He was a visitor as well as her brother's companion; he had been staying at Mr Vine's for a fortnight. They had had endless opportunities for conversation, and--in short, Duncan Leslie felt uncomfortable. It was then with a feeling of relief that was shared by both the ladies, that after a few miles run Henry Vine stood up in the bows, and, keeping a sharp look out for certain rocks, shouted his orders to Leslie as to the steering of the boat, and finally, as they neared the frowning cliffs, suddenly lowered the sail and took up the oars. They were abreast of a large cave, where the swift grey-winged pigeons flew in and out over the swelling waves, which seemed to glide slowly on and on, to rush rapidly after the birds and disappear in the gloom beneath the arch. Then there was a low echoing boom as the wave struck far away in the cave, and came back hissing and whispering to be merged in the next. "Going to row close in?" said Leslie, scanning the weird, forbidding place rather anxiously. "Going to row right in," said Harry, with a contemptuous smile. "Not afraid, are you?" "Can't say," replied Leslie. "A little perhaps. The place does not look tempting. Do you think it is safe to go in?" "Like to land on the rock till we come back?" said Harry, instead of answering the question. "No," said Leslie quietly; "but do you think it wise to row in there?" "You're not afraid, are you, girls?" "I always feel nervous till we are outside again," said Louise quietly. "But you will be very careful, Harry," said Madelaine. "Think I want to drown myself?" he said bitterly. "I might just as well, p'raps, as go back to that dismal office in London, to slave from morning till night." He rested upon his oars for a minute or two, and perhaps from the reflection of the masses of ferns which fringed the arch of the cavern, and which were repeated in the clear waters, Victor Pradelle's face seemed to turn of a sickly green, while one hand grasped the edge of the boat with spasmodic force. "Now then, hold tight," said the rower, as a swell came from seaward, running right in and raising the boat so that by skilful management she was borne forward right beneath the arch and then away into the depths of the cavern, leaving her rocking upon the watery floor, while it sped on away into the darkness, where it broke with a booming noise which echoed, and whispered, and died away in sobs, and sighs, and strange hisses and gasps, as if the creatures which made the cavern their lair had been disturbed, and were settling down again to sleep. "There, Vic," cried Harry, "what do you think of this?" Pradelle was holding tightly by the side of the boat, and gazing uneasily round. "Think? Yes: very wild and wonderful," he said huskily. "Wonderful? I should think it is. Goes in ever so far, only it isn't wide enough for the boat."