As soon as they felt that they were far enough in to be hidden by the darkness, they sat watching the entrance, through which the bright morning light poured, and listened intently for some sound to indicate that the smugglers’ boat was near.
But an hour must have passed, and Vince was fidgeting at something which took his attention, when Mike suddenly whispered,—
“I say, do you notice anything strange about the way in yonder?”
Vince was silent.
“Why don’t you speak?” said Mike sharply. “You have seen it. Why didn’t you speak before?”
“Felt as if I couldn’t,” said Vince hoarsely.
“Then it is so,” said Mike. “The tide is rising, and the hole’s getting smaller. Come on: we must get out at once.”
“Too late,” replied Vince gloomily. “The water’s too high now. If we tried we should be wedged in.”
“But— oh! we must try, Vince, or we shall be drowned! Why didn’t you speak before?”
“I wasn’t sure till it began to run up so quickly; and what could we do? If we had gone out we should have been seen directly. Perhaps it won’t rise any higher now. It never covered the seal cave.”