Suddenly a faint sound reached his ear, so indistinct that he could hardly be sure he heard anything at all. He listened a moment, but it was not repeated.
“Some of the fellows stirring in their sleep,” he muttered, and giving the matter no further thought, he lay down again.
But as soon as his head touched the sand the sound was repeated, and this time it was more definable—a steady, rustling noise, with an occasional low splash that seemed to come from the water.
It was caused by none of his companions, for they all lay on his left, while the alarming noise seemed to come from the right.
Guy was a brave man, but in his nervous condition, resulting from the recent dream, this new alarm was too much, and he felt a cold chill run down his spine.
Giving Forbes, who was next him, a gentle shake, he drew himself to his feet, and taking a match from his pocket, rubbed it with a trembling hand across the front of his trousers.
It struck fire instantly, and as the sudden flare lit up the whole extent of the island the match dropped from Guy’s nerveless fingers and he started back with a cry of horror that echoed horribly through the gloomy recesses of the cavern.