farther, sir," he said nervously. "Don't you feel a
bit frightened?"

"Of course I do. It would be horrible if they caught us again. They
would kill us."

"Yes, sir; most likely," said Ned. "Be awkward, wouldn't it? But don't
you feel scared-like about this great black hole?"

"Scared? No; I like it, Ned."

"Oh, no, you don't, sir. You can't. Don't say that. There! There it
is again. Just over your head."

He shrank back with his fist doubled as if prepared to strike.

"What is it?" cried Jack, startled now.

"I dunno, sir. Let's go back," cried the man in an agitated whisper.
"It's very horrid though. There's lots of 'em shuffling and scrambling
about in the cracks and holes, staring at you with their wicked-looking
eyes, and more 'n once I've seen 'em flapping their wings. I don't like
it. Let's go back."

"Go back to be taken? Impossible. Look, they are only bats."

"Bats with wings a yard across, sir? Oh, come, I know better than
that."

"What are they then?" said Jack angrily.

"Oh, I dunno, sir. Something horrid as lives in this dreadful place.
They make me feel creepy all down my back. I'd rather have a set-to
with one of the ugliest blacks yonder."

"I tell you they are bats--the great fruit bats. Why, Captain Bradleigh
pointed them out to me the other night, flying overhead in the darkness
just like big crows."

"Are you sure, sir? There, look at that thing staring down at you and
making noises. Mind, pray, Mr Jack, sir, or he'll have you. Perhaps
their bite's poison."

"They will not bite if we leave them alone. They are flying foxes."

"Flying wolves, I think, sir. I say, hadn't we better go back?"

"No," said Jack firmly. "Why, Ned, are you going to turn coward?"

"Hope not, sir; and that's what worries me--me being a man and feeling
as I do, while you're only a boy and don't seem to mind a bit. I
wouldn't care so much if you were frightened too."

"Well, I am frightened, Ned--horribly frightened, but not of the flying
foxes."

"But you don't seem to mind what might be farther in, sir," said Ned,
staring wildly into the darkness ahead.

"Oh yes, I do," replied Jack. "I'm afraid we might slip down into some
horrible black pit; but we need not if we're careful."

"Ah, you don't seem to understand me, sir, and I don't quite understand
myself. I suppose it's from only being half myself again, for one of my
arms is no good at all. That's what makes me fee