Part 33 (1/2)
”The stuff has all run out or evaporated,” he said ”Hark here!”
He tapped the end of one with his knuckles, but, instead of giving forth a hollow sound, the top sounded dead and dull
”They're not e one a shake: ”they ht And I say, Mike, they look as if they couldn't be many years old”
”That's because the cavern's so clean and dry Let's look at the packages I say, smell this one There's no mistake about it--cloves!”
Vince nodded, and they tried others, which gave out, some the sa
Further examination of some small, heavy, solid packets left little doubt in the lads'with closely folded or rolled pieces of silk, and they ended their exa to interpret the brands hich soes weretheerly; ”but I feel certain that these are silk, the other packages spice, and the kegs have got gloves and lace in theer than the others Shall we open a few of them, to see if they've been destroyed by tio and have a look at that boat sail and the oars Those oars ought to be old and worm-eaten--ready to tumble to pieces--and the sail-cloth like so much tinder!”
Mike nodded, and followed hi nearest to his hand fascinated hied intensely to force out the head
It was not an to haul it about after the first glance
”Look here, Ladle!” he cried; ”these things are not so very old The canvas is as strong as can be, and it can't be so many years since these oars were marked with a hot iron”
”Oh, nonsense!” said Mike, who did not like to give up his cherished ideas; ”it's because they're so dry and safe here”
”It isn't,” said Vince impetuously; ”and look here, at all these foot just the same after a hundred years?”
”The wind,” cried Vince ”If those marks were old the sand would have drifted in and covered them over quite smooth, same as the floor was in our cave before alked about it Mike, all these things are quite new, and haven't been put here long”
”Nonsense! who could have put them?”
”I don't know; but here they are, and if we don't look out solers' cave”
”But there are no s!”
”I never did; but I'oods”
”Well, I don't know,” said Mike ”It seeerous to co, then?”
”Of course he is; so are all the people Every one has told us that the Black Scraas a terrible place, and looked as if they thought it was haunted by all kinds of sea goblins Let's get away”
”Think we'd better?”
”Yes; I keep expecting to see a boat coht
I shouldn't like to be here when they did coht ere going to have all this to ourselves”
”I don't think I did,” said Vince thoughtfully