Part 46 (1/2)

”Stop anow Have we got belohere it comes in?”

”Not us The tide's up above the mouth now, and there'll be no wind to feel till next tide Here's off”

The rustling began, and the two next portions of the strange zigzag series of cleft were passed down easily enough, while, as he descended a couple more, Aleck felt how san to dwell upon the time that must have elapsed and the industry bestowed upon the curious passage by the slers, who had by virtue of their oaths and their interest in the place kept it a secret for generations

”I wonder how lided dohen all at once Eben said, loudly:

”Bottoht”

”That you, you scoundrel?” ca voice froler ”I'll be there soon”

There was silence, for, though eager to speak to the prisoner, Aleck concluded that he had better wait, and not co with the prisoner in the character of one of his enemies

The next minute there was the rattle of iron or tin, and then a short, sharp, nicking sound began, accompanied by a display of flowery little sparks At the end of a ler was lit up as he blew softly at the tinder, into which a spark had fallen and caught; the light increased, and as a brimstone match was applied to the incandescent tinder, the brian to turn blue Then the splint of wood beneath began to burn, and at last emitted a blaze, which was coan to burn, and then the door of the lanthorn was closed

”There we are,” said the so and see our bird”

Aleckover all that the feeble light of the dih this was at a tih to fill the lad onder For as far as he could make out, they were in a vast cavern, whose floor about where they stood supported stacks of kegs and piles of boxes and bales

There was also a tre evidently the gatherings of wrecks, and in addition there were the fittings of vessel after vessel, so various in fact that Aleck hurriedly turned away his eyes, to gaze with so like a shi+ver at the reflection of the lanthorn in a far-stretching mirror of intense blackness which lay smooth and undisturbed, save in one part away to his left, where it was blurred and di as if moved by soler raised up his lanthorn and smiled

”Yes, and plenty of it”

”But where's the mouth of the cave?”

”Over yonder,” said thetowards where the surface was in motion

”Let's walk towards it with the lanthorn,” said Aleck

”Why, ain”

”But we couldn't get far along there with the tide up, and even if we could you wouldn't see the mouth of the cave”

”Why not?” asked Aleck

”Because it's under water”

”Never mind; hold up the lanthorn, and let me see what I can”