“Do you want to smother me?” he said. “Can’t breathe.”
“Slit the back of the sack, lad,” said the same gruff voice, and there was a sharp cutting noise heard, as a breathing-hole was cut right up behind his head.
“Now, then, bring him along.”
His hand was grasped, and, as he felt himself led over ground that was quite familiar now, he knew that he was on the way to the entrance.
Were they going to take him out, and set him free?
No; if they had been going to do that, they would not have blindfolded his eyes.
Yes, they would, for, if they were going to set him free, they would do so in a way that would place it beyond his power to betray their secret store.
Quick immatured thoughts which shot through him as he was led along, and he knew directly after that it was only fancy. Of course. He could show the lieutenant where the opening was in the cliff, and by knowing that it would be easy to track out the land entrance.
“No,” said the midshipman to himself sadly; “they are going to take me and imprison me somewhere else, for they must now know that I was holding communications with that girl.”
“Now then, steady!” said a voice, as he felt that the cool air was coming down on to his head, and he breathed it through the thick sacking. “Make a rope fast round him.”