Part 58 (1/2)

”All right,” said the Hunter, soothingly ”In any case, I am afraid we have left it too late”

”Late or early, I'll not go on”

When they did reach the loopholes, they found on looking out that the valley on that side was already in the shadow

”We will stay, then,” said Mr Hume ”Lethad already sat doith a dogged look in his face, and Mr

Hume had to lift hi the erous to excite hi the boy co his pipe, the first ti the effect of the long period of anxiety, for he had scarcely eaten a iven his little store to his young friend, as in ht He had a new anxiety about dick, and bitterly bla so blindly followed the woman into this horrible place, that was one succession of death-traps

”I'm very thirsty,” muttered the boy

Mr Ho you so only his Ghoorka knife and his match-box, the Hunter went on to the Cave of Skulls Luckily for the denizens of that ominous place, none of theri a bonfire of some of the mats, he looked about

One calabash contained water, and this he carried back, together with so equally precious--a bunch of bananas that were black with sry or did not see the eyes

”You were so long,” he ain, old chap I've brought you quite a feast”

Venning took a long drink, ate the bananas, and fell back on his pillohile the Hunter resuht It seemed as if they were to be left in peace Since that solitary, withered, and scared creature dived out of the cave they had seen no one But still he sat on guard as the hours slipped slowly by, and then there ca

Just the tinkleinto a pool!

It caan to count it, wondering at the height it fell, andat the noise it made

And then he leapt to his feet, and stood a le drop of water to be heard above all that multitudinous clamour! What did it mean? It meant a silence so profound that fro cavity the tiny tinkle could reach hi torrent was stilled!

CHAPTER XXIV

LETTING IN THE RIVER

The river was no longer thundering through the underground passage, and as the sudden silence following the stopping of engines on a passenger steamer will awaken every sleeper even ale, so this lull in the tre

”What is theup

”The river has stopped”

They sat straining their ears for the swift roar of the waters, but out of the sluular splash and tinkle of the falling drops

”I don't understand it,” , with a shout ”Hassan has blocked up the mouth of the canon”

”Nonsense, boy; how could he?”

”Look out of the loophole”

Mr Hume put his face to the hole ”The water has risen, I think, from the noise”