CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
GETTING DEEPER IN THE HOLE.
For some moments Mike sat up, gazing straight before him, dazed, confused, not knowing where he was.

Time, space, his life, all seemed to be gone; and all he could grasp was the fact that he was there.
At last, as his brain would not work to help him, he began to try with his ringers, feeling for the information he somehow seemed to crave.
He touched the sand, then a hand, and started from it in horror, for he could not understand why it was there.
By degrees the impression began to dawn upon him that he had been awakened by some noise, but by what sound he could not tell.

He could only feel that it was a noise of which he ought to be afraid, till suddenly there was something or somebody splashing or wallowing in the water.
That was enough.

The whole tide of thought rushed through him in an instant, and, snatching at the hand, he tugged at it and whispered excitedly,-- "Cinder--Vince!--wake up.

They've come back." "Eh?
What's the matter?
Come back?
What, the smugglers?
Don't speak so loud." "No, no--the seals.