Dick took the lantern, and as the light spread about the boat and glimmered on the surface of wet rock and water Arthur made a brave effort to master his dread; but all the same he gazed doubtfully forward as the boat was thrust more and more along the waterway among the rocks.
“I don’t hear any seals yet,” said Mr Temple.
“Oh, you won’t hear ’em p’r’aps, sir,” said Josh, “till we are close on to them, and then there’ll be a splash and a rush. If there be any of ’em they’re huddled up together, wondering what this here lantern means.”
“Then there is no other way out?”
“Not for them, sir. There’s a bit of a hole up towards the end, where a bird might fly out, but there’s no way for the fish.”
All this time Josh and Will were propelling the boat along with an oar or a boat-hook, and when the way was very narrow and the rocks within reach thrusting it forward with their hands.
“There, there, there’s one,” cried Dick, as there was a heavy rushing noise which came whispering and echoing past where they were.
“Ay, that be one, Master Richard,” cried Josh, mastering the boy’s name for once. “She’ll go right to the end and come up again.”
“How far is it to the end?” said Mr Temple.
“Six or eight fathom,” said Josh; “not more, sir. If the light was stronger you could see it.”