“No,” cried Aleck, exultantly, “it’s all right—fresh and sweet. Look here; you can see how there’s water trickling very slowly down.”
“So there is,” cried the middy. “You were all right about that.”
“Yes,” said Aleck, “and I believe we shall find ships’ stores enough amongst those barrels to last us for months.”
“Let’s see!” said the middy. “Oh! this is getting too jolly,” he added. “Let’s open some of the boxes too. Why, the next thing will be that I shall be finding a new uniform all ready for putting on, but—oh, dear!” he added, dolefully.
“Well, of all the fellows,” cried Aleck. “Here have we just found out that things aren’t half so bad as they seemed, and now you’re breaking out again. What is the matter now?”
“I was thinking about the uniform, been lying here perhaps for months; it’s sure to be too damp to put on.”
“Bah!” cried Aleck. “Dip it right into the big pool and make it salt. It won’t hurt you then.”
“Right,” shouted the middy. “Now, then, what next? I believe if we keep on we shall find a fresh way out.”
“Like enough. Let’s try.”
They tried, but tried in vain. The middy held the light, and Aleck climbed up the wet face of the huge mass which blocked the way, and then began to crawl on beneath the roof.