THE DOYLE TWINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20058, 22 September 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE DOYLE TWINS.

jjj i.j HI BY ISABEL MAUD PEACOCKE. [is

CHAPTER IV. THEY FIND A -MYSTERIOUS CAVE. Pat felt bewildered and scared as he hurried back tho way he had come, calling anxiously. There are no wild beasts in this beautiful forest of ou r e, so that Peter could not have been carried off by a tiger or a panther. But that only made the mystery deeper to poor Pat. lie called as he ran here and there through the trees, and every moment the shadows were gathering with the coming on oi night. Pat was a plucky boy, and a sensible one, and he stood still at last and tried to think where he had last seen his brother. He remembered now thai looking back he had seen Peter standing at the fool of an old dead rata, covered with a wild tangle of vines. If he could only find that rata he might trace his brother. There were many dead ratas, of course, but he remembered this one in particular, because it was leaning over at ;i sharp angle and the vines hung from it like a curtain. Swiftly Pat pushed his way through the trees, and at last, to his great joy, he saw the overhanging rata where his brother had stood, looking up at him. It was dusk now, but he could not be mistaken in the tree. He leaned forward and grasped the hanging screen of leafy vines. Tho next moment his feet slid from under him, the vines tore awav in his hands, and he found himself rolling, and bumping down a slope, through trees and bushes. When he reached the bottom of the slope he was bruised and breathless and utterly surprised, but scarcely hurt at all. Rather dazed, he Eat up, wondering what in the world bad happened. TheD a familiar voice said in a muffled tone: "Get off me, you great, clumsy ass!" "Pete!" Pat's* yell of delight awoka the echoes. He struggled to his feet, and, feeling about in the gloom, grasped his brother's arm and dragged him to his feet. " What in ' the world happened ! Are you hurt?" he cried. "No," gasped Peter; I'm not hurt. Gave my nut*a bit of a crack, and was so winded I couldn't yell, though I thought I heard you calling. What happened ?" " Blessed if I know. I missed you and came back to look, when suddenly—biffbang—rnv feet went and I found myself rolling." " Same here," said Peter. " When you came crashing down on top of me, I thought you were doing it for a lark." What had happened was this. The leaning rata, with its hanging screen of vines, concealed a shallow gully on the edge of which it was growing, and first Peter, and then Pat, walked right over the bank. Neither were hurt,- however, and were able to laugh at their comical adventure, although they were both tired and hungry, and not looking forward to a night in the bush. There seemed to be tio help for it. however, as it was now too dark to attempt any progress. Then came Peter s usual query: Whnt'll we do now?" " Eats," said Pat. " Eats!" yelled Peter in surprise. What •■'' " Sandwiches." said Pat calmly, enjoying his brother's astonishment. " Bit soppy, but—" "Soppy! Crikey!" exclaimed Peter, and snatched eagerly at the white bundle in Pat's hand. " Wait a bit! Wait a bit!" cried Pat. " I had these in the pocket of my sweater and forgot all about 'em. Mum gave 'em to me at the last minute, 'cos she said she thought she hadn't Dacked enough. 'Course they're soaked, and there s only four, so we can have one each to-nignt and keep the other till to-morrow." One wet sandwich, even the thick, meaty ones Mrs. Doyle provided for the healthy appetites of her boys was not very satisfying, but it was certainly better than nikau root, and when it was eaten the boys were so weary that they curled up together at the foot of a great tree, and after' a time fell asleep. It was broad daylight when they awakened, and bright gleams of sunshine were penetrating their leafy cover. They were both stiff and sore after their_ adventures of the day before, and inclined to be a little snappy with each other. But after they had eaten the remaining sandwiches and had a drink and a wash in the tiny creek; they felt more cheerful. And Peter made a discoverev. I say, Pat, there's some sort of a track here." Pat camo and inspected. Yes, them certainly was a distinct track; ferns and small plants had been trodden down and the supple-jack vines were cleared away. In some excitement the boys followed the track, which led them again in sight of the river, and then struck sharnly away from it. It ended in front of a cave on the hillside, the ooening of which was half-veiled by creepers. Tho boys peered into the gloom a minute, and then Pat declared, "I m going m." _ Nothing loth, Peter followed. What bov can resist a cave ? They had only taken a few steps when Pat stumbled over something, and, stooping down, he picked lip a worn old gumboot. "Gee! It's a human cave!" he cried excitedly, and any boy will know just what he meant. As their <-ve= became accustomed to the half-light they sow other signs of human habitation, a box wiich served for a rouith table, on which stood, a blackened billv. a tin mug and plate, a candle and match-"" "Go!" whispered Peter. "A smuggler's cave!" " No." said Pat decidedly. "It it were smugglers there'd be rn'd and silver dishes—not tbese old tin things. Here s an old coat. Let's see if there is a letter, or dving confession, or anvtbinst in it. He was growing in the pockets when snddenlv a deeo voice boomed angrily thro"<rh the cavern : "What are von doing in my cave?" (To be continued.)