All at once they noticed that the horrible rushing and gurgling of the water had ceased; and soon after it became plain that it was harder work to keep the boat close to the rock, for, in spite of the returns of the water as the waves beat outside, there was a steady, constant set of the current towards the mouth. So at last the measurement by the rocks had to be given up, for Josh gave it as his opinion that they might as well let the boat drift towards the cave mouth. This was done; and though they were unable to calculate their progress, as time went on they felt that they must be nearer the entrance. Josh poked about with a boat-hook, now at the sides, now at the roof; and then, as they were sitting down waiting patiently, there was a peculiar shuffling and splashing noise heard. "What's that?" exclaimed Dick. "Seal!" cried Will; and as he spoke there was a splash as if the creature had dived off a rock into the water. But they had something more interesting than the seal to take their attention, for all at once there was a faint greeny transparency right before them. Then it darkened, lightened again, darkened and lightened more or less till, all at once, there was a flash, so short, quick, and brilliant that it dazzled their darkness-becurtained eyes like lightning. "Hoo-ray!" shouted Dick, stamping his feet on the bottom of the boat. "Now, all together--hip-hip-hip hooray!" Arthur, Will, and Josh joined in making the cave echo as there was another and another flash of light, and soon after the arch at the mouth of the cave began to open more and more; and at last the boat floated out into the dazzling afternoon sunshine, and was rowed steadily back. "Been shut-up in a zorn!" cried Mrs Marion, who declared that the dinner was spoiled; "then it was all the fault of that great idle Josh and that stupid, good-for-nothing boy." "No, Mrs Marion," said Mr Temple gently, "the fault was entirely mine." CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. MR. TEMPLE TAKES WILL INTO HIS CONFIDENCE AND ASTONISHES UNCLE ABRAM. "Dick," said Mr Temple one morning, as he looked up from the table covered with specimens of ore and papers. "Yes, father." "Is Will Marion at home?" "Yes, father. Hark!" He held up his hand to command silence, and from the back garden came the sound of a shrill voice scolding, and the deep rumble of Uncle Abram, apparently responding. "You idle, good-for-nothing, useless creature. I wish we were well rid of you, I do." "Softly. Steady, old lady, steady," growled Uncle Abram. "Oh! it's no use for you to take his part. I say he's a lazy, idle, stupid, worthless fellow, and he sha'n't stop here any longer. There: get out of my sight, sir--get out of my sight, and don't come back here till you're asked." "Easy, old lady, easy," growled Uncle Abram. "What's the lad been doing now?"