“What for? Can’t you get help for us, Tom?”
“Ay, ay, my lad,” came back. “But jest you wait.”
Then there was silence, and the prisoners joined hands, to kneel, waiting and listening.
“He has gone for help,” said the middy.
“Yes, and before he gets back that little hole that let his words in will be shut up again.”
“Never mind,” said the middy, sagely; “he knows we’re here.”
“Oh, but why didn’t I think to tell him of the zigzag path? I daresay they could get the stones out from above where they were pushed in.”
“Perhaps he hasn’t gone,” said the middy. “Ahoy there!”
There was a peculiar sound as of the water rising up and gurgling along a channel, while a lapping sound at their feet told that the water inside was being put in motion.
“Why, he has dived down,” cried Aleck, suddenly, “so as to try and get to us.”