“It isn’t the most comfortable-looking place I ever saw,” Gil said, trying hard to appear cheerful; “but we might at least kindle a small fire, since the materials are so near at hand. If our friends make any objection to the plan, they can’t do much more than put it out.”
A blaze, however small, would be better than the profound darkness, and the boys raked the fragments of wood together, partially covering them with sand to prevent a too rapid consumption of fuel.
It was necessary to use three matches of their now precious hoard, before the flames fastened upon the blackened sticks; but the outlay seemed none too great when the dispiriting gloom was thus partially dispelled.
The one question uppermost in the minds of all was, why they had been made prisoners, and, after gathering around the fire, this thought would have caused another painful silence, but for the mate, who said, briskly:
“The darkness will seem all the more intense when this wood has been burned, and what little we have won’t last a great while.”
“I don’t see how we can help ourselves,” Gil replied, with a sigh.
“I am going out through the passage on a hunt for more.”
“And get another blow on the head? Tied up as you are in that handkerchief, which is covered with blood, you look sufficiently like a pirate without trying to add to your peculiar beauty.”
“But this time I’ll go toward the big cave, where our particular friends are probably enjoying themselves. Light enough comes from there to show if any one is on guard, and I’ll guarantee that these villains don’t get a second chance to hit me with a club.”
As if fearing his companions might try to dissuade him from his purpose, Mr. Jenkins crept on his hands and knees to where he could have a view of the passage.