The two sentries laughed, for they were big brown good-tempered looking fellows, and in we all three went, to find ourselves in quite a long rugged passage, running upward and opening into a big hollow at the end, where the lantern was being used to peer in all directions, till it was evident that nothing was there.
“We’re in the wrong hole,” said the officer. “Now, my lads, forward!”
He went sharply out into the daylight again, to where the two sentries were on guard, and entered quickly, passing through the dripping water closely followed by his men.
But there was not room for all, and he backed out directly.
“There’s nothing here,” he cried angrily.
“Try the other hole,” said Bob, running to where we had found the narrow opening behind an outlying buttress of rock.
Bob stepped in first this time, the lieutenant following, and then the man with the lantern.
“Bravo, boy!” cried the lieutenant; “this is the place. Rather awkward, but here we are. Come along, my lads.”
The sailors scrambled in as quickly as they could, and we all followed rather slowly down what was a jagged crack in the rock about two feet wide and sloping, so that one had to walk with the body inclined to the right.
This at the end of about twenty feet opened out into quite a large rough place, which contained some old nets and tins, along with about a dozen half rotten lobster-pots, but nothing more.