Neither of the boys had thought that it might become necessary for the Day Dream to leave her anchorage; but as the mate spoke, both remembered what Captain Mansfield said shortly before they left, and the knowledge that their friends had been forced to abandon them brought with it the deepest despair.
They could hear the wind, as it swept across the mouth of the underground passage, and this told plainly that if the schooner had not left this particular portion of the coast, she would probably be a wreck before morning.
During a long while the mournful party crouched upon the damp earth silent, each occupied with his own gloomy thoughts, and then Gil said, as he arose to his feet:
“We mustn’t give way in this manner! Other people have been in worse scrapes and come out all right by keeping a stiff upper lip, and watching for some chance to help themselves. We are acting like babies.”
“You are right, lad,” and Mr. Jenkins stood erect, clasping Gil’s hand. “Let’s see what kind of a place we are in, and then, perhaps, matters won’t appear quite so desperate. I’d give all the wages due me if I knew why these black villains have brought us here.”
“It can’t be to kill us, for that could have been done without any trouble when we were on the beach,” Gil replied.
This remark seemed to give Nelse courage, and he said, joining the others:
“There’s no use speculating about what can’t be found out until they choose to tell us. Let’s do as Mr. Jenkins proposed, and find out where we are. I’ve got a box full of matches, and they ought to give light enough to show how the place looks.”
While speaking, he had ignited one of the tapers, and all three gazed around eagerly.
There was but little to be seen. An excavation, evidently formed by the hand of man, about twelve feet deep and eight wide, with nothing in it, save a pile of charred wood, where a fire had once been built, made up a complete description of their prison.