"We only want to gain time till Sir Francis knows." "And your father," said Mike.

"Fair play's a jewel, Cinder.

Look sharp! Come on!" They listened in the gloom of the inner cave for a few moments, and then Mike led the way to the opening between the two caves, passing behind the rock, and as he did so he turned to whisper to his companion-- "Perhaps he won't find this way through." Then he stepped on over the deep, soft sand, and was about to pass through into the outer cavern, when he saw something which made him dart back, to come heavily in collision with Vince; but not until the latter had seen that which startled Mike.
For there, standing in the sand, gazing up at the fissure, was a heavy, thick-set, foreign-looking man, with short black hair, a very brown skin, and wearing glistening gold earrings, each as far across as a half-crown piece.

The glance taken by the boys was short enough, but they saw more than that, for they caught sight of a rope hanging down and a man's legs just appearing.
"_Vite! vite_!" cried the foreign-looking fellow.

"_Depechez_; make you haste, you slow swab you." There was a growl from above, and something was said, but the boys did not hear what.