Duly snubbed, Ardiune subsided, and tramped on in silence, her discontent slightly alleviated by the prospect of Paradise drops, for Raymonde was rattling the basket suggestively to cheer her up. Extra visitors joined the party here and there upon the way, and outside Littlewood village the Professor himself was waiting for them, beaming as usual, and carrying a most professional-looking hammer, and a little bass for specimens. He greeted them with one of his customary jokes, and they smiled obediently, more out of habit than inclination. The quarry proved more exciting than they had anticipated. It was a large place, and to get down into it they were obliged to descend several steep ladders, leading from one platform to another. Arrived at the bottom level, Professor Marshall collected his students in a group round him, and delivered a lecturette upon the points to be noticed in the strata surrounding them. Raymonde listened sadly. It seemed to her an unprofitable way of spending a Saturday afternoon. She brightened, however, when the audience dispersed to commence practical work. "Come along!" she whispered to her chums. "Let's scoot over there and begin to chop rocks! Quick!" "Where are the Paradise drops?" enquired the others eagerly. "Don't worry, I have them safe. Only wait till Gibbie's back is turned." Though they were decidedly tired of lectures, the girls nevertheless were quite mildly interested in searching for fossils. There was an element of competition about it which appealed to them, and when Hermie found a fine specimen of _Cupressocrinus crassus_, the Fifth felt that they must not be outdone. "We haven't got anything really decent yet!" sighed Aveline, watching with envious eyes as Hermie exhibited her treasure to the admiring visitors. "The Sixth are cackling ever so hard." "Let's go over there," suggested Raymonde. "No one's explored that bit of the quarry. We might find all sorts of things." The Mystic Seven, who generally clung together in their undertakings, scaled a ladder therefore, climbed a mound of refuse, and found themselves on new ground. They dispersed, and each searched to the best of her ability among the pieces of crumbly rock that were lying about. Aveline, absorbed in splitting strata with her hammer, was suddenly disturbed by a piercing yell and a shout of "Help!" She ran at once in the direction of the screams, and round the corner discovered Raymonde, sunk nearly to her waist in a kind of clay bog. "Help me!" she implored. "I can't get out. The more I try, the deeper I seem to sink in." "Don't struggle, then; wait a minute," said Aveline, advancing on to some firm-looking stones and stretching out a hand. "Can you manage now?" Raymonde made a desperate but futile effort. "No, I'm stuck tight--can't move my legs." "Don't pull me, or I'll be in too! Now, I'm going to tug one of your legs out! That's it! Now the other! Here you are! Good gracious! What a mess you're in!"