Part 22 (2/2)

Then along the pa.s.sage to the entrance-hole. They all felt quite pleased at the idea of going up into the suns.h.i.+ne again.

'Can't see any daylight s.h.i.+ning down the hole,' said Julian puzzled. 'It would be near here.'

He came up against a blank wall, and was surprised. Where was the hole? Had they missed their way? Then he flashed his torch above him and saw the hole there - but there was no daylight s.h.i.+ning in!

'I say!' said Julian, in horror. 'I say! What do you think's happened?'

'What?' asked everyone, in panic.

'The hole is closed!' said Julian. 'We can't get out! Somebody's been along and put those planks across - and I bet they've put the caravan over them, too. We can't get out!'

Everyone stared up at the closed entrance in dismay. They were prisoners.

'Whatever are we to do?' said George. 'Julian - what are we going to do?'

CHAPTER NINETEEN

PRISONERS UNDERGROUND

Julian didn't answer. He was angry with himself for not thinking that this might happen! Although Lou and Dan had been seen getting on the bus with bags, they might easily not have been spending the night away - the bags might contain things they wanted to sell - stolen goods of some kind.

'They came back quickly - and came up the hill, I suppose, to have another try at getting n.o.bby and Pongo back,' said Julian, out loud. 'What an idiot I am to leave things to chance like that. Well - I'll have a try at s.h.i.+fting these planks. I should be able to, with luck.'

He did his best, and did s.h.i.+ft them to a certain extent - but, as he feared, the caravan had been run back over the hole, and even if he managed to s.h.i.+ft some of the planks it was impossible to make a way out.

'Perhaps Pongo can help,' he said suddenly. He shouted loudly: 'Pongo! Pongo! Come and help!'

Everyone stood still, hoping that they would hear Pongo chattering somewhere near, or sc.r.a.ping at the planks above. But there was no sign or sound of Pongo.

Everyone called, but it was no use. Pongo didn't come. What had happened to him? Poor n.o.bby felt very worried.

'I wish I knew what has happened,' he kept saying. 'I feel as if something horrid has happened to poor old Pongo. Where can he be?'

Pongo was not very far away. He was lying on his side, his head bleeding. He was quite unconscious, and could not hear the frantic calls of the children at all. Poor Pongo!

What Julian had feared had actually happened. Lou and Dan had come back up the hill, bringing money with them to tempt n.o.bby and Pongo back. When they had got near to the hollow, they had stood still and called loudly.

'n.o.bby! n.o.bby! We've come to make friends, not to hurt you! We've got money for you. Be a sensible boy and come back to the camp. Mr Gorgio is asking for you.'

When there had been no reply at all, the men had gone nearer. Then they had seen Pongo and had stopped. The chimpanzee could not get at them because he was tied up. He sat there snarling.

'Where have those kids gone?' asked Lou. Then he saw that the caravan had been moved back a little, and he at once guessed.

'They've found the way underground! The interfering little brutes! See, they've moved one of the caravans off the hole. What do we do now!'

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