with a quick, strong pressure. ”I never thought a girl could be so plucky. I'll not forget--” He broke off suddenly, and Norah's voice was very unsteady as she asked the next question--

”If--if we shouted very loudly would anyone hear?”

”I--er-- Think how far away from the house we must be by this time, Norah!”