s he
added, in a low tone to Aleck: "Don't think me a coward, please. You
don't know what it is to be shut up in a place like this."

"No," said Aleck; "but if I were I should feel and act just as you have,
and I hope be quite as brave."

A pressure of the hand conveyed the midshipman's thanks, and directly
after the two lads awoke to the fact that the smuggler was doing
something which could mean nothing else but the providing of something
to eat and drink.

For upon raising the lanthorn to look around, he came upon a basket, and
beside it a good-sized bottle, both of which he examined.

"Why, skipper," he said, "you haven't eat your dinner!"

"How could I eat at a time like this?" said the midshipman, angrily.

"Well, I s'pose it didn't give you much hankering arter eating tackle,"
said the smuggler, grimly. "I took nowt but water when I was aboard
your ship; but you ought to eat and drink now you ye got to the end of
your troubles, thanks to Master Aleck here. Why, you've got two lots.
What's in the bottles?"

The speaker screwed out the corks of two bottles, one after the other,
and smelt the contents.

"Ha! Water. Want anything stronger?" he said, with a grin. "Plenty o'
Right Nantes yonder," he added, with a jerk of his thumb over the right
shoulder.

"No, no, I don't want anything," said the midshipman, impatiently.

"Well, sir, I do," said Eben. "I'm down faint, and if you don't mind--
what do you say, Master Aleck?"

"I never thought of it," replied Aleck; "but now you talk about eating
and drinking you make me feel ready. Let's have something, Mr
Wrighton; it will help to pass away the time."

The result was that the contents of the basket were spread between them,
and from forcing down a mouthful or two of food the prisoner's appetite
began to return, and a good meal was made, Aleck and the smuggler
naturally playing the most vigorous part.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

Aleck ate heartily, for the state of affairs began to look bright, but
as he played his part his eyes were busy, and he noted that the
beautiful effect of light which came through the transparent water
beneath the submerged arch grew less and less striking till the colour
had nearly faded out, while the water had evidently risen a good deal in
the long canal-like pool, and was still rising, and where the cavern's
weird configuration had in one part appeared through a dim shadowy
twilight all was black darkness.

There