Another minute and the question was repeated, but from whence the lads
could hardly tell, for instead of coming from the cavern mouth the words
seemed to come from far up the cavern, to be followed by another splash.
It was quite half a minute before, taught by experience, Aleck shouted:

"Shut in here! Cave!"

There was another plosh, but they had proof soon after that the words
had been heard, for the hail now came:

"Are yer 'live, my lad?"

"Ye-es," cried Aleck. "Quite!" and then he could in his excitement
hardly control a hysterical laugh at the absurdity of the question and
answer.

"Thought yer was dead and gone, my lad," came now, in company with a
fainter splashing.

"Tom Bodger!"

"Hullo!" came quickly.

"We're shut in by the water."

"Who's `we'?"

"The cutter's midshipman and I."

"Wha-a-at! Then there arn't nayther on yer dead and drownded, my lad?"

"No-o-o-o!"

"Then I say hooray! hooray! But can't you swim out?"

"No. We've tried."

"Ho!" came back. "Wait a bit."

"What for? Can't you get help for us, Tom?"

"Ay, ay, my lad," came back. "But jest you wait."

Then there was silence, and the prisoners joined hands, to kneel,
waiting and listening.

"He has gone for help," said the middy.

"Yes, and before he gets back that little hole that let his words in
will be shut up again."

"Never mind," said the middy, sagely; "he knows we're here."

"Oh, but why didn't I think to tell him of the zigzag path? I daresay
they could get the stones out from above where they were pushed in."

"Perhaps he hasn't gone," said the middy. "Ahoy there!"

There was a peculiar sound as of the water rising up and gurgling along
a channel, while a lapping sound at their feet told that the water
inside was being put in motion.

"Why, he has dived down," cried Aleck, suddenly, "so as to try and get
to us."

"Tchah! Nonsense. That squat little wooden-legged man couldn't swim."

But at the end of what seemed to be a long period they heard a louder
splash, followed by another, and the illuminated water began to dance
and a curious ebullition to be faintly seen.

Then there was a panting sigh, and a familiar voice cried:

"Where'bouts are yer?"

"Here, here!" cried the lads, in a breath, and the next minute they were
conscious of something swimming towards them, which took shape more and
more till they saw that it was a man swimming on his back.

"What cheer-ho!" came now, in the m