As they went on, they saw the outlying masses round which the waters foamed and bubbled, but became quite bewildered as they tried to make out which was the outlet by which the smuggler crew had taken them and the captain through on the previous day.

They passed narrow rifts, but the water always seemed to be flowing swiftly into the great basin in which they were and joining the seething waters in their continuous round.
Vince pointed to this and then to that gap between the rocks, as the one through which they must have come overnight, but he could never be in the least sure; and as they went on, he had to content himself with looking up at the ridge which faced the caverns, and beyond which they believed the sea to be.
Everywhere at the foot of the cliffs the water was deep, and so clear that they could see the rocks at the bottom, smooth, and treacherous-looking, apparently rising up to capsize the boat; but they glided over all in safety, the great basin being worn smooth by the constant friction of the currents, and at last began to approach the end opposite to where they had been deftly taken out by the men.
Here they looked eagerly for another way of getting out--the rift through which the waters must pass back into the sea--but, if it existed, it was shut from their sight by the heaped-up rocks, and the current carried them on and on with unchecked speed.
"No wonder I thought we were a long while getting out to sea!" said Vince at last: "we can't have gone near the big channel through which the lugger must come and go." "Never mind that," said Mike impatiently; "there must be another way out from this basin.

We saw signs of it from up above, when you sat up there and I held the rope." "Yes," said Vince gloomily; "but sitting up there's one thing, and sitting down here's another.

Think we shall find another way out this end?
Must, mustn't we ?" Mike nodded as he stood up and searched the rocks for the opening that was hidden from their eyes, from the fact that it was behind one of the barriers of rock and far below the surface current which swept them along.
As far as they could judge, they were going on for half an hour, making the complete circuit of the great watery amphitheatre; and then, as they passed the caverns again, they determined to examine the other end more carefully, for the exit used by the smugglers, which must, they knew, be ample and easy if they could master the knack of getting the boat in.
For they had some hazy notion of learning how it was done and then hiding till night, when they might manage perhaps to pass out unseen.
"But if we did," said Mike despondently, "we should perhaps be swept in here again, or be upset and drowned.

I say, Cinder, did you ever see such an unlucky pair as we are ?" "Never looked," said Vince; "but I tell you what: we shall have to land in the big cave, and get through to ours." "What for ?" "Breakfast.