If Captain Flint, was not there, the only ones in the cave besides the girl, were a squaw, and Captain Flint's negro boy, Bill. For the sake of the girl Bradley said he would guide a party to the cave. This offer was at once accepted, and a party well armed, headed by young Billings, and guided by Jones Bradley, set out immediately. CHAPTER XIV. When Captain Flint made his escape from prison, it naturally enough occurred to him, that the safest place for him for awhile, would be the cave. In it he thought he could remain in perfect safety, until he should find an opportunity for leaving the country. The cave, or at least the secret chamber, was unknown to any except his crew, and those who were confined in it. On leaving the cave, the last time, with a heartlessness worthy a demon, he had barred the entrance to the cavern on the outside, so as to render it impossible for those confined there to escape in that direction. In fact, he had, be supposed, buried them alive--left them to die of hunger. Captain Flint reached the entrance of the cave in safety, and found everything as he had left it. On reaching the inner chamber where he had left the two women and the negro boy, he was startled to find the place apparently deserted, while all was in total darkness, except where a few rays found their way through the crevices of the rocks. He called the names first of one, and then another, but the only answer he received was the echo of his own voice. How was this? could they be all sleeping or dead? They certainly could not have made their escape, for the fastenings were all as he had left them. The means of striking fire were at hand, and a lamp was soon lighted. He searched the cave, but could discover no trace of the missing ones. A strange horror came over him, such as he had never felt before. The stillness oppressed him; no living enemy could have inspired him with the fear he now felt from being alone in this gloomy cavern. "I must leave this place," he said, "I would rather be in prison than here." Again he took up the lamp, and went round the cave, but more this time in hopes of finding some weapon to defend himself with, in case he should be attacked, than with the hope of discovering the manner in which those he had left there had contrived to make their escape. It had been his custom, lately, on leaving the cavern, to take his weapons with him, not knowing what use might be made of them by the women under the provocation, to which they were sometimes subjected. The only weapon he could find was a large dagger. This he secured, and was preparing to leave the cavern, when he thought he saw something moving in one corner. In order to make sure that he had not been mistaken, he approached the place. It was a corner where a quantity of skins had been thrown, and which it had not been convenient for him to remove, when he left the cavern.