“Are my young masters ready to make the descent?”
Now, from the very expression of his countenance, I knew he thought we should refuse, and oh! how I longed to do so; but then, who could have borne to be set down “coward” by those grinning natives behind me?—and so I resolved rather to risk my life. As for my brother, he cried on the instant:
“Ready! Aye, I should think so, Prabu, if you will only make the rope taut round the spike.”
For an instant he appeared surprised, but then he said: “You are brave lads, but too impatient; I will descend first, so as to receive you at the mouth of the cave, and Kati will stay here, keeping an eye upon the cord and spike until you are landed safely.”
“All right,” said I, well satisfied with the arrangement, and over the side went our captain; but he was not so expert as his men, for ere he could “light” at an entrance to a cave, he swung about in mid-air, making several failures.
“Our friend is not so well up in his business as the other fellows,” said Martin.
“He is a gallant fellow, notwithstanding. But see, he has done it at last; and it is our turn now, Martin.”
“All right, Claud; I will go down first.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Yes, I will.”