," said Vince, taking out the tinder-box
from the breast of his jersey and placing it by the lanthorn.

Mike said nothing, but went to the spot Vince had pointed out, scraped
himself a hollow, sat down in it quietly, and dragged the sand round.

"Feels drying, like a cool towel, doesn't it?" said Vince, as if there
had been no words between them.

"You can put out the light," said Mike, for answer.

"Hah, yes," replied Vince, taking the lanthorn; "seems a pity, too. But
we shan't hurt here. Old Jarks won't think we're in so snug a spot."

Out went the light, Vince closed and fastened the door, and then,
settling himself in his sandy nest, he said quietly,--

"Now we shall have to wait for hours before we can start. What shall we
do--tell stories?"

Mike made no reply.

"Well, he needn't be so jolly sulky," thought Vince. "I'm sure it's the
best thing to do.--Yes, what's that?"

It was a hand stretched out of the darkness, and feeling for his till it
could close over it in a tight, firm grip.

"I'm so sorry, Cinder, old chap," came in a low, husky voice. "All this
has made me feel half mad."

There was silence then for a few minutes, as the boys sat there in total
darkness, hand clasped in hand. Then Vince spoke.

"I know," he said, in a voice which Mike hardly recognised: "I've been
feeling something like it, only I managed to stamp it down. But you
cheer up, Ladle. You and I ought to be a match for _one_ Frenchman.
We're not beaten. We must wait."

"And starve," said Mike bitterly.

"That we won't. We'll try to get right away, but if we can't we must
get something to eat and drink."

"But how?"

"Find where those fellows keep theirs, and go after it when it's dark.
They won't starve themselves, you may be sure."

Mike tried to withdraw his hand, for fear that Vince should think he was
afraid to be in the dark; but his companion's grasp tightened upon it,
and he said softly,--

"Don't take your fist away, Ladle; it feels like company, and it's
almost as good as a light. I say, don't go to sleep."

"No."

Mike meant to sit and watch and listen for the fancied splash that
indicated the return of the seals. But he was tired by exertion and
excitement, the cavern was warm and dry, the sand was become pleasantly
soft, and all at once he was back in the great garden of the fine old
manor-house amongst the flowers and fruit, unconscious of everything
else till he suddenly opened his eyes t