The lanthorn had gone overboard, and as the water, disturbed by the fall of the lanthorn and the rocking motion given to the boat, washed and lapped and whispered against the sides, with gasps and suckings and strange sounds, that seemed to be ten times louder in the darkness, Josh growled out: "Well, you have gone and done it now!" Then there was utter silence. The water came in with a rush and gurgle that was fearful. The boat heaved and bumped against the side, and it seemed to the prisoners as if the next moment they must be swamped. But as with breathlessness they listened, the sounds and disturbance died away to whispers, and there was nothing but a feeble lapping. "It's only noise," said Will, suddenly breaking the silence. "The boat can't hurt." "Will's right," growled Josh; "but it's a gashly place to be in without a light." "_Crick, crack_!" There was a flash, and a little flame for a few moments as Josh, who had taken out his match-box, struck a light, and held it till it was ready to burn his fingers, when he let it fall in the smooth surface of the water, where it was extinguished with a hiss. "Don't burn any more, my man," said Mr Temple; "we may want them--" He was about to say, "in a greater emergency," but he checked himself. "Right, sir," replied Josh. "Do you think it is high water now?" "No, sir. 'Nother two hours to flow," replied Josh. "I remember a case once where some chaps was shut-up in a zorn like this, and--" "Hush!--hold your tongue!" whispered Will excitedly; "don't tell about that." "Why not?" growled Josh. "We aren't going to be drowned and washed out to sea." "Are you mad, Josh?" whispered Will. "You'll frighten them." "Oh! all right, then," growled Josh; "I didn't know." Mr Temple was silent, and, bending forward, he took hold of Arthur's hand and pressed it. "Don't be alarmed, my boy," he said. "There is no more danger now than when it was light." "I'm trying to be brave, papa," said Arthur softly. "That's as good as being brave," whispered back Mr Temple. "What?" he said, as the boy clung to his hand and leaned forward till his lips nearly touched his father's ear. "I want to tell you something," whispered Arthur. "I was too great a coward to tell you before. That cigar-case was not Dick's, but mine." Mr Temple was silent for a few minutes, and then he said: "Better late than never, my boy. If you had come frankly to me, and not let your brother take that bit of blame, I should have felt that you could not be a coward. Arthur, my boy, you have a good deal to master yet. Well, Dick," he said aloud in a cheery tone, "how are you?" "Capital, father," said Dick, "but so dreadfully hungry." "Well, we can't be prisoners much longer." "Hours yet," growled Josh--"eh, Will?" "I don't think so, Josh. You must have been asleep a long time, and don't count that." "G'long," cried Josh. "Don't talk gashly nonsense."