o wondering; for here was the cave some ten
feet by twelve or more, and set deep within the living rock, the walls
smoothed off, here and there, as by hand, but with never a crack or
fissure in roof or walls so far as I might discover. Yet was I
conscious of this cold breath of air so that my puzzlement grew the
greater.

Presently as I stood thus staring about, to me comes my lady:

"Good lack, Martin," says she, "if we sup on goat to-night we must eat
it raw, for we have no fire!"

"Fire?" says I. "Hum! Smoke would do it, 'tis an excellent thought."

"Do what, Martin!"

"Look at the candle-flame and hark!"

And now, the booming of the wind dying down somewhat, we heard a
strange and dismal wailing and therewith a sound of water afar.

"O Martin!" she whispered, clasping her hands and coming nearer to me,
"What is it?"

"Nought to fear, comrade. But somewhere in this larder of ours is an
opening or fissure, the question is--where? And this I go to find out."

"Aye, but how?" she questioned, coming nearer yet, for now the wailing
had sunk to a groan, and this gave place to a bubbling gasp mighty
unpleasant to hear.

"With smoke," says I, setting the candle in a niche of rock, "I will
light a fire here."

"But we have no fuel, Martin."

"There is plenty in my bed."

"But how will you sleep and no bed?"

"Well enough, as I have done many a time and oft!"

"But, O Martin, 'twill make such dire mess and this our larder!"

"No matter, I'll clean it up. Howbeit I must learn whence cometh this
cold-breathing air. Besides, the fire shall cook our supper and
moreover--"

But here I checked speaking all at once, for above the dismal groans
and wailing I had heard a sudden fierce whispering:

"O Martin, O Martin!" sighed my companion, "We are not alone--somewhere
there are people whispering! Did you hear, Martin, O did you hear?"
And I felt her all of a-tremble where she leaned against me.

"'Tis gone now!" says I, speaking under my breath.

"But 'twas there, Martin--a hateful whispering."

"Aye, I heard it," says I fierce and loud, "and I'll find out who or
what--"

"Who or what!" hissed a soft voice. Hereupon I sheathed the knife I
had drawn and laughed, and immediately there came another laugh, though
very soft.

"Ahoy!" I shouted, and presently back came the answer "Ahoy!" and then
again, though much fainter, "Ahoy!" "'Tis nought but an echo," says I
laughing (yet mighty relieved all th