e enemy is turned out of its castle, and the next thing,
I say, is to get off our wet, cold things."

"I can't take matters so coolly as you do," said Mike bitterly. "I was
only thinking of getting away out of this awful place."

"Oh, it isn't so awful now you know the worst of it," said Vince coolly,
though a listener might have thought that there was a little peculiarity
in his tone. "One couldn't help fancying all sorts of horrors, but when
you find there is nothing worse than seals--"

"And horrible congers: I felt them."

"So did I," said Vince; "but I've been thinking since. The congers
wouldn't live in a place where seals were. There'd be fights, and
perhaps the seals would get the best of them."

"But don't I tell you I felt one swim up against me and lash its great
body half round my leg?"

"I believe those were young seals, swimming for their lives to get out
to sea. There, take off your wet things and wring them out. I'm going
to fill my boots with fine sand. It's not cold in here, and I dare say
the things will dry a bit."

"But suppose the seals come back."

"They won't come back while we're here, Ladle--I know that. They're
full of curiosity, but as shy as can be. They can see in the dark,
and--"

"Dark!" cried Mike.

"To be sure. We mustn't go on burning that candle."

"But--"

"Look here, old chap," said Vince quietly: "there are only about two
inches of it left. That wouldn't last long, and I'm sure it's better to
put it out and save it for some particular occasion than to burn it
now."

"But there's just enough to light us to the mouth of this terrible
hole."

"And give ourselves up to old Jarks, as that fellow called him, whose
pistol might go off by accident, or who might take us on board his
vessel and let us fall overboard."

"That was only what the man said," argued Mike petulantly. "If we go
boldly up to this smuggler captain and tell him that we only found out
the caves by accident, and that we haven't touched any of the smuggled
goods--"

"Pirates!"

"Smuggled."

"You stuck out it was pirates."

"But I didn't believe it then. Well, if we go to him and say that we
have always kept the place a secret, and that we'll go on doing so, and
swear to it if he likes, he will let us go."

"Go out boldly to him, eh?" said Vince.

"Yes, of course."

"Ah, well, I can't. I don't feel at all bold now. It all went out of
me over the fight with the seals. That one