Chapter Eighteen HALF PAST FOUR IN THE MORNING
　　As soon as the men were out of earshot, George's father spoke¹ in a low voice.
　　'It's no good. I'll have to let them have my book of notes. I can't risk having you buried downhere, George. I don't mind anything for myself - workers of my sort have to be ready to take risksall their lives -- but it's different now you're here!'
　　'Father, I haven't got the book of notes,' whispered George, thankfully. 'I gave them to Timmy. I'did manage to get that stone away from the entrance to his little prison - though the men think Ididn't! I gave the book to Timmy and told him to go and hide till I fetched him.'
　　'Fine work, George!' said her father. 'Well - perhaps if you got Timmy now and brought him here-- he could deal with these two men before they suspect he is free! He is quite capable of gettingthem both down on the ground at once.'
　　'Oh yes! It's our only chance,' said George. 'I'll go and get him now. I'll go a little way along thepassage and whistle. Father -- why didn't you go and try and rescue Timmy?'
　　'I didn't want to leave my book,' said her father. 'I dared not take it with me, in case the mencame after me and found it. They've been looking in all the caves for it. I couldn't bear to leave ithere, and go and look for the dog. I was sure he was all right, when I saw the men taking biscuits78
　　out of the bag. Now do go, George, and whistle to Timmy. The men may be back at anymoment.'
　　George took her torch and went into the passage that led to the little cave where Timmy hadbeen. She whistled loudly, and then waited. But no Timmy came. She whistled again, and thenwent further along the passage. Still no Timmy.
　　She called him loudly. 'TIMMY! TIMMY! COME HERE!' But Timmy did not come. There wasno sound of scampering² feet, no joyful³ bark.
　　'Oh bother!' thought George. 'I hope he hasn't gone so far away that he can't hear me. I'll go alittle further.' So she made her way along the tunnel, past the cave where Timmy had been, andthen on down the tunnel again. Still no Timmy.
　　George rounded a corner and then saw that the tunnel split into three. Three different passages,all dark, silent and cold. Oh dear! She didn't in the least know which to take. She took the one onthe left.
　　But that also split into three a little way on! George stopped. 'I shall get absolutely lost in thismaze of passages under the sea if I go on,' she thought. 'I simply daren't. It's too frightening.

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