“Well, what happened?” said the boatswain.
“I felt sure that those two were in this place, and I went on farther into the darkness till I kicked against something and fell down.”
“Out here and stunned yourself.”
“No, no; in there! I’d got up and picked up my cutlash, and then something seemed to choke me, and I went down again.”
Jem squeezed Don’s arm, for they both felt more hopeful.
“And then one of they chaps came and give you a crack on the head?” said a sailor.
Don’s heart sank again.
“Nonsense!” said his old friend, the boatswain. “Foul air. He must have staggered out and fallen down insensible.”
Jem gripped Don’s arm with painful force here.
“How do you feel? Can you walk?”