Nelse was on the point of making some laughing remark, when he felt the mate’s hand pressed firmly over his mouth, and at the same instant a draught of air swept down the passage as if a vent had suddenly been opened.
Motioning for the boys to follow his example, Jenkins rose to his feet, and as he did so it was possible to see a tiny thread of light from the end of the tunnel, where, a moment previous, had been only the most profound darkness.
There was no need now to speculate as to why the torch had been extinguished.
The blacks had discovered, even if they did not know it before, that the cave communicated with the tunnel, and were about to creep upon the white party, hoping to take them by surprise.
The supreme moment had come, and the three who stood in that gloomy place listening for the sounds which should tell that the enemy was advancing, knew it was to be a struggle to the finish.
During several moments Jenkins remained motionless, as if trying to decide what course to pursue, and the boys bent forward in their efforts to hear the first sound which should come from the direction of that ray of light; but nothing broke the almost profound silence, save their own labored breathing.
“They are goin’ to take plenty of time about it, an’ we’ll do the same,” Jenkins whispered, cautiously, with his mouth close to Gil’s ear. “The idiots think the light don’t show through, an’ are tryin’ to find out if we’re in the tunnel.”
“Well, what’s to be done? We can’t stand here till they come.”
“Take off your shoes, an’ we’ll steal down to the shaft. We mustn’t make a stand here, for it ain’t certain a lot of ’em won’t come in from the outside at the same time.”
In their stockinged feet the three crept softly down the passage, hugging the left side to avoid being precipitated into the excavation, until they arrived at the point where Andy, clutching firmly the “charm” on his bosom, was keeping watch.
In reply to Jenkins’ whispered questions, he declared that nothing larger than a night bird had moved in the vicinity, and on being told of what was occurring at the opposite end of the tunnel, would have leaped to his feet with a cry of alarm but for the firm hold the mate had upon him.