As he reached the mouth he placed two men as sentries at the entrance of the other hole where the water rained down, and turned to my father.
“You need not enter unless you like, captain. We may have a brush, for some of the scoundrels are perhaps still here. By the way, where’s the ledge where you people were hidden?”
“Up there,” said Bob promptly, and I saw the officer scan the place.
“What, coming?” said the lieutenant.
“Yes,” replied my father; “but I think these lads ought to stand aside in case of danger.”
“Yes,” was the short response. “Here, boys, you stop here. You are not armed,” he added with a sneering laugh.
“I only wish we had your father’s cutlasses here, Sep,” whispered Bob, “and we’d show them.”
We stood back as the man went first with the lantern, closely followed by the lieutenant with his drawn sword; and we waited as the last disappeared in the opening, fully expecting to hear shots fired.
But all was perfectly still, and Bigley was creeping slowly nearer and nearer to the opening when Bob Chowne made a rush.
“Here, you chaps get all the fun,” he exclaimed. “I shall go in and see.”