Part 73 (1/2)
As far as they could judge, they were going on for half an hour, reat watery aain, they determined to examine the other end lers, which must, they knew, be a the boat in
For they had so till night, when they e perhaps to pass out unseen
”But if we did,” said Mike despondently, ”we should perhaps be swept in here again, or be upset and drowned I say, Cinder, did you ever see such an unlucky pair as we are?”
”Never looked,” said Vince; ”but I tell you what: we shall have to land in the big cave, and get through to ours”
”What for?”
”Breakfast There's all our food, if they haven't found it”
”Could you eat now?” said Mike, with a look of horror
”Eat? I could alh!” said Mike, with a shudder ”I feel so faint and sick and sinking inside, I couldn't touch anything”
”Shouldn't like to trust you,” said Vince, whoht sunshi+ne and the beauty of the place were influencing in his spirits ”But now, then, let's have a good look this tih, and noted the entrance to the first low, arched cavern, which was some forty or fifty yards to the ard of the seal hole; then they glided by the others in turn, and tried hard to h the running waters beyond that great beach and into the eddy which bore them in the other direction
”Do you see?” asked Mike
”No, not yet; but perhaps I shall e co round like this We one till to-night You heard as said by old Joe?”
”Don't mention his name,” cried Vince passionately ”I should like to see the old wretch flogged”
”I should like to do it,” said Mike grimly ”They'll come back and find us here, for certain, if we don't hide,” said Vince; ”but I don't know that I shall et away”
They glided round again, and in passing the spot where they believed the exit to be, Vince fancied he detected an eddy a some rocks, but he could not be sure; and at last they were oncethe cavern, with its low arch, when Vince, atching the far end and trying to fit together theaway, suddenly snatched up the boat-hook, thrust it out, and, leaning over the stern, caught hold of a projecting rock, so hard, hand over hand along the ash pole, he checked the progress of the boat and drew it close in Next, quick as lightning, he ht at another projection, ain, ht the hook in a rift, while Mike thrust out an oar against a rock to help
This tiht up to the mouth of the new cavern, and whispered sharply to his companion:
”Now--quick! help me run her in Mind! duck down!”
Mike obeyed, and the boat glided in under the low arch, which just cleared their heads as they sat in the bottoht sunshi+ne into the chill darkness of the cave
”Think they saw us?” whispered Vince
”They? Saw us?”
”Didn't you see the the rocks quite quickly?”
”No: did you?”
”Just the tops of their caps: they were behind one of those low rocks where the water rushes round”
”Are you sure, Vince?”
”Sure?--yes Ah, mind! that oar!” cried the boy