Jack’s response, as Ned moved to get into a better position for observation, was to leap upon the man and drag him back into the entrance of the cavern.
“What did you do that for, sir?” he cried angrily.
“Couldn’t you see what was coming?”
“No, sir,” cried Ned surlily; “could you?”
“Go down on hands and knees to that block of stone lying there, and peep over cautiously.”
Ned obeyed in an ill-used fashion, and dropped down again to crawl back into the cavern.
“Oh, I say, Mr Jack, seven or eight of them.”
“I only saw two.”
“Quite what I said, sir. They must have been hunting the drove, and speared the one that hung behind. Now, then, they’ll be stopping to cook and have another feast. Suppose they come in here to make this their kitchen? Hadn’t we better slip out at once and make a run for it?”
“Run for it?” cried Jack. “How can we up here, where it is all slow climb? No, we must keep in hiding.”