Part 19 (2/2)

He was so proud of the raft they had o round the world on it, if it could be got to sail on a wind, and at all events he had not the slightest doubt about its fitness to carry him and Jack across the Channel

Bill had already delayed longer than he intended, and once ood-bye, he set off for the wreck He hurried along as fast as he could go, for he felt sure that at daybreak it would be seen, if not from the shore, from the sea, and that people would cos

As he knew the way thoroughly, heabreast of the wreck, he looked out for Jack, but could nowhere see hi round the vessel, and in a short tiht that Jacka loud shout, lest his voice , made his way on board

Great was his alarone to the cavern? or could he have been carried off?

The latter was not probable, for had the stranded vessel been discovered, people would have reone to the cavern, and to save ti down the rope, he made his way as fast as he could towards its mouth

He quickly climbed up, and hurried on as fast as he dare ainst the sides, or to save himself should he fall

He knew that there were no pitfalls or other serious dangers, or he could not have ventured to move even so fast as he did

He shouted out as he went Jack's na a lantern with et old, and that I suspect is what he has been after; if he has a light, I shall see it, but I don't”

”Jack! Jack!” he again shouted out; but the cavern only echoed with his voice

Bill was a fine-tery with Jack All their plansleft the wreck Even should he soon find him, they would have to swim on board, and set off in their wet clothes; but that was of little consequence compared with the delay

At last his hands touched the rock near their ca so often traversed the cavern in the dark, he found it as easily as a blindon the ashes of their fors which Jack had thrown out of the basket

Ahted lantern, had not troubled hione! This convinced hihted the candle, and as there was not a breath of air, he was able to walk along with it in his hand

The stalactite formations, which appeared on both sides, looked as weird and strange to hi perfectly hat they were, did not trouble hiaze ahead, in the hopes ofJack He was sorry that he had not ot and Pierre to acco should have happened to his companion, they would have assisted him But what could have happened? that was the question Soht, after all, not have come to the cavern; but, then, who could have carried away the basket?

Brave as he was, the strange shadohich occasionally seemed to flit by made him feel that he would much rather not have been there all alone

Suppose, too, the sht Jack; they would seize him also, and it would be impossible to persuade them that he had not come to rob their store Still, his chief anxiety was for Jack

He thought ht have to encounter

Bill was a hero, though he did not know it, notwithstanding that he had been originally only a London street boy

”I must find Jack, whatever comes of it,” he said to himself, as he pushed on