and he came up
with ease. Both saw that the passage ended at the hole and hurried
back to the main chamber of the cave.

"That's the time that right was not right," said Sam, wringing the
water from his trousers, while Tom did the same. "Let us try the left
after this."

"I trust we don't get left by it," added Sam.

The passageway was small and winding, but fairly level. There were
several sharp rocks to pass and then Tom gave a cry.

"I see a light ahead!"

"It must be an opening, Tam."

"Exactly what I think."

Both hurried forward. As they did this, the opening appeared to grow
larger and they saw a number of bushes ahead of them. They pushed
these aside and saw beyond a clear stretch of the bay and to the
northward the house they had built. The opening was twenty or thirty
feet above the beach and hidden in the rocks and bushes.

"This is a short cut to the beach from the flagstaff," said Sam. "I
wish we had put up the flag. Then we could carry the news of the cave
to the others."

"Let us hurry back, Sam. It won't take so very long to put up the
flag, with the tree still standing."

When they reached the gully they were careful that no further mishaps
should befall them. Having picked up the flag they hoisted it once
more, stars down, and then went back through the cave to the beach.

As they had imagined, the others were greatly interested in the news.
All left the house and visited the place. The girls did not go any
further than the main chamber, but the captain, Dick, and old Jerry
made a complete investigation, taking care not to fall into the
well-hole or any other unsafe place.

"As the boys say, this cave may come in very handy some time," said
Captain Blossom. "In case of a very heavy wind storm it would be a
good place for shelter."

"Why couldn't the sailors, Lesher, and Baxter live here?" asked Dick.
"We don't want them, and it will save them the trouble of building
a house, in case they don't want to live on the wreck."

"No, I advise that we tell them nothing about the cave," said Tom.
"If we should have a fight and get the worst of it, we could hide
here and they wouldn't be able to find us very readily."

"Do you think it will get as far as that?" asked Dora, and her face
showed she was much disturbed.

"I hope not, Dora," said Dick. "But you must remember that we have
had some pretty sharp quarrels already."

"I think Tom is right," came from Sam. "We'll not tell the others