I trusted to you," said Mike anxiously, "and you wouldn't light the candle." "Yes, it is all right," said Vince; and, mastering the feeling of scare that had come over him, he passed his hand along the wall, feeling the slimy cold sea anemones and the peculiar clinging touch of their tentacles.

Then he pressed steadily on, till all at once there was a faint dawning of light.

They turned one of the bends, and the dawn, became bright rays, which rapidly increased as they softly waded along, being careful now to speak to each other in whispers, and to disturb the water as little as possible; till at last there in the front was the low arch of the cave, framing a patch of sunny rock dotted with grey gulls, and an exultant sensation filled Vince's breast, making him ready to shout aloud.
The sensation of delight was checked by feeling Mike's hand suddenly upon his shoulder tugging him back, and at the same moment he saw the reason.

For there, in the opening, evidently standing up to his shoulders in water, was some one gazing straight into the narrow cavern, and Vince felt that they must have been heard and a sentry placed there to watch for their coming out.
"But it is impossible for him to see us," thought Vince; and he stood there pondering on what it would be best to do, while a feeling of hope cheered him with the idea that perhaps after all they had not been heard, and that it was by mere accident that the man was gazing in.
The next moment he felt again ready to utter an exultant cry, for there was a sudden movement of the watching head, a dive down, and the water rose and fell, distinctly seen against the light.
"Bother those old seals!" he said: "they're always doing something to scare us.

I really thought it was a man." "Looked just like it," said Mike, making a panting sound, as if he had been holding his breath till he had been nearly suffocated.
"That chap must have been able to see us though we are in the dark.
What wonderful eyes they have!" "Perhaps the light shines on us a little," replied Mike.
"Very likely; but it's curious what animals can do.