"Yes, Andy. Give me your hand."
The two brothers spoke softly. It was in the darkness of the cave, for they had both released the pressure on the springs of their portable lights to make the little dry batteries last as long as possible. It was several minutes after the first awful discovery of the incoming tide, and they had maintained a silence until the younger lad, unable to longer endure the strain, had called out.
Silently they clasped hands in the blackness.
"Frank, do you—do you think there's any way out?"
"Why, of course there is, Andy. All we've got to do is to wait a while, and someone will surely come to our rescue. Father and mother know we started for this island, and if we don't get home soon they'll start a searching party after us."
"Yes, but the rising tide, Frank. We—we may drown."
"Nonsense. The water can't get very high in here. We'll simply go to the highest part of the passage, and wait until the tide goes out. That won't be so very long. What makes me mad though, is to think how that man fooled us. That was his object all along. He wanted to get us in here so he could drop that rock across the opening and have us caged."
"Can't we try to get out?" asked Andy. his usually joyous spirits had departed. He was very much subdued now, and in the momentary flash of his light, which he permitted himself, Frank saw that his brother was very pale.
"Of course we'll try!" exclaimed the elder lad, with all the assurance he could put into his voice. "Perhaps we can manage it, too. Let's have a try. It's of no use to do it here. We must go back to where he pushed down the rock. Perhaps it isn't in as tight as we thought at first. Come on. But don't use your light. Mine is enough, and we must save them as long as we can."
By the gleam of the single electric torch they made their way back. Soon they were at the rock which made them prisoners. It loomed grim and black in the semi-darkness.