"Aye, aye, sir!"
The Norma began the search amid the storm and gathering darkness, while the father peered over the side in anguished fear.
CHAPTER XXIV
THE ESCAPE
"Climb up, Andy! Climb up! Every time you see a lightning flash!"
"But where are we going, Frank?"
"Out of this cave! Don't you see what has happened? There's a hole in the roof, and it slopes right down to us here. Crawl up on your hands and knees, but don't slip back. It's our only chance!"
It was a few minutes after the stunning crash that had actually opened up a way of escape for the two lads imprisoned in the cave. Frank was quick to see and take advantage of it. A sort of sloping way was now before them, and it was possible to crawl up along it.
But there was danger, too, for the rain was pouring in through the opening in the roof—a veritable stream of water, probably diverted from some puddles that had gathered from the heavy downpour. And to climb up through this, along a muddy, slimy slope, was no easy task. But it was their only means of escape, for back of them the tide was still rising relentlessly.
"All ready, Andy?" called Frank.