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fetched the bucket； the ammunition； and their clothes。 Afterwards； as
there was still no sign of Meyer； they even dared to drag in the
waggon tent to make a shelter for Benita； and all the wood that they
had collected for firing。 This proved a wearisome business； for the
logs were heavy； and in his crippled state Mr。 Clifford could carry no
great burden。 Indeed； towards the end Benita was forced to complete
the task alone； while he limped beside her with his rifle； lest Jacob
should surprise them。
When at length everything was done it was long past midnight； and so
exhausted were they that； notwithstanding their danger； they flung
themselves down upon the canvas tent； which lay in a heap at the end
of the cave near the crucifix； and fell asleep。
When Benita woke the lamp had gone out； and it was pitch dark。
Fortunately； however； she remembered where she had put the matches and
the lantern with a candle in it。 She lit the candle and looked at her
watch。 It was nearly six o'clock。 The dawn must be breaking outside；
within an hour or two Jacob Meyer would find that they had gone。
Suppose that his rage should overcome his fear and that he should
creep upon them。 They would know nothing of it until his face appeared
in the faint ring of light。 Or he might even shoot her father out of
the darkness。 What could she do that would give them warning？ A
thought came to her。
Taking one of the tent ropes and the lantern； for her father still
slept heavily； she went down to the entrance of the cave； and at the
end of the last zigzag where once a door had been； managed to make it
fast to a stone hinge about eighteen inches above the floor； and on
the other side to an eye opposite that was cut in the solid rock to
receive a bolt of wood or iron。 Meyer； she knew； had no lamps or oil；
only matches and perhaps a few candles。 Therefore if he tried to enter
the cave it was probable that he would trip over the rope and thus
give them warning。 Then she went back； washed her face and hands with
some water that they had drawn on the previous night to satisfy their
thirst； and tidied herself as best she could。 This done； as her father
still slept； she filled the lamps； lit one of them； and looked about
her； for she was loth to wake him。
Truly it was an awful place in which to dwell。 There above them
towered the great white crucifix； there in the corner were piled the
remains of the Portuguese。 A skull with long hair still hanging to it
grinned at her； a withered hand was thrust forward as though to clutch
her。 Oh； no wonder that in such a spot Jacob Meyer had seen ghosts！ In
front； too； was the yawning grave where they had found the monk；
indeed； his bones wrapped in dark robes still lay within； for Jacob
had tumbled them back again。 Then beyond and all around deep； dark；
and utter silence。
At last her father woke； and glad enough was she of his human company。
They breakfasted upon some biscuits and water； and afterwards； while
Mr。 Clifford watched near the entrance with his rifle； Benita set to
work to arrange their belongings。 The tent she managed to prop up
against the wall of the cave by help of some of the wood which they
had carried in。 Beneath it she spread their blankets； that it might
serve as a sleeping place for them both； and outside placed the food
and other things。
While she was thus engaged she heard a sound at the mouth of the cave
Jacob Meyer was entering and had fallen over her rope。 Down it she
ran； lantern in hand； to her father； who； with his rifle raised； was
shouting：
〃If you come in here； I put a bullet through you！〃
Then came the answer in Jacob's voice； which rang hollow in that
vaulted place：
〃I do not want to come in； I shall wait for you to come out。 You
cannot live long in there； the horror of the dark will kill you。 I
have only to sit in the sunlight and wait。〃
Then he laughed； and they heard the sound of his footsteps retreating
down the passage。
〃What are we to do？〃 asked Mr。 Clifford despairingly。 〃We cannot live
without light； and if we have light he will certainly creep to the
entrance and shoot us。 He is quite mad now； I am sure of it from his
voice。〃
Benita thought a minute； then she answered：
〃We must build up the passage。 Look；〃 and she pointed to the lumps of
rock that the explosion of their mine had shaken down from the roof；
and the slabs of cement that they had broken from the floor with the
crowbar。 〃At once； at once；〃 she went on； 〃he will not come back for
some hours； probably not till night。〃
So they set to work； and never did Benita labour as it was her lot to
do that day。 Such of the fragments as they could lift they carried
between them； others they rolled along by help of the crowbar。 For
hour after hour they toiled at their task。 Luckily for them； the
passage was not more than three feet wide by six feet six high； and
their material was ample。 Before the evening they had blocked it
completely with a wall several feet in thickness； which wall they
supported on the inside with lengths of the firewood lashed across to
the old hinges and bolt…holes； or set obliquely against its face。
It was done； and they regarded their work with pride； although it
seemed probable that they were building up their own tomb。 Because of
its position at an angle of the passage； they knew that Meyer could
not get to it with a pole to batter it down。 Also； there was no loose
powder left； so his only chance would be to pull it to pieces with his
hands； and this； they thought； might be beyond his power。 At least；
should he attempt it； they would have ample warning。 Yet that day was
not to pass without another trouble。
Just as they had rolled up and levered into place a long fragment of
rock designed to prevent the ends of their supporting pieces of wood
from slipping on the cement floor； Mr。 Clifford uttered an
exclamation； then said：
〃I have wrung my back badly。 Help me to the tent。 I must lie down。〃
Slowly and with great pain they staggered up the cave； Mr。 Clifford
leaning on Benita and a stick； till； reaching the tent at last； he
almost fell on to the blankets and remained there practically
crippled。
Now began Benita's terrible time； the worst of all her life。 Every
hour her father became more ill。 Even before they took refuge in the
cave he was completely broken down； and now after this accident he
began to suffer very much。 His rheumatism or sciatica； or whatever it
was； seemed to settle upon the hurt muscles of his back； causing him
so much pain that he could scarcely sleep for ten minutes at a
stretch。 Moreover； he would swallow but little of the rough food which
was all Benita was able to prepare for him； nothing； indeed； except
biscuit soaked in black coffee； which she boiled over a small fire
made of wood that they had brought with them； and occasionally a
little broth； tasteless stuff enough； for it was only the essence o