Will. "Them as
is a deal older than us wouldn't go in 'em to save their lives."

"Why, what is there in the cave, my man?" said Mr Temple.

"Oh! I shouldn't like to say, sir," said Josh, gazing furtively into
the darksome hole in the rock.

"But you are not afraid?"

"Afraid, sir! Oh, no, I'm not afraid; but I don't think it's right to
go in and disturb what's there."

"Ah, well, Dick, we'll go," said Mr Temple; "and we must apologise if
the occupants object."

"I wouldn't go, really, sir," protested Josh.

"You can stay behind, my man," said Mr Temple.

"Then don't take Master Dick, sir. You see he's so young."

"My son can stay outside if he likes," said Mr Temple in a tone of
voice that made Dick tighten himself up and fasten the lower, button of
his jacket.

"There," said Mr Temple as he closed his lanthorn and held it up; "now
we shall see."

He stepped in over the shelly sand which filled up the vacancies between
the rocks that strewed the floor, and Dick stepped in after him.

Will turned and looked half-mockingly at Josh as he stepped in next.

"Oh! well, I can't stand that," growled Josh. "Here goes."

He moistened both of his hands as if he were going to get a grip of some
rope or spar, and then hurried in, leaving Arthur alone at the mouth of
the zorn, peering in at the dancing light and the strange shadows cast
upon the glistening stone of roof and wall.

"Shall I go in?" he said to himself. "I know Dick will laugh at me if I
don't."

Then he hesitated: the place looked so dark and cold and forbidding,
while without it was so light and bright and sunshiny.

"I sha'n't go," he muttered. "Let him laugh if he likes, and that
Cornish fisher-boy as well. I don't see why I should go into the nasty
old cellar."

Then he peered in, and thought that he would like to go in just a little
way; and stretching out one leg he was about to set his foot down when
there was a black shadow cast at his feet, a rushing noise, and
something came quite close, uttered a harsh cry, and dashed off.

Arthur Temple bounded back into the broad sunshine with his heart
beating painfully; and even when he saw that it was one of the great
black fishing-birds that had dipped down and dashed off again he was not
much better.

"I wish I were not so nervous!" he muttered; and he looked about
hastily.

"I'm glad no one was here, though," he added. "How Dick would have
laughed! Now I'll follow them in. No, I