“Afraid to go in?”
“Afraid, sir? You never knew me afraid.”
“Well, in you go and fetch them out,” said the boatswain with a laugh. “If you don’t come back I shall know that the Maoris have got you, and are saving you for the pot.”
From where Don and Jem stood in the darkness they could see their spying sinister friend give quite a start; but he laughed off the impression the boatswain’s words had made, and began to come cautiously on, feeling his way as a man does who has just left the bright sunshine to enter a dark place.
Jem uttered a loud hiss as he drew his breath, and Ramsden heard it and stopped.
“Mr Jones,” he said sharply.
“Well?”
“Think there’s any big snakes here? I heard a hiss.”
“Only steam from a hot spring. No snakes in this country.”
“Oh!” ejaculated Ramsden: and he came cautiously on.