"Come along, Noel!" Duke cried. "Now's our time to explore this cave. The sea won't be back for hours. I've got a bit of candle and some matches. We'll go back as far as ever we can."
Noel looked grave as he followed his brother to the mouth of the deep cave that opened on to the beach. He was naturally timid, and he did not like the thought of their venturing alone into the hidden recesses of the rock; but he would not say so. Noel was much ashamed of the fears he could not banish.
The sand within the cave was wet, the rocks green and slimy. Duke had taken the precaution to remove his shoes and stockings, and he sped forward fearlessly. Noel followed more cautiously and lingered to look up at the green fronds hanging from the roof of the cave. He had kept his sand-shoes on, for he had a horror of coming into contact with crabs or jelly-fish.
The cave ran back for several yards, and grew narrower and lower as they went on.
"We can't go any farther," Noel said as he bent to avoid knocking his head against the rock above.
"Yes, we can!" Duke cried. "Here's a hole, and we can get through into another cave. Come along," He was clambering through as he spoke. Noel followed him, and found himself in a larger cave.
"It's rather dark and not very nice here," he said with a shiver.
"Hallo!" exclaimed Duke, peering upwards. "Do you see that?"
"See what?" Noel asked fearfully in reply to his brother.
"Don't you see that big hole up there? It's like a little room."