The Brig 'Audacious'

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 Excerpt: ...for a second or two on the floor, glided swiftly out at the cavern's mouth. Before we had recovered from our astonishment another and a larger one followed. "We're well rid of that lot," said Gibbs, going towards the fire. "Stop a bit!" I cried; "there may be some more." RETREAT CUT OFF. 147 "Oh, no!" he answered; "it was only the nest of one pair; you may be sure there's not another snake in this cave." But Passmore and I were not satisfied until we had thoroughly examined the place with our torches and rolled some large stones to block the entrance. We dried our clothes and put them on, ate our cocoa-nuts, and heaping fresh fuel on the fire, lay down and slept. Next morning I was awoke by Passmore pelting me with charred ends of wood. He and Gibbs had been up for some time, and as the result of their morning's work I saw some animal roasting before the fire, while little heaps of plantains, pine-apples, and cocoa-nuts were laid ready on the floor. "We've made a regular topsail haul this morning," said Gibbs, pointing to the food; "and after breakfast we'll see what can be done to help father and the rest of 'em on the rock." "To go back through the tunnel will be the best way," I replied. "We can't do that, for the tunnel is full of water. I walked down this morning for about a dozen yards and was then stopped." "How did that happen? Has the roof fallen in?" "I don't know. There's a heavy swell rolling in, and no wind to speak of." "I can't quite make it out. If the water was 148 THE PAKROT PROVES USEFUL. smooth we could soon knock a raft together, but it is out of the question now." As soon as breakfast was over we ascended a projecting...