“But don’t I tell you I felt one swim up against me and lash its great body half round my leg?”
“I believe those were young seals, swimming for their lives to get out to sea. There, take off your wet things and wring them out. I’m going to fill my boots with fine sand. It’s not cold in here, and I dare say the things will dry a bit.”
“But suppose the seals come back.”
“They won’t come back while we’re here, Ladle—I know that. They’re full of curiosity, but as shy as can be. They can see in the dark, and—”
“Dark!” cried Mike.
“To be sure. We mustn’t go on burning that candle.”
“But—”
“Look here, old chap,” said Vince quietly: “there are only about two inches of it left. That wouldn’t last long, and I’m sure it’s better to put it out and save it for some particular occasion than to burn it now.”
“But there’s just enough to light us to the mouth of this terrible hole.”
“And give ourselves up to old Jarks, as that fellow called him, whose pistol might go off by accident, or who might take us on board his vessel and let us fall overboard.”