In the meantime Philip, Lucy-Ann and Dinah had, by great good luck, just struck the gap in the rocks. It was really because of Lucy-Ann’s sharp ears that they had been so lucky. She had listened to the pounding of the water over the rocks, and her ears had noticed a softening of the thunder. That’s where the gap must be, she thought. The noise dies away a little there. So, sitting at the tiller, she tried to guide the boat to where she guessed the gap to be, and by good chance she found it. The boat slipped through, scraping its keel once more on the rock just below the surface and then it was in the open sea, rocking up and down.
How Philip put up the sail in the half darkness, and sailed the boat home, he never quite knew. He was desperate; the girls must be got back in safety, so with great courage he went about his task. When at last he reached the mooring-place, under the cliff, he could not get out of the boat. Quite suddenly his knees seemed to give way, and he could not walk.
I’ll have to wait a minute or two, he said to Dinah. My legs have gone funny. I’ll be all right soon.
You’ve been awfully clever, said Dinah, and from her those words meant a lot.
They tied up the boat at last and went up to the house. Aunt Polly met them at the door, in a great state of alarm.
Wherever have you been? I’ve been so worried about you. I’ve been nearly off my head with anxiety. I really feel queer.
She looked very white and ill. Even as she spoke, she tottered a little, and Philip bounded forward and caught her as she fell.
Poor Aunt Polly, he said, dragging her indoors as gently as he could and putting her on the sofa. We’re so sorry we upset you. I’ll get some water no, Dinah, you get some.
Soon Aunt Polly said she felt a little better, but it was quite plain that she was ill. She never could stand any worry of this sort, Dinah said to Lucy-Ann. Once when Philip nearly fell down the cliff, she was ill for days. It seems to make her heart bad. I’ll get her to bed.
Don’t say a word about Jack being missing, Philip warned Dinah in a low voice. That really will give her a heart attack.
Dinah went off upstairs with her aunt, supporting her as firmly as she could. Philip went to look for Jo-Jo. He wasn’t back yet. Good! Then he wouldn’t have missed the boat. He looked at Lucy-Ann’s white little face, its green tired eyes and worried expression. He felt sorry for her.
What are we going to do about Jack? said Lucy-Ann, with a gulp. We’ve got to rescue him, Philip.
I know, said Philip. Well we can’t tell Aunt Polly and Uncle Jocelyn wouldn’t be any good and we’d be idiots to tell Jo-Jo. So there is no-one left but old Bill, I’m afraid.
But you said we’d better not tell Bill we knew his secret, said Lucy-Ann.
I know. But we’ve got to, now that Jack is alone on the island, said Philip. Bill will have to go and tell those fierce friends of his that Jack is a pal, and he’ll find him and bring him back safely. So don’t you worry, Lucy-Ann.
Will you go and tell him now, straight away? asked Lucy-Ann tearfully.
I’ll go just as soon as ever I’ve had something to eat, said Philip, suddenly feeling so hungry that he felt he could eat a whole loaf, a pound of butter and a jar of jam. You’d better have something too, Lucy-Ann you look as white as a sheet. Cheer up! Jack will soon be safe here, and we’ll all be laughing and talking like anything.
Dinah came down then, and set about getting some food. They were all very hungry, even Lucy-Ann. Dinah agreed that the only thing to do was to go to Bill Smugs and get him to go and rescue Jack before the men found him.
They’ll be so wild that we’ve escaped that they may be really tough with Jack, said Dinah, and then wished she hadn’t spoken the words, for Lucy-Ann looked scared to death.
Please go, Philip, begged the little girl. Go now. If you don’t, I shall.
Don’t be silly, said Philip, getting up. You couldn’t make your way across the cliff on a dark night. You’d fall over the edge. Well so long! I’ll be back.
Off went the boy, climbing the steep path to the top of the cliff. Then he set off to find Bill. He saw the lights of Jo-Jo’s car in the distance, coming home, and heard the noise of the engine. He hurried so that he would not be seen.
Bill will be surprised to see me, he thought. He’ll wonder whoever it is, knocking at his door in the middle of the night.
But alas Bill wasn’t there when Philip at last arrived at the shack. Now what was he to do?
Chapter 22
A TALK WITH BILL AND A SHOCK
Philip was filled with dismay. It had never occurred to him that Bill might not be at home. How awful! Philip sat down on a stool and tried to think but he was tired out, and his brain wouldn’t seem to work.
What shall I do now? What shall I do now? he thought, and could not seem to think of anything else. What shall I do now?
It was dark in the little shack. Philip still sat on the stool, his hands hanging limply between his legs. Then he became aware of something at the back of the shack, and he turned to see what it was.
To his great amazement he saw a red light there, glowing deeply. Then it disappeared. Then it came back again, went out, reappeared. It went on doing this for a few minutes, whilst Philip tried to think what it was, and why it seemed to be signalling. At last he got up and went over to the light. It came from a small bulb beside the wireless set. Philip had a look at it. He twiddled one or two knobs. Music came from the wireless when he twiddled one knob. A Morse code came from it when he twiddled another. Then by chance he saw, at the back of the wireless, a small telephone receiver, smaller than any he had seen before almost a pocket size, he thought.
He picked it up and immediately he heard a voice crackling in the receiver. He lifted it to his ear.
Y2 calling, said the voice. Y2. Y2 calling.
Philip listened in, astonished. He decided to speak to the voice.
Hallo! he said. Who are you?
There was a moment’s silence. Evidently Y2, whoever he might be, was surprised. A cautious voice came over the phone again.
Who is there?
A boy called Philip Mannering, said Philip. I came to find Bill Smugs, but he isn’t here.
Who did you say? said the voice.
Bill Smugs. But he’s not here, repeated Philip. I say, who are you? Do you want to leave a message for Bill? I expect he’ll be back sometime.
How long has he been gone? asked Y2.
Don’t know, said Philip. Wait I can hear someone. Here he comes, I do believe.
Joyfully the boy put down the tiny telephone receiver. He had heard the low sound of whistling outside, and footsteps. It must be Bill.
It was. He came in, shining his torch and he was so surprised when he saw Philip there that he stood stock-still without saying a word.
Oh, Bill! said Philip joyfully. I’m so glad you’ve come. Quick! somebody wants you on the phone Y2 he says he is.
Did you speak to him? said Bill, his voice sounding astonished. He picked up the tiny phone and spoke curtly.
Is that Y2? L4 speaking.
The voice evidently asked him who Philip was.
Boy that lives round here, said Bill. What’s the news, please?
Then all that was said by Bill was Yes. Of course. I’ll let you know. Thanks. No, nothing yet. Goodbye.
He turned to Philip when he had finished talking. Look here, my boy, he said, please understand that, if you come paying calls here when I am out, you must on no account tamper with my possessions or meddle with my affairs.
Bill had never spoken so sternly before, and Philip’s heart sank. What would Bill say when he knew that the children had guessed his secret? He would think they had been meddling more than ever.
Sorry, Bill, he said awkwardly. I didn’t mean to interfere at all.
Why have you come at this time of night? asked Bill.
Bill is this your pencil? asked Philip, taking it out. He hoped that when Bill saw it he would remember that he had dropped it down in the copper-mines, and would guess, without Philip saying any more, that the children knew his secret. Bill stared at the yellow pencil stub.