It was too late to retreat now, for the face of the hill was too steep to climb to its crest, and their retreat below was cut off by the Kerrs.

He therefore returned to the cave, leaving Cluny on guard.
"They are not sure as to the situation of the cave yet," he said, "but they will find it.

We can hold the mouth against them for any time, but they might smoke us out, that is our real danger; or if they fail in that, they may try starvation.

Do half a dozen of you take brands at once from the embers and explore all the windings behind us; they are so narrow and low that hitherto we have not deemed it worth while to examine them, but now they are really our only hope; some of them may lead round to the face of the hill, and in that case we may find some way by which we may circumvent the Kerrs." Six of the lads at once started with flaming pine knots, while Archie returned to the entrance.

Just as he took his place there he saw Red Roy pointing towards the bushes.