"Is that the Whale's Mouth of which you told me, Jerry?" asked Alfred.
"That's it," answered Jerry, shortly. He took up one of the torches lying on the stern-sheets and threw the torch towards the cave into the sea.
"It doesn't appear very dreadful now--does it?"
"Watch that torch. No sea looks very terrifying in a calm," said Jerry, sharply.
He had not yet quite recovered from the passage of arms with Phelan. The boatman had annoyed him by extravagantly over-estimating the dangers and powers of the chasm, and Paulton now ruffled him by seeming to make nothing of them.
Slowly but surely the torch was carried towards the Whale's Mouth. Slowly at first, but more quickly as it approached the rock, more quickly as it approached the cave. Second by second the rate increased, until, when it reached the Mouth and disappeared, it was hurrying on as fast as a man could walk.
"That's strange!" said Alfred. "I think you told me no one has been able to find out where all this water goes to."
"To a place that's more hot than comfortable," said Phelan grimly, directing a look of inquiry towards Jerry.
"It all comes back again," said Jerry.
"Barring what doesn't," muttered Phelan. "Pull a stroke or two, Tim," he said to the other boatman. "The current is under her keel already, and bad as this world is, I haven't made my will yet. A couple of more strokes, Tim."