think," said Bill. "When daylight comes, we
shall be able to find our way farther in, and perhaps discover some nook
in which we may remain hidden, even were people to come to the mouth of
the cave to look for us."

Jack agreed that there was no risk of the tide rising to the place where
they then were, so they sat down on the dry sand, and being tired from
their exertions, very soon fell fast asleep.

Jack was not much addicted to dreaming. When he went to sleep he did so
in right earnest, and might have slept through a general engagement, if
he had not been called to take a part in it.

Bill had a more imaginative mind, which was seldom altogether at rest.
He fancied sometimes that he was escaping from the top of the tower, and
tumbling head over heels to the bottom; at others that he was running
along, with the Frenchmen shouting after him to stop. Then he fancied
that one with a long pair of legs had overtaken him, and was grasping
him tightly by the arm.

He awoke with a start, and found that Jack was trying to arouse him.
Daylight was streaming through the mouth of the cavern; beyond could be
seen the blue sea shining brightly in the rays of the sun, with a
chasse-maree, or some other small vessel, gliding swiftly across it,
impelled by a smart breeze off shore.

Jack had taken it into his head that the people on board might see them.

"I don't think there's much chance of that," said Bill. "Even if they
happen to turn their glasses this way, depend on it, if we sit quiet,
they'll not discover us."

The vessel soon disappeared, and they then looked about to examine more
carefully the cavern in which they had taken refuge.

The tide was still at its highest, and the water washed up to the ledge
in front of the cavern. The ground rose considerably above that point
to where they sat, and on looking round they saw that it continued to
rise behind them for some distance.

Bill advised that they should at once explore it, observing that though,
even at spring-tide, with the wind off shore, the water might not reach
to where they sat; yet should a gale blow from the northward, it might
drive the waves far up the cavern, and expose them to great danger. "We
cannot tell what may happen," he said, "and it's as well to be prepared
for the worst. Besides, if the soldiers come to look for us, they may
find the mouth of the cavern, and make their way some distance in, but
if they do not discover us they'll fanc