“No, no,” cried Lennox; “how do we know but what there may be quite a store of powder farther in?”
“But it looks such an awkward place,” said Dickenson. “A fellow with a bayonet might keep a regiment at bay.”
“Yes,” said Lennox coolly; “it looks awkward, but come on.”
As he spoke he pushed by, sword in hand, and began to explore the suspicious-looking rift.
“Oh, come; play fair,” cried Dickenson. “I was first.”
“Come along,” said Lennox, with his voice sounding smothered.
“Oh, very well,” grumbled Dickenson. “Bring the lantern, sergeant. We may as well see ourselves skewered.”
He plunged in hastily, closely followed by the lantern-bearer, and as it seemed to be an extremely likely hiding-place, the rest of the party were halted ready to give assistance. But at the end of a minute the lantern had shown that it was a blind lead, and the explorers hurried back, and the advance was continued through narrow crack and rough opening, till the lights threw up the blank stone where the rift suddenly contracted.
“Why, here’s the end of the cave!” cried Captain Roby. “We must have passed him somewhere.”
“Then he is hiding somewhere high up on a shelf by the roof.”