Captain Flint descended these steps followed by his men.
About twenty steps brought them to the bottom, when they entered another horizontal passage, and which suddenly expanded into a wide and lofty chamber.
Here the party halted, and the captain shouted at the top of his voice:
"What ho! there, Lightfoot, you she devil, why don't you light up!"
This rude summons was repeated several times before it received any answer.
At length an answer came in what was evidently a female voice, and from one who was in no very good humor: "Oh, don't you get into a passion now. How you s'pose I know you was coming back so soon."
"Didn't I tell you I'd be back to-day!" angrily asked Flint.
"Well, what if you did," replied the voice. "Do you always come when you says you will?"
"Well, no matter, let's have no more of your impudence. We're back bow, and I want you to light up and make a fire."
The person addressed was now heard retiring and muttering to herself.