"I say, though, I hope no one has been." They walked across the deep, yielding sand, with the soft pearly light playing on the ceiling; peered through into the outer cave; and then Mike, who was first, darted back, for there was a loud splash and the sound as of some one wallowing through the water at the cave mouth.
"Only a seal," cried Vince.

"There goes another." He ran forward over the sand in time to see a third pass out of a low, dark archway at the right of the place where the clear water was all in motion from the powerful creatures swimming through.
"I say, Mike, why don't we take the light some day and wade in there to see how far it goes ?" said Vince, as he looked curiously at the doorway of what was evidently a regular seal's lurking-place.
"Because it's wet and dark; and how do we know that we could wade in there ?" "Because you can see the rock bottom.

It's shallow as shallow." "And how do you know that it doesn't go down like a wall as soon as you get in ?" "We could feel our way with a stick, step by step; or, I know, we'd get the rope--bring a good long one--and I'd fasten it round your waist and stand at the door and send you in.

Of course I'd soon pull you out if you went down." "Thank you," cried Mike, "you are kind.

My mother said you were such a nice boy, Cinder, and she was glad I had you for a companion, as the Crag was so lonely.