Part 76 (2/2)
”Here, quite safe; but don't move, there must be a terrible gulf close beside you.”
”Yes, sir, and I thought it had swallowed you. I say, is it all over with us?”
”I hope not,” said Jack quietly. ”But listen, Ned; can you hear the blacks?”
”Hear 'em! No, sir. My ears seem full of the shrieks and cries of those things as they tore out of the place, and you would stick out that they were bats. Phew, can't you smell 'em?”
”Yes, plainly enough; but it was not the bats made those noises, it must have been the blacks.”
”No, no, sir, it was those horrid things. I felt 'em hitting me with their wings as they swooped by.”
”Nonsense, nonsense. They were scared by the noise of the stones falling, and the echoes, and it seems to me that they scared the blacks as well as us, and they have run out again.”
”What!” cried Ned. ”You don't mean that, Mr Jack?”
”But I do. Ned, they've gone.”
”Well! and I was only just before thinking that I was getting over being so shaky and nervous, and not so queer about myself, and then for me to break down like that. Of all the cowardly cranks I ever did come across! Oh, I say, Mr Jack, sir, ain't you ashamed of me?”
”I'm quite as ashamed of myself, Ned. I don't know who could help being frightened; my heart's beating tremendously still. But they've gone, Ned, I feel sure.”
”Well, I believe they have, sir, 'pon my word. But I say, Mr Jack, sir, don't be offended at what I say.”
”Of course not. Say it quick.”
”It's on'y this, sir; are you the same young gent as sailed with us from Dartmouth a short time ago? because you cap me.”
”Here, give me your hand,” cried Jack. ”No; stop. Don't move. You might slip. Can't we get a light?”
”Light, sir? Yes; of course. I've got a little box of wax matches in my pocket.”
There was a faint rustling sound in the darkness, and then Ned uttered a groan.
”Lost them?”
”No, sir; here they are, but I forgot about the rain last night. They must be all soaked and spoiled.”
”Try one.”
”Yes, sir, I'll try. But I say, Mr Jack, this is like being in a mine, and it must be fiery, as they call it, being so hot. Will there be any danger of an explosion from gas?”
”Oh, surely not. This isn't a coal-mine, but a sort of grotto under a flow of lava. Try if one of them will light.”
”All right, sir. I say, they rattle all right, as if they were hard.”
The box clicked as Ned opened it; he took out a match, rubbed it sharply, and there was a faint line of phosph.o.r.escent light.
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