"And so I would," said Sprowl, with an oath, "if you hadn't brought us to the cave."
"That means," thought Carl, "he vill kill me yet if he can, ven he finds out." He observed, also, that Sprowl, lying on his left side, had his right hand free, and near the pocket where his pistol was. It was not yet too late for him to be shot if he attempted an escape without first attempting something else. The violent beating of his heart recommenced. He felt a strange tremor of excitement thrilling through every nerve. His hand still held the pebble, covering and concealing it as he leaned forward on the ground. He crept a little nearer Lysander.
"The vay they go into the cave," he said, "is wery queer."
"How so?" asked the captain.
They were facing each other. Carl drew still a little nearer, and raised himself slightly on the hand that grasped the geological specimen.
"I promised to take you in. I vill take you in on vun condition."
"Condition?" repeated Lysander.
"That is vat I said. Vun leetle condition. Let me whishper."
Carl put up his left hand as if to cover the communication he was about to breathe into Lysander's ear.
"The condition—IS THIS!"