"Well, we shall just have to go on then, that's all," said Rex shortly. "A passage 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 leadership. Of course the passage 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 passage seemed to grow narrower all the time, while the air was close and heavy. A long time seemed to pass 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 hoarse as to be hardly recognisable. "The passage 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 embarrassment. "No, Norah. I am afraid no one saw me." "Will they miss the keys?" "They are very old keys, Norah. Nobody 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!"