"Heard the news, young gentlemen? They du say that Tassh has been seen in Bodmin, and that he has taken the train to Lunnon with a girt box--full o' stolen silver I du say. We'm expecting news that he's been apprehended as soon as he gets to his journey's end." Atherton thanked the farmer for his information, and, excusing himself, hastened his patrol into one of Peter Varco's boats, that the old fisherman obligingly lent them. "I was beginning to wonder what had happened to you," said Mr Buckley. "In fact, I was on the point of taking two of the 'Wolves' with me and following up your trail. They say that Tassh has been traced to London, eh? Well, I hope it's true, for we shall be able to carry out our camp routine, which from all accounts has been subjected to interruptions of various sorts from the first day you arrived. All right, Atherton, you can go through the tunnel again. Three of you will be enough, I think. Get back as soon as you can." The second trip through the subterranean passage was performed with alacrity, and without incident Atherton and his companions succeeded in reaching the far end. "Give a push with the end of your staff, Green," he said, pointing to a well-defined mark on the stonework where the mechanism had previously been actuated. Green pushed his pole, at first gently, then harder. It was all to no purpose. The sliding stone seemed as immovable as it had done on the other side. "That's strange," commented the Leader. "Bring the other lantern here and let's see if we can find anything." For a quarter of an hour or more Atherton prodded the stone and groped for a concealed spring. "We're done again, I'm afraid," he remarked. "We must retrace our steps. Blow one of the candles out, Mayne. We've none too much left. I didn't reckon on this." "It won't do to be stranded in this hole without a light," agreed Mayne. "What about the lanterns we left behind us?" Atherton picked up the two candle-lamps. In one there was less than a quarter of an inch. In the other there was hardly as much, and what made matters worse, the Scouts who took spare candles had not handed them over to their comrades when the latter set out on their second journey through the tunnel. "Back as fast as we can," ordered Atherton. "Don't wait to bring that bowl with us. It will be quite safe here." Lighted by the glimmer of the solitary candle, the Scouts hastened on their homeward way. Presently Green called out: "I say, Atherton. What's that noise?" A dull swishing sound came faintly to the ears of the listeners. "It's like a tap running," remarked Mayne. "Water running into a bath, for example." "Foot it as fast as you can," exclaimed Atherton. "It may be all right, but I fancy the water is pouring into the hollow we noticed just this side of the place we found the silver bowl." The three lads broke into a run, guided by the flickering light of the lantern. Louder and louder grew the sound of the inrush of water.