r wait here and watch till Lobster goes," said Vince; but,
yielding at last to his companion's importunity, he was about to follow
him back, when there was a loud rustling, a heavy thud, and then a
dismal howl.

The Lobster had slipped and fallen into the rift while backing so as to
get a better view of the ridge.

"Oh my! Oh my! Oh, mother! Oh, crikey! Oh my head--my head! Oh, my
arm! Oh, it's broke! And I'm bleeding! Won't nobody come and help
me?"

The above, uttered in a piteous, dismal wail, was too much for Vince's
feelings; and, pushing his companion aside, he was about to hurry to the
lad's help, but Mike seized him by the arm, and at the same moment they
heard Carnach junior jump up and begin stamping about.

"Here, who did this?" he roared. "What fool's been digging stone here
and left this hole o' purpose for any one to fall in? Wish he'd tumbled
in himself, and broke his stoopid old head. Yah! Oh my, how it hurts!"

He stamped about in the hollow, and they heard him kick one of the
stones with his heavy boots in his rage.

"Wish them two had tumbled in 'stead o' me. Oh dear, oh! Here's a mess
I'm in! Making a great hole like this, and never leaving no stuff
outside. Might ha' been deep, and killed a chap. It aren't broke
through," he grumbled, after a pause. "Wonder where they've got to. Oh
dear! oh dear! what a crack on the head! That comes o' going backwards.
Yah!"

This last ejaculation was accompanied by the rattle of stones, as the
great lad evidently kicked another piece that was in his way; and,
feeling now that there was nothing serious in the fall, Vince gave
Mike's hand a squeeze as they stood listening and expecting every moment
to hear the young fisherman say something in the way of surprise as he
saw the dark hole going downward. But they listened in vain,--full of
anxiety, though, for it was like a second blow to find that their secret
place was becoming very plain, known as it evidently was to people at
the sea entrance, and now from the landward side discovered by the
greatest enemy they had.

Vince felt this so strongly that, in spite of the risk of being heard,
he put his lips to Mike's ear and whispered: "This spoils all."

Mike responded in the same way: "I say, what's he doing? Shall I go and
see?"

"No, I will," whispered back Vince.

"Take care."

Vince's answer was a squeeze of the hand. Then, going down upon all
fours, he crept silently and slow