Chapter VI: An Amazing Discovery

ON the wall to the right, as one entered Mr. Alan's room, hung a long, narrow picture which had a strange interest for the boys.

It was a life-size painting of a man in the dress of a Cavalier, with feathered hat and ample cloak, lace ruffles and pointed shoes. He was leaning forward with his finger on his lips as if enjoining silence. The boys were struck with the disagreeable expression of the countenance and the cunning leer in the eyes. Noel was uneasily conscious that the eyes followed him to whatever side of the room he retreated.

"I hate that picture," he said; "the man keeps staring at me as if he were alive."

"What does that matter when you know he is not?" said Duke. "Let him stare. I snap my fingers at him. I would turn him round with his face to the wall if the frame were not so large."

He laid his hand on the picture as he spoke and gave it a slight push.

Then an amazing thing happened.

The picture swung slowly back, revealing an opening. Gazing into it with startled eyes, the boys saw the beginning of a narrow flight of stairs leading downwards.

"Oh, look, Noel, look!" cried Duke. "A hidden staircase! Let us go down and see where it leads to."

"Oh, no, no!" cried Noel, shrinking back.

"Why not? Well, you are a fellow! I am going down." Duke descended a few steps and was lost to sight. Noel waited in breathless suspense. He was trying hard to nerve himself to follow, when his brother reappeared.

"The steps go a long way down," he said "they are quite easy, but it's rather dark. We'll come again to-morrow and bring some bits of candle."

"Does mother know about it, do you think?" asked Noel.

"I can't tell. I dare say she does not," said Duke. "But look here, Noel, we won't say anything about it till we've been down and seen what it's like."

"But don't you think we ought to tell her?" said Noel. "Then p'raps she'd let Box go with us."

"Box!" returned Duke contemptuously. "Much good it would be to go with an old fellow like that! Really, Noel, I think you should have a nursemaid. I'll go by myself if you're afraid. Only be quiet about it for the present. Now we'll push the picture back. See how easily it goes!"

"How clever to make a picture into a door!" said Noel. "No one would guess it was that."

"No, but aren't you glad we've found it out? Now I feel as if it must be about dinner-time, so we'll go back into the house."

In the afternoon the rain ceased and the sky gradually grew clearer; but the force of the wind increased. Standing by a window, the boys could hear the roar of the waves mingling with the noise of the blast.

"Oh, what a sea there must be!" cried Duke. "Do let us go down to see it, mother!"

"Will it be mountains high?" asked Noel.

"I can't say that," replied his mother with a smile, "but it is sure to be a grand sight. I dare not let you go down to the shore alone. In half an hour I shall have finished this work, and then, if it is still fine, I will go with you."

Never did half an hour seem so long. The boys were impatient to be off. At last their mother was ready, and they set out. Mrs. Bryden had wrapped herself in a cloak with a hood, which she drew over her head, for it was impossible to wear a hat in such a gale. The boys drew their caps low down on their heads that the wind might not carry them away, and set off in high glee.

It was hard work fighting their way down the glen in the teeth of the wind; but Duke and Noel found it good fun.

Mrs. Bryden was obliged to pause now and then, shrinking into some sheltered nook while she regained her breath.

At last they came on to a rocky platform beyond which it was impossible to go, for the sea was raging high between the cliffs and dashing in mad fury against the rocks that barred the entrance to the glen. In the distance the waves might be seen towering like high walls of palest green ere they rolled over in foaming billows. Where they struck the side of the cliff a cloud of spray resembling smoke rose to the green summit. It was grand to watch the fury of the breakers as they dashed against the rocks.

Retreating, they left behind them a surf which lay like soapsuds in the hollows, or was driven landward by the wind in fragments, giving the effect of a snowstorm. The boys never forgot that spectacle.

As the three stood watching it, they were joined by the Italian boy and his tutor, Mr. Fletcher, accompanied by the huge mastiff they called Nero.

Their greetings were mute at first, for it was scarcely possible to hear each other speak, so great was the tumult of the elements. In addition to the uproar of wind and waves there was the loud and peculiar noise made by the sea as it rushed into the deep caverns so numerous along that coast. With a roll as of thunder the waves made their way into the long cave which the boys had explored only, yesterday; then came some loud and terrific reports as the sea entered the rocky passage into the inner cave, followed, after a few seconds, by a sound of sobbing and wailing as from a soul in deep distress.

"Oh, mother, what is it?" Noel asked, with his lips close to his mother's ear.

"Only the sea, dear," she answered. "It makes that noise as it rushes along the hidden passages in the rooks. I have heard it before in stormy weather."

"I don't, like to hear it, mother. It sounds as if someone were crying out. Oh, would it not be awful to fall into that sea!"

"Awful indeed!" said Mrs. Bryden with a shudder as she moved forward to draw Duke farther from the edge of the platform. "Now, children, we must go back. You will catch cold if you stay here longer."

In spite of their protests she was firm, and they turned their steps homeward. Mr. Fletcher and his charge walked with them to the head of the glen.

"I fear the storm will rage all night," Mr. Fletcher said as he bade Mrs. Bryden good-day. "I pity all upon the sea, especially such as must pass along this coast."

"Noel," said Duke, drawing his brother aside, "I've got a splendid idea."

"What is it?" Noel asked, with some anxiety.

"You heard what Mr. Fletcher said? Well, I'm going to put a light in the tower to-night to warn the sailors of the rocks below."

"But how can you, Duke?" said Noel.

"Easily enough," replied his brother. "I saw an old lantern in one of the rooms this morning. I shall put a candle in it and set it in the tower."

"But is it a red lantern?" Noel asked; "for if it is not, they won't know it means danger."

"Of course it isn't a red lantern; but I can make it look red. I shall ask mother to give me a bit of that red gauze she was wrapping round the mirror in the drawing-room yesterday. If I fasten it round the lantern the light will look red; you see if it does not! We'll go and fix it after tea, and I'll light it as soon as it gets dusk."