A Pair of Schoolgirls: A Story of School Days Read online

  CHAPTER XII

  The Subterranean Cavern

  The Ringborough Hydropathic was not only celebrated for fishing andgolf--the neighbourhood itself held many attractions. The mountainsround, grim stony ridges, contained curiosities of nature such as areonly found in a limestone district. There were wonderful subterraneancaverns, full of stalactites and stalagmites; underground lakes andrivers, and mysterious "potholes" leading no one knew whither.

  "We ought to make an excursion to Lingham Cave," said Percy Helm oneday. "It's one of the local sights, and it seems a pity to miss it.Couldn't we arrange to go altogether in a big party? To-morrow would bea good opportunity."

  When to-morrow came, none of the elders seemed disposed to fall in withPercy's plans. Dr. Longton and Mr. Clarke were bent on fishing, Mrs.Longton was tired and preferred to stay in the garden, and Mr. and Mrs.Helm wished to play golf. Mrs. Clarke would not hear of Alison's goingon such an expedition.

  "I've been before to Lingham," she said, "and I know from experience howdamp and cold it is inside the cave. You were coughing last night,Birdie, and I don't want to risk your catching a bad cold. You must becontent to do something quiet to-day."

  Dorothy easily obtained Mrs. Longton's consent, so she and the threeyoung Helms took packets of lunch and started to walk over the fells toLingham, a distance of about four miles. The weather was still cold, andthe crests of some of the highest hills were tipped with snow. The keen,bracing air felt like a tonic. The four strode along briskly over theshort moorland grass, admiring the rugged gorge whence the river flowedfirst between two sheer walls of limestone, and then through a chasmthat seemed to have been made by the rending asunder of a mountain ofrock.

  "It's a primeval kind of place," said Gabrielle. "One can understandwhat a terrible upheaval there must have been to split the cliffs andtwist all the strata out of shape. What enormous force it must haveneeded! One wonders if any human beings were there when it happened."

  "If there were, they wouldn't be there long," said Percy. "The smallestof those rocks would be enough to crush an army."

  "It's a pity Alison isn't here," remarked Dorothy. "She's rather keen ongeology, and one gets a much better general view of the gorge from herethan from the Hydro."

  "Yes, I'm sorry she wasn't allowed to come," replied Gabrielle. "I thinkMrs. Clarke is fearfully nervous. I'm glad Mother doesn't fuss over meto such an extent. Still, it has another side to it--it must be rathernice to be a treasured only child!"

  "Then you should have been born in a different family; you made a badchoice in ours," said Eric.

  "How many of you are there altogether?" asked Dorothy.

  "Seven; we've left the little ones behind."

  "Only Norma goes to the Coll."

  "Yes; the other three are nursery children. You don't know what it is tobe eldest daughter. Be thankful you haven't three small nuisances athome."

  "I wish I had!" said Dorothy.

  "All right; you may change places with me. I'll hand over the whole setof brothers and sisters, Percy and Eric included."

  "A happy exchange for us!" murmured Percy, with a look at Dorothy.

  "You horrid boy!" said Gabrielle.

  "I want to know why Percy has brought that coil of rope with him,"enquired Dorothy. "I've been wondering ever since we started."

  "Well, I'm quite prepared to satisfy your curiosity. Let us sit downand eat our lunch while I expound; there are some jolly stones here forseats."

  All four were very ready for lunch, though it was only twelve o'clock.The keen air had given them fine appetites, and the ham sandwiches andchicken drumsticks disappeared quickly, not to speak of the bread andcheese and cakes.

  "They don't put up bad lunches at the Hydro.," said Percy, aiming hislast chicken bone at a bird that flew overhead.

  "What about the rope?" asked Dorothy again. "I'm still inquisitive."

  "It's an idea of mine. You know, everybody goes to Lingham Cave; it's aregular show place. You pay your shilling, and you're taken round by aguide who tells you where to step, and not to knock your head, and allthat kind of stuff, and prates away about geology and naturalcuriosities and the rest of it, as if he'd learnt it off like a lesson.Well, instead of going where everybody else goes, I think it would bemuch better fun to explore a place of our own. There's another cave atthe other side of Lingham, on the spur of Whernscar. I saw the entranceto it last Friday, when I walked over with Dr. Shaw. He pointed it outto me, and said very few people had been down it, but it was quite asfine as the other, and had splendid--what do you call thosethingumgigs?--oh yes, stalactites, and an underground waterfall."

  A LESSON IN GOLF]

  "Is there a guide there?" asked Eric.

  "No; that's the best of it--no shillings to pay, and no botheringlecture. People fight shy of it because it's so out of the way andrather difficult to go down--the passage is narrow, and there's one badplace. I thought if we had a rope, though, we could manage it easily;and look! I've brought all these candles and three boxes of matches."

  "It would be ripping to see an underground waterfall," said Eric. "Thereisn't one in Lingham Cave."

  "Yes; we might never get such an opportunity again. Who votes forWhernscar?"

  "I do," said Dorothy promptly. The idea of an adventure tempted her. Shewas always attracted by the unknown.

  "I suppose we should be all right? It will be quite safe, I mean?"queried Gabrielle, a little doubtfully.

  "Right as a trivet, with a rope and candles," replied Percy. "I expectif this cave were nearer Lingham village it would be more popular thanthe other. It's fearfully far from the station, though, which doesn'tsuit trippers."

  "We're trippers ourselves if we make a trial trip," laughed Eric.

  All the four young people were excited at the prospect of exploring alittle-known cavern without the assistance of a guide. They felt like aband of pioneers in a fresh country, or the discoverers of a newcontinent. None of them in the least realized the risk of theproceeding, and no older person was there to preach wisdom. Percy, whohad been over the fells before, knew the way, and therefore assumed thedirection of the party. Instead of going down to Lingham, they turned upthe hill instead, and struck across the spur of Whernscar. It was agrim, desolate part of the country; the bare rocks, upheaved in strangeshapes and unclothed by any greenery, seemed like the skeleton of theearth exposed to view. Stone walls took the place of hedges, and therewas scarcely a human habitation within sight. Scattered here and thereover the moorland were curious natural pits called "potholes", deep anddark as wells, and with a sound of rushing water at the bottom. Into oneof these a small stream emptied itself, and was swallowed up bodily.

  "They're fearful places," said Dorothy, holding Gabrielle's hand, andgazing half-fascinated over the edge of the pit into the bubbling depthsbelow. "It's like a witch's cauldron; you feel there's 'double, double,toil and trouble' going on down there."

  "People must have been fearfully superstitious about these holes inolden times," remarked Gabrielle.

  "Rather! They attributed them to His Satanic Majesty--thought they werethe blowholes of the nether world, in fact. I don't suppose any of thenatives here would care to go near them at night," said Percy.

  "Come along! It makes me dizzy to stare down," said Gabrielle. "I feelas if something were drawing me in."

  "The wizard who lives at the bottom!" laughed Dorothy. "We're certainlyin a very peculiar part of the country. Is it far to the cave now?"

  "No, we're quite close. I have my bearings, and I'm pretty sure thatit's just round the other side of that crag."

  "How exciting! Do let us be quick!"

  The mouth of the cave proved to be a small, narrow opening in the sideof the hill, no taller or wider than the little postern gate of an oldcastle. For a few yards inside there was a brown glimmer, but beyond layinky darkness. The girls, after a first peep, drew back with a shudder,half of real fear, and half of delighted anticipation of a newexperience. Percy had tak
en out the candles and was busy lighting them.

  "There's one for each of us," he said. "And we must each have somematches in our pockets, in case of emergencies."

  "What emergencies?" asked Gabrielle.

  "Well, suppose we got separated?"

  "Separated! Don't talk of it. You're not going to lose me, I can tellyou. I shall hold on to your coat the whole way. I shan't go in at allif you mean to play hide-and-seek. Promise you won't lose me!"

  "Don't be silly! Nobody wants to lose you," said Percy. "I'm only takingproper precautions. There! Are you ready? Eric and I will go first, andyou and Dorothy can follow."

  "Shades of Pluto, it's spooky!" exclaimed Eric, leading the way.

  The passage ran level for about fifteen yards, then began abruptly todescend into the hollow of the mountain. The walls were jagged anduneven, there were frequent turnings and windings, and the floor wasrough with small stones or lumps of rock. In two or three places it wasvery damp. Moisture dripped from the roof and oozed in limestone tearsdown the walls, forming slimy, milky pools under foot. In the distancethey could hear the gurgling of water. The two boys, as pioneers, walkedslowly, holding their lights so as to examine well the ground in front.The girls followed them closely.

  "I should think it's like this in the Catacombs," said Gabrielle.

  "It reminds me of the story of the Princess and the Goblin," saidDorothy.

  "Haven't read it."

  "You benighted girl! What you've missed! It's the most gorgeous talethat was ever written. The goblins lived in a mountain just like this;they had a great underground hall, and dwellings in mysterious cornersand caves. They wanted to steal the little Princess Irene, to marry herto their Prince, only Curdie outwitted them. I feel as if we'refollowing Irene's thread at present."

  "I hope you're following me," said Eric. "We're coming to a bad place,so you'd better go carefully."

  The floor of the passage, which had been growing more and more unevenand rugged, suddenly shelved down like a ladder.

  "Yes, this is a bad bit," muttered Percy. "It will certainly need care.What a good thing I brought the rope!"

  "Are you sure it's safe to venture?" asked Gabrielle.

  "Yes; it's difficult, but it's safe enough. Dr. Shaw told me about thisplace. It's called 'The Chute'; it's something like a long smooth slide.We must lower one another with the rope."

  "Who is to lower the last?" said Dorothy.

  "Oh, I'll manage to climb down all right without. Eric can go first,then he can help you two girls at the bottom."

  Eric, with the rope tied round his waist, and his candle held welloverhead, started cautiously down the incline in a sitting posture.

  "It's as smooth as a slide," he called. "Don't pay out the rope toofast, old chap. Let me down gently. That's better. I'm getting alongfamously now. I can steady myself with one hand on the wall. Whew! Thatwas a scorcher! There's a nasty twist here. Steady! Let go a bit!Right-o! Here I am!"

  The tension on the rope stopped, so he had evidently reached his goal.The others, peering into the darkness, could just see the glimmer of hiscandle round a piece of projecting rock.

  "Where are you?" they shouted.

  "In a much wider passage. Come on! I've untied the rope, so you can windit up. It isn't really difficult at all going down, if you're careful ofthis corner at the end. I'll climb up and give you each a hand as youcome round."

  "You go next, Dorothy," said Gabrielle.

  It was rather a horrible experience, Dorothy thought, after the rope wastied round her waist, to start on that steep, dark descent, even thoughEric was waiting to help her at the bottom. The chute was moist, and asslippery as ice; she felt dreadfully helpless, and if it had not beenfor the staying power of the rope, she would have shot down as if shehad been tobogganing. She managed to aid herself a little by graspingangles of the wall, though one hand was incommoded by holding thecandle.

  "It's all right. Don't squeak--you've got over the worst now," saidEric, extending a welcome grip at the awkward corner. "Put your footagainst that ledge; now then, swing yourself round.--Hi! More rope, upthere!--Let yourself slide now--it's only a few feet. You've done it!Hooray!"

  Dorothy felt like a heroine as she scrambled to her feet and untied therope. She peeped anxiously up the chute to see how Gabrielle would fare.The latter, after protesting vigorously that she daren't and couldn'tand wouldn't, was at length persuaded to try, and accomplished thedescent with many squeals of terror.

  "Pooh! What a fuss you girls make!" said Eric. "There's nothing to befrightened about."

  When his sister was safely landed at the bottom, Percy managed todescend unaided, and the four started once more on their march ofexploration. They were now in a long gallery, much loftier and widerthan the passage above. It extended for about a hundred feet, thennarrowed and lowered abruptly, so that for a few yards they were obligedto stoop to get along. Suddenly they all stopped with a cry ofamazement: the passage ended with a natural arch, and they foundthemselves staring into a vast subterranean chamber. The cavern wasoval in shape, and had probably once been an underground reservoir forwater. From the roof, like huge icicles, hung innumerable stalactites,many of which, meeting with stalagmites that rose from the floor, formedpillars as beautiful as the marble columns in a Greek temple. In thefaint light of the four candles the scene was immensely impressive. Thecave seemed to stretch before the spectators like the dim aisles of somegreat cathedral. They could not see to its farthest extent, but fromsomewhere in the distance came the noise of rushing water. Walkingcarefully between the stalagmites, they commenced a tour ofinvestigation, holding the lights high above their heads, so as to gainas good a view as possible.

  "If we only had a piece of magnesium ribbon to burn, wouldn't it bemagnificent?" sighed Percy.

  "Or even a motor lamp," added Eric.

  Guided by the sound of the water, they reached the corner of thechamber, where a natural wonder presented itself. From a hole aboutfifteen feet above them issued a cascade, which poured in a foaming fallover a ledge of rock, ran for a distance of about eight yards over thefloor of the cavern, then plunged into a deep hole and disappeared.

  "I wonder where it comes out--if it ever comes out at all?" saidDorothy, shuddering as she watched the black water whirl into the darkabyss.

  "Lower down the mountain, probably, but I shouldn't care to try theexperiment of jumping in to find out," said Eric. "It's a weird place,but it's worth seeing. I'm glad we came. I believe it's finer thanLingham. And we've done it on our own, too, without any bothersomeguide."

  "We've got to go back yet," said Gabrielle. "Hadn't we better make astart? It must be getting late."

  "Exactly twenty minutes to four," said Percy, consulting his watch.

  "Then we must go at once. Remember, we have a long walk before us."

  Quite loath to leave the marvels of the subterranean chamber, they torethemselves away, each first breaking off a small stalactite as asouvenir.

  "I shall treasure my limestone 'icicle'," said Dorothy. "I shall scoreif I take it to the geology class at school."

  "I've got an extra one to give to the College museum," said Gabrielle."I hope they won't break in my pocket. I've wrapped them carefully in myhandkerchief."

  Arrived at the chute, Percy climbed up first, with one end of the ropein his hand, then, stationing himself firmly at the top, announced hisreadiness to haul up the others. Gabrielle started next, crawling onhands and knees, and helping herself as best she could by theprojections of rock at the side. It was much more difficult to ascendthan to descend, for the surface was so smooth and slippery, it wasimpossible to get any grip. Almost her whole weight depended upon therope; she was a heavy girl, and the strain was great. Percy at the topheaved with all his strength.

  "Oh dear, it's dreadful!" cried Gabrielle. "It's cutting my waist intwo. Wait a moment, Percy; don't tug so hard. I want to catch thisledge."

  "Let go of the rock, and I'll give one good pull," commanded Percy
. "Ifyou'll trust yourself absolutely to me, I'll have you up in a jiffy."

  Gabrielle loosened her hold, and for one moment threw herself entirelyupon the rope. Perhaps it was not strong enough for the purpose, orpossibly it had been frayed in the descent by contact with a sharp rock;there was a snap, a sudden, agonized cry, and Gabrielle was precipitatedto the bottom of the chasm. She fell heavily, extinguishing her candleas she went, and rolling almost to the feet of Eric and Dorothy, whowere standing at the bottom of the chute looking upwards.

  "Good gracious! What's happened? Gabrielle, are you hurt?" ejaculatedPercy, descending to the rescue with more haste than discretion, andbending over the prostrate form of his sister. "Hold a light, Eric; Ican't see her face."

  "Oh! Oh! I thought I was being killed!" gasped Gabrielle, raisingherself to a sitting position. "Give me your hand, Percy. Oh! Stop,stop! My foot! I believe I've broken my ankle!"

  The explorers stared at one another in blankest dismay. This was indeeda predicament. What were they to do, buried in the depths of the earth,and miles away from help of any kind?

  "Are you sure it's broken, or could you manage to get up if we each tookyour arm?" suggested Eric.

  "No! No! Don't touch me! It's agony if I move."

  "Better let me pull your boot off, quick!" said Dorothy, dropping on herknees by the side of her friend.

  It was a very different matter applying First Aid here from what it hadbeen at the ambulance class in the gymnasium at the College. Exceptpocket-handkerchiefs, there were no materials of any kind to be had.Splints were an impossibility. Dorothy bound up the foot as well as shecould, but her every touch was painful to her poor patient.

  "You're sitting in such a wet place! Couldn't we lift you just alittle?" she suggested.

  "No; please leave me alone. Never mind the wet."

  Gabrielle's rosy cheeks had grown very white. She looked almost ready tofaint. The two boys turned to each other in desperation.

  "We can't haul her up that chute with a broken ankle," said Percy. "Imust go back to the Hydro. for help, and you must stay with her. I'll beas quick as I possibly can--I'll run all the way."

  "Mind you don't tumble into any 'potholes', then," called Gabrielleanxiously, as he scrambled up the chasm and departed.

  Then began a long, weary vigil of many interminable hours. The candleshad burnt so low that the trio did not dare to have them all lightedtogether, in case they should be left in the dark before assistancecame. They therefore used one at a time, and by its faint gleam the deepshadows of the rocks appeared more dim and gloomy than ever.

  "It's almost like being buried alive!" shivered Gabrielle.

  "I'm glad Alison didn't come with us," said Dorothy.

  "We've landed ourselves in an uncommonly tight fix," remarked Eric.

  Would the time never pass? Hour after hour went by. Wet, cold, andhungry, and chilled to the bone, the unfortunate trio sat and waited.They were almost in despair when at last they heard a distant shout, anda few moments afterwards a strong light flashed down the chasm. The bandof rescuers proved to consist of Mr. Helm, Dr. Shaw (the medicalattendant of the Hydropathic), Dr. Longton, Mr. Clarke, and twogardeners who were well acquainted with the neighbourhood, Percy, ofcourse, leading the way. They had brought motor lanterns, ropes, and anumber of other appliances, the most important of all in the eyes of thethree shivering young people being a Thermos flask full of hot soup.

  The first duty for the doctors was to set the broken ankle; then camethe more critical task of removing the injured girl from the cave. Herfather, who was fortunately the tallest and strongest member of theparty, took her in his arms, and, aided partly by ropes and partly bythe help of Dr. Longton and Mr. Clarke, he succeeded in carrying her upthe slippery chute on to the level above. Even there their troubles werenot over--the many twistings and windings and angles of the tortuouspassage were difficult to negotiate without giving undue pain to poorGabrielle, who was already suffering enough. Her rescuers were only ableto proceed very slowly, and with frequent intervals of rest, and by thetime the party reached the surface of the fell it was past eleveno'clock.

  None of them ever forgot that weird midnight walk back to Ringborough.It was a wild, windy night, with heavy clouds chasing one another acrossthe sky and obscuring the light of the waning moon. Hirst and Chorley,the two gardeners, led the way with the lanterns; then came Mr. Helmand Dr. Shaw, carrying Gabrielle on an improvised stretcher; and theothers followed closely behind, Dr. Longton helping Dorothy. The groundwas rough and stony, and every now and then their guides had to stop totake their bearings, for there were several "potholes" and other dangerspots to be avoided. The first grey streak of dawn was showing in thesky when the party, thoroughly exhausted, at last arrived at theHydropathic.

  "Gabrielle won't be at the Coll. again for ever so long," said Alison toDorothy next day. "Dr. Shaw thinks it may be six weeks before she's ableto walk. Uncle David says it's a miracle she wasn't killed. I'm glad Ididn't go--and yet" (rather wistfully) "I don't suppose I shall everhave the opportunity of a real adventure again. It must have been soexciting!"

  "It's nicer to read about adventures than to have them," said Dorothy."It wasn't thrilling at all at the time--it was cold and wet and horrid.I'm delighted to have seen the cave, but I wouldn't go through lastnight again--not if anyone offered me a hundred pounds!"