Guided by their voices, the lads approached till they were close together.
“Now what was it?” panted Joe, who was still trembling from the nervous alarm and shock.
“Give me your hand.”
Joe obeyed shrinkingly, and felt it passed along the skirt of his companion’s jacket.
“Feel it?”
“Yes, I feel something inside the lining. What is it—a box?”
“Yes, the matches. They got through the hole into the lining. Wait till I get them out.”
This was only achieved with the help of a knife.
“Ah!” ejaculated the boy, as he at last dragged out the box, struck a match, and held it over his head to see where the candle-box had been laid; and then by quick manipulation he managed to get a wick well alight before the tiny deal splint was extinct.
In his excitement and delight, Joe clapped his hands as the candle was forced into the empty socket, and the lanthorn door closed.