id Mr Temple.

"Ay, I do, sir. They won't have got out either. The only way, you see,
would be under the boat, and they won't try that way yet so long as
there's plenty of room forward."

Dick took the lantern, and as the light spread about the boat and
glimmered on the surface of wet rock and water Arthur made a brave
effort to master his dread; but all the same he gazed doubtfully forward
as the boat was thrust more and more along the waterway among the rocks.

"I don't hear any seals yet," said Mr Temple.

"Oh, you won't hear 'em p'r'aps, sir," said Josh, "till we are close on
to them, and then there'll be a splash and a rush. If there be any of
'em they're huddled up together, wondering what this here lantern
means."

"Then there is no other way out?"

"Not for them, sir. There's a bit of a hole up towards the end, where a
bird might fly out, but there's no way for the fish."

All this time Josh and Will were propelling the boat along with an oar
or a boat-hook, and when the way was very narrow and the rocks within
reach thrusting it forward with their hands.

"There, there, there's one," cried Dick, as there was a heavy rushing
noise which came whispering and echoing past where they were.

"Ay, that be one, Master Richard," cried Josh, mastering the boy's name
for once. "She'll go right to the end and come up again."

"How far is it to the end?" said Mr Temple.

"Six or eight fathom," said Josh; "not more, sir. If the light was
stronger you could see it."

"Then we'll have a stronger light," said Mr Temple. "Open that
lantern, Dick."

The boy obeyed, and his father ignited the end of a piece of magnesium
wire, which burst out into a brilliant white light, showing them the
roof and sides of the narrow cave, flashing off the water, and, what was
of greater interest still, displaying the heads of a couple of seals
raised above the surface at the end of the channel, and the dark-grey
shiny body of another that had crawled right into a rift but could get
no farther, and was now staring timidly at them.

The light sputtered and glowed, and dense white fumes floated in a cloud
above their heads, while the boat was urged softly closer and closer
towards the seals, the effect being that as the animals saw the light
and the curious objects beneath advancing towards them the two in the
water swam to the end and began to crawl out upon the rock, forcing
themselves towards their companion in the rift.