“Yes, that be all,” growled Josh; “it don’t rise no faster than it did afore. P’r’aps you wouldn’t mind making another water-mark, sir. T’other’s ’most covered.”
But Mr Temple’s hammer was already raised as he spoke, and the cave echoed with his blows.
“It sounds different, doesn’t it, Will?” said Arthur softly. “It don’t echo so much, and seem to run along.”
“No,” said Will, in the same tone of voice, “there is not so much room. We seem more shut-up like. But it will soon begin to go down now.”
“Will it?” whispered Arthur; “or shall we all be shut-up here and drowned?”
“Oh, no, no!” whispered back Will; “don’t you get thinking that. The water must begin to go down again soon.”
“What time is it high water?” said Mr Temple suddenly.
“Two o’clock, sir,” said Josh.
“Why, it must be near that time now,” said Mr Temple, laying down his hammer to take out his watch. “Hold the light here, Dick.”
Dick caught up the lanthorn, but in doing so caught his foot against one of the bottom boards, stumbled, and there was a splash, and then utter darkness.