"Well! and I was only just before thinking that I was getting over being so shaky and nervous, and not so queer about myself, and then for me to break down like that. Of all the cowardly cranks I ever did come across! Oh, I say, Mr Jack, sir, ain't you ashamed of me?" "I'm quite as ashamed of myself, Ned. I don't know who could help being frightened; my heart's beating tremendously still. But they've gone, Ned, I feel sure." "Well, I believe they have, sir, 'pon my word. But I say, Mr Jack, sir, don't be offended at what I say." "Of course not. Say it quick." "It's on'y this, sir; are you the same young gent as sailed with us from Dartmouth a short time ago? because you cap me." "Here, give me your hand," cried Jack. "No; stop. Don't move. You might slip. Can't we get a light?" "Light, sir? Yes; of course. I've got a little box of wax matches in my pocket." There was a faint rustling sound in the darkness, and then Ned uttered a groan. "Lost them?" "No, sir; here they are, but I forgot about the rain last night. They must be all soaked and spoiled." "Try one." "Yes, sir, I'll try. But I say, Mr Jack, this is like being in a mine, and it must be fiery, as they call it, being so hot. Will there be any danger of an explosion from gas?" "Oh, surely not. This isn't a coal-mine, but a sort of grotto under a flow of lava. Try if one of them will light." "All right, sir. I say, they rattle all right, as if they were hard." The box clicked as Ned opened it; he took out a match, rubbed it sharply, and there was a faint line of phosphorescent light. "No go, sir; just like one of them fishy things we get alongside." "Try another." _Whisk_--_crick_--_crick_--_crack_--and a flash of light. "Hooray!" cried Ned, as the tiny taper blazed up and burned steadily, showing that the holder was close to the edge of a huge chasm, down which a couple of strides would have taken him, and as the light burned lower Jack crept quickly to where Ned still crouched by the side of the passage. "Why, Ned, I could not see much, but this opens out here into a vast place." "Yes, sir; I got a glimpse of it. Shall I light another match?" "No, no, save them." "But we ought to get out of here as soon as we can, sir." "Of course, but we shall see a faint gleam from the entrance directly our eyes have grown used to the change." "Shall we, sir?" "Of course." "Well, I don't want to show the white feather again, but I can't help feeling that we ought to be out of this." "Wait and listen." "Can't hear nothing, sir," said the man after a minute's pause. "No, and I can see the faint dawn of light there gleaming against the wall yonder. Let's begin to go back very quietly in case the blacks are still there." "I'm more than ready, sir." "Then lead on, Ned." "Mean it, sir?" "Yes, go on."