CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
SOME DOUBTS ABOUT THE DISCOVERY.
Certainly Lobster did not know how near the two boys were, and he soon proved it by coming closer, looking down, and then turning to reconnoitre in another direction.
Vince stared at Mike, and their eyes simultaneously said the same thing: "He must have been watching us, and seen us come in this direction." It was evident that he had soon lost the clue in following them, although, judging from circumstances, he must have tracked them close to where they were.
They recollected now that they had not exercised their regular caution-- though, even if they had, it is very doubtful whether they would have detected a spy who crawled after them, for the cover was too thick--and a feeling of anger troubled both for allowing themselves to be outwitted by a lout they both held in utter contempt.
They stood watching their spy for nearly a quarter of an hour, and were able to judge from his actions that he had seen them disappear somewhere in this direction; and in profound ignorance in this game of hide and seek that he was having, Carnach scanned the high slope and the ridge, and the bottom where the stones lay so thickly again and again, ending by ensconcing himself behind one of them, after plucking some fern fronds, and putting them on the top of his cap to act as a kind of screen in case those he sought should come into sight somewhere overhead.
The two boys hardly dared stir, but at last, with his eyes fixed upon Carnach to see if he heard their movement, Vince pointed softly back into the dark passage, and Mike crept away without making the slightest sound.

Then, as soon as he was satisfied of the coast being clear behind him, Vince began to back away till he felt it safe to turn, and followed his companion some fifty yards into the darkness, which now seemed to be quite a refuge to them.
"Where are you ?" whispered Vince.
A low cough told him that he was not yet far enough; and, keeping one hand upon the wall, he followed until he felt himself touched.
"I say," he whispered, "this is nice: smugglers at one end and that miserable Lobster at the other! What are we to do ?" "I don't know," said Mike dolefully.

"He must have seen us go out of sight, and feels sure that we shall come back again, and he'll wait till we do." "No, no; he'll soon get tired." "Not he," said Mike; "he's just one of those stupid, heavy chaps who will sit or lie down and wait for us for a week." "But I want to get home.

I'm growing hungry." "Let's go back and fish, and light a fire and cook it." "What, for him to smell the frying?
He would, as sure as could be.

No; we must wait." "I say, Cinder," whispered Mike, "what an unlucky day we are having! Everything seems to go wrong." "It'll go worse still if you whisper so loud," said Vince; "the sound runs along the walls here, and gets stronger, I believe, as it goes." "Well, I can't help it; I feel so wild.