th."

"No, we shouldn't, for I daresay there's a good store here of biscuits
and corned beef out of some ship, as well as smuggled goods, that we
could eat."

"Till all was finished," said the middy, sadly.

"What of that? We could get out, couldn't we? I know the way."

"Oh, yes. I had forgotten that. But was there any door to the way
down--trap-door?"

"Door? No," said Aleck, laughing. "It's all the natural stone, just
chipped a little here and there to make it easier."

"That's right," said the midshipman, sadly. "But it is a terrible place
to be shut up in. Hasn't he been very long?"

"Oh, no. I daresay he'll be a long time yet. Come, cheer up. Let's
watch the water there. I wish I knew what the time was. Can't we tell?
When the water looks blackest it ought to be high water. I wonder
whether we shall see the arch quite cleared and the light shining
through. Have you noticed it?"

"Don't!" said the young sailor, rather piteously. "I know what it
means--you are talking like this to keep up my spirits."

"Well, suppose I am?"

"Don't try; it only makes me more weak and miserable. You can't think
of the horrors I've suffered."

"But--"

"Yes, I know what you're going to say--that I ought to have been firmer,
and fought against the dread and horror, and mastered the feelings."

"Something of the sort," said Aleck.

"Well, I did at first, but I gradually got weaker and weaker, till in
the darkness and silence something happened which scared me ten times
more than the being here alone."

"Something happened? What?" said Aleck, wonderingly.

"I suddenly felt frightened of myself."

"I don't understand you."

"I was afraid that I was losing my senses."

"Well, then, don't be afraid like that any more, for you're not going to
lose them."

"Men have lost their wits by being shut up alone," said the middy,
piteously.

"Perhaps. But you're not going to, for you're not alone, and all you've
got to do is to lie there patiently and wait. I say, aren't you tired?"

"Oh, horribly. I couldn't sleep for the horror I felt."

"Well, you could now. Go to sleep, and I'll wake you when Eben Megg
comes back."

"No," said the middy; "I couldn't sleep now. Suppose I awoke at last
and found that you had gone!"

"Ah, you're going to imagine all sorts of things," said Aleck, who felt
that he must do something to keep his companion from brooding over his
position.

"Look here; suppose I g