“Of course.”
“But suppose there is any one there?”
“We’ll soon see,” said Vince; and, placing his hands to his mouth, he gave vent to a hullo! whose effect was startling; for it echoed and vibrated about the great cave, startling a flock of pigeons, which darted out with a loud whistling of wings.
Then the sound came back in a peculiar way from the barrier of rocks across the bay, for there was evidently a fluttering there among the sea-birds, some of which darted down into sight just outside the mouth of the cave.
“Nobody at home,” said Vince merrily, “and hasn’t been lately. Now then: may I go first?”
“If you like,” said Mike; and, after securely hooking the grapnel in a crevice, Vince threw the rope outward from him into the cavern, where it touched the sand some twenty feet below.
“There we are!” he said; “that’s easier than throwing it up.”
“Yes, but look sharp down. I want to have a good look.”
“After me,” said Vince mockingly; and, taking the rope, he lowered himself out of the crack, twisted his leg round the hemp, and quickly dropped hand over hand to the flooring of the cave.
“Ever so much bigger than ours, Mike,” he shouted, and then turned sharply round, for a voice said plainly: