without accident. Soon they were forging through the water at
racing speed, the boat leaping to the impulsion of the sailorman
strongest motives, curiosity and the hope of saving a life.Part 3 < br /> Chapter 4 The Twin SlabsWithin half an hour the gig had reached the
mouth of the cave. As the coxswain had predicted, the seas ran into
the lofty entrance. Elsewhere the surf fell whitely, but through
the arch the waves rolled unbroken into a heavy stillness. Only as
the boat hovered for a moment at the face of the cliff could the
exploring party hear, far within, the hollow boom that told of
breakers on a distant, subterranean beach. “Run her in easy,” came
the captain order. “Keep a sharp lookout for hidden rocks.” To the
whispering plash of the oars they moved from sunlight into
twilight, from twilight into darkness. Of a sudden the oars jerked
convulsively. A great roar had broken upon the ears of the sailors;
the invisible roof above them, the water heaving beneath them, the
walls that hemmed them in, called, with a multiplication of
resonance, upon the name of Darrow. The boat quivered with the
start of its occupants . Then one or two laughed weakly as they
realised that what they had heard was no supernatural voice. It was
the captain hailing for the marooned man.No vocal answer came. But
an indeterminable space away they could hear a low splash followed
by a second and a third. Something coughed weakly in front and to
the right. Trendon hand went to his revolver. The men sat,
stiffened . One of them swore, in a whisper, and the oath came back
upon them, echoing the name of the Saviour in hideous
sibilance. “Silence in the boat,” said the captain, in such buoyant
tones that the men braced themselves against the expected
peril. “Light the lantern and pass it to me,” came the order. “Keep
below the gunwale, men.” As the match spluttered: “Do you see
something, a few rods to port?” asked the captain in Trendon
ear. “Pair of green lights,” said Trendon. “Eyes. _Seals !_”"_ Seals!
Seals! Seals_! “shouted the walls, for the surgeon Brett
Keisel Jersey had suddenly released his voice. And as
Devin
Hester Jersey the mockery boomed, the green lights
disappeared and there was more splashing from the distance. The
crew sat up again.The lantern spread its radiance. It was reflected
from battlements of fairy beauty. Everywhere the walls were set, as
with gems, in broad wales of varied and vivid hues. Dazzled at
first, the explorers soon were able to discern the general nature
of the subterranean world which they had entered. In most places
the walls rose sheer and unscaleable from the water. In others,
turretted rocks thrust their gleaming crags upward. Over to
starboard a little beach shone with Quaker greyness in that
spectacular display. The end of the cavern was still beyond the
area of ??light. “Must have been a swimmer to get in here,” commented
Trendon , glancing at the walls. “Unless he had a boat,” said the
captain. “But why doesn he answer?” “