“That’s them, sir. We’ve got all amongst ’em here, and they’ll be having one of us directly.”
“Pooh! There’s nothing alive in this dark place,” I said scornfully.
“What! Why, wasn’t it alive with birds and bats?”
“Oh, yes, but I don’t believe there’s a fish in these dark waters.”
“Fish! Oh, I don’t mind fish, sir, as long as they aren’t sharks. It’s them conders I can’t bear. It wouldn’t so much matter if we were in the dark, but we’ve brought a light to show ’em where we are.”
“There are no snakes here,” I said angrily.
“It’s all very well for you to say so, Master Nat,” he replied; “but you just listen. There! Hear that?”
“Yes, the splash against the side of the wave we make in wading.”
Pete was about to say something more, but just then my uncle turned his head.
“Use your bamboo well, Nat,” he said, “in case of there being any cracks; but the bottom seems very level, and the depth keeps about the same. Nice and cool here. Keep close up. What’s that, Cross?”