The Barrett Boys

 Tom and Henry Barrett lived with their parents on a cattle farm. Tom was eleven years where his younger brother Henry was eight. Both boys loved their time on the farm helping out where they could, collecting the eggs from the chickens, feeding the chickens and just doing whatever jobs needed to be done.

Weekends were especially fun as they were allowed to explore the nearby fields and meadows, running and playing their games. Chores on a weekend were very limited and so when each boy had finished, they were free to do what they loved best, exploring new places of interest.

This particular weekend, Tom had seen a cave on one of his excursions away from the farm and he and Henry were going to go exploring. So, both boys filled their rucksacks with bottled water and a light lunch which their mother had prepared for them, together with a torch. So, off the boys went on their adventure to the cave. It was a lovely sunny day with a light breeze which made the walk to the cave very pleasant.

Tom and Henry were making good progress towards the cave and so they were feeling very happy and enjoying each others company playing a game of tig making the journey more pleasurable. Tom, looking at his watch and decided they would stop and have their lunch, this was much to Henry's delight. Henry always had a good appetite and loved his food. Having finished their lunch, the boys packed up their bags and made off once again for the cave. It was early afternoon and the weather was still very pleasant. Away in the distance, Tom pointed to a dark indent between boulders in the hill ahead. With great anticipation, Henry called out "There it is Tom, let's run" Both boys took off and started to run towards the cave ahead. They were both out of breath by the time they reached the cave and so sat down in front of the opening before venturing in.

Looking inside the cave it was so very dark and not at all inviting, however, having walked all this distance Tom was very keen to have a look. Henry was not happy at all when he looked into the black mass and he felt a little scared. "I don't want to go in there "says Henry. Tom piped up and said "Henry, we have come all this way it would be a shame not to go in and have a quick look " I think I will stay out here and wait for you to come back" says Henry feeling a little apprehensive. "ok" says Tom," but you must promise me you will not venture far from this opening, and wait for my return"

Without further ado, Tom swung his bag over his shoulder after taking the torch out and started to walk into the cave. It was very dark even at the beginning of the opening and Tom flicked his torch on. The footing was not very stable and so he had to watch where he was putting his feet. As he continued onwards there was a distinct smell of damp and the mud underfoot was beginning to get very wet. In the distance he could hear Henry shout "Tom, are you alright?" Tom immediately  replied "Yes, but the ground is very wet." Tom carefully worked his way over the mud and puddles, he could see that the cave had sides to it and water was running down hitting the ground and splashing back up. Not a very exciting place to be, however, Tom was curious as to where this could lead.

Henry in the meantime was sitting in the sun and enjoying watching the many birds that were darting and flying around him. It seemed a long time had passed and although Henry did not have a watch he was aware that the sun was beginning to sink in the sky. Surely Tom was on his way back. Henry went to the opening of the cave and called out "Tom, are you there?" no answer. Again Henry called out, "Tom, where are you?" no reply again. Henry was not a brave boy, he was quiet and did not have the adventurous spirit that his brother had. Wondering what to do next, Henry new in his heart that he was going to have to go into that cave, without a torch and find his brother.

With one step in front of the other, Henry's feet squelched into the mud. He put his hand out and felt a side to the cave but it was running with water and the smell of damp was very strong. He started calling out to Tom but heard nothing. Every step was an effort in the pitch dark and Henry's heart was pounding in his chest, he was so scared. After what seemed an age and continuing to call for his brother, Henry at last heard in the distance a very faint sound that made him stop in fear. It sounded like Tom, but his voice was different.

As Tom made his way further into the cave he realised that his feet were sinking further into the mud, there was really nothing in this cave to find and he decided to make his way back, as he turned, one foot went deep in to the mud and he was unable to pull it out. The more Tom moved the more he began to sink into the mud and this really started to scare him. Within a few moments he was up to his waist and unable to get out. He started to shout for help but he realised he was too far into the cave for even Henry to hear him but he kept shouting. Slowly the muddy water was up to Tom's chest and by this time his voice was so hoarse he could hardly recognise it. He tried not to move too much and kept his torch high above his head in the hope that Henry was making his way to find him.

Henry, still hearing this faint noise kept moving slowly forward, his need to find his brother replaced the fear he had been feeling. At last, the voice was getting louder and in the distance Henry saw a fading light. He new this had to be Tom and so, forgetting all scary thoughts he hurried his steps. Getting closer and closer Henry shouted out to Tom and was elated to hear the hoarse reply, but Tom quickly shouted back to Henry to stay where he was and he tried to explain that he had stepped into a muddy quicksand and that he could not get out.

Time was of the essence and Tom relayed to Henry to try and find a long branch or something to try and help Tom out of the mud. Henry thought if there could be something lying around the place outside the cave, but nothing came too mind. Henry had no choice but to trace his steps back to the cave opening and look for anything that would get Tom out of this quicksand. In the meantime, Tom was slowly sinking and was now up to his shoulders, no time to spare, "Hurry Henry" Tom said.

Henry quickened his pace and got to the opening and started to look around for a long branch or maybe a piece of rope lying around, but to no avail. At this time it was staring to get dusk which Henry had not notice at first and then realised he had to do something fast. He was too far a way from home to run back and get his father. It was at that moment he saw a figure down the hill on a horse and so he ran as fast as he could shouting at the top of his voice until the person on the horse saw him and stopped. Henry quickly told the man what had happened and Henry was lifted up on to the horse and they took off at a gallop to the cave.

The man seemed to be equipped with everything needed to get Tom to safety. As they both quickly made their way to where Tom was it was quiet and they heard no noise at all, Henry started to panic. As they got to the pool of mud Tom was nowhere to be seen, then, all of a sudden, a head bobbed up and Tom was spluttering and choking. Quicky the man threw a rope to Tom but he missed  and his head dropped into the pool. Once again Tom's head bobbed up and his hand and arm came out of the water, but this time the man had made a lasso and quickly threw it at Tom's hand, this time Tom grabbed the robe and the lasso quickly tightened round his wrist. The man and Henry instantly began to pull with all their might and slowly but surely were able to pull Tom out of the mud pool. Tom was exhausted and relieved at the same time and as he looked at Henry there were tears rolling down his cheek.

When the boys and the man got out of the cave they were all relieved to sit on dry ground. Tom thanked the man for saving him but wondered how he came to be on their farm. The man who introduced himself as Jack Grey was heading to their farmhouse to sign on as a helper in the upcoming muster. Henry, red eyed from crying went to Tom and wrapped his arms around him saying he would never let Tom go alone into a cave again.

As the trio headed for home, it was getting dark and as they approached the house, outside stood the parents, distraught but at the same time so very happy to see their boys, and did Tom and Henry have a tale of adventure to tell them. The end.