The water brawled along the
bottom, over boulders and through chasms. In front, the slope on
which we stood shaped itself into a low cliff; but halfway
between its summit and the water a ledge, or narrow terrace,
running along the face, was dimly visible.
'Ten to one, a cave!' the Captain muttered. 'It is a likely
place.'
'And an ugly one!' I replied with a sneer. 'Which one against
ten might hold for hours!'
'If the ten had no pistols--yes!' he answered viciously. 'But
you see we have. Is he going that way?'
He was. As soon as this was clear, Larolle turned to his
comrade,
'Lieutenant,' he said, speaking in a low voice, though the
chafing of the stream below us covered ordinary sounds; 'what say
you? Shall we light the lanthorns, or press on while there is
still a glimmering of day?'
'On, I should say, M. le Capitaine,' the Lieutenant answered.
'Prick him in the back if he falters. I will warrant,' the brute
added with a chuckle, 'he has a tender place or two.'
The Captain gave the word and we moved forward. It was evident
now that the cliff-path was our destination.
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