This offer was at once accepted, and a party well armed, headed by young Billings, and guided by Jones Bradley, set out immediately.
CHAPTER XIV.
When Captain Flint made his escape from prison, it naturally enough occurred to him, that the safest place for him for awhile, would be the cave.
In it he thought he could remain in perfect safety, until he should find an opportunity for leaving the country.
The cave, or at least the secret chamber, was unknown to any except his crew, and those who were confined in it.
On leaving the cave, the last time, with a heartlessness worthy a demon, he had barred the entrance to the cavern on the outside, so as to render it impossible for those confined there to escape in that direction.
In fact, he had, be supposed, buried them alive—left them to die of hunger.
Captain Flint reached the entrance of the cave in safety, and found everything as he had left it.
On reaching the inner chamber where he had left the two women and the negro boy, he was startled to find the place apparently deserted, while all was in total darkness, except where a few rays found their way through the crevices of the rocks.
He called the names first of one, and then another, but the only answer he received was the echo of his own voice.