Part 24 (1/2)
”What was it?” cried Mike excitedly: ”so?”
”No,” replied the boy, with a shi+ver, as his face turned clayey-looking
”Yes”
”What was it--crab or a conger?”
”So ever so much worse,” said Vince, with a shi+ver ”It looks quite hard down there, and all as te as can be; but it's loose quicksand, and my foot went down into it just as if it was sothere”
”Lucky you hadn't let go,” said Mike syht have been ht in And then I should have been sucked down Ugh!”
Vince shuddered; but the colour began to cohed as they waded back into the cavern-- being particularly careful, though, in spite of the roughness, to plant their feet on the pieces of shell-dotted stone beneath the surface
”Yes, it's all very well to laugh,” said Mike, in an ill-used tone; ”but you're always running risks and getting into soood little boy as you, Ladle You never do wrong, and-- There, see what you've done now!” cried Vince, as he stood now in the soft, dry sand, and nestled his feet in it to take the place of a towel
”What have I done now?”
”Co I know you did; and it will have burned into the socket andback in the dark?”
Mike stared at hiet, now, didn't you?”
”You never told me to put it out”
”I didn't tell you to eat your dinner to-day, did I?”
”No; but--”
”Where's your coh that dark hole like a couple of worot coh to know you said you had sorunted Vince, whose eyes andering in all directions about the beautiful cave ”What's the good of candles without so to stick thee that,” said Mike, picking up a large whorled shell
”There's a natural candlestick; and if we hadn't found that, our fists would have done, or we could have stuck the candle on to the lanthorn with sorease”
”My word, he is a clever old Ladle!” cried Vince jeeringly ”I say, isn't this dry sand jolly for your legs? Mine are as right as can be”
”Capital,” said Mike, as pulling on his grey knitted socks ”I say, though, we have found out a place I vote we come often”
”Yes,” said Vince ”After a bit we shall be able to step through that dark hole as easily as can be”
”Yes, and in half the ti down”
”I don't bounce, Ladle; I felt squir creepy when you didn't knohere you were going next”
”Well, I daresay you felt so too”