"
"I am here, Conway," a faint voice said from the other end of the
cabin; "but I have broken my leg I think, and Desmond has knocked all
the wind out of my body."
Ralph hastened to the spot whence the voice came and found Captain
O'Connor lying on the ground, and Lieutenant Desmond insensible beside
him.
"What has happened?" Ralph exclaimed. "Have they shot you?"
"No. Hold the torch up and you will see the way we came."
The soldier did so, and Ralph looking up saw a hole in the top of the
cave twenty feet above.
"You don't mean to say you came through there, O'Connor?"
"I did, worse luck to it!" O'Connor said. "The passage got steeper and
steeper, and at last my foot slipped, and I shot down and came plump
into the middle of a peat fire; and a moment later Desmond shot down
on to the top of me. We scattered the fire all over the place, as you
can imagine; but I burned my hands and face, and I believe the leg of
my breeches is on fire--something is hurting me confoundedly."
"Yes, it is all smoldering!" Ralph exclaimed, putting it out with his
hands.
"Have you got them all?" Captain O'Connor asked.
"Everyone; not one has made his escape. It would have fared badly with
us, though, if Lieutenant Adcock had not sent down the men to our
assistance. Where is your leg broken, O'Connor?"
"Above the knee," the captain said.
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