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her vision； but she clung fast to Cap'n Bill's
sou'wester； while other arms clung fast to her； and so
they gradually sank down and down until a full stop was
made； when they began to ascend again。
But it seemed to Trot that they were not rising
straight to the surface from where they had come。 The
water was no longer whirling them and they seemed to be
drawn in a slanting direction through still； cool ocean
depths。 And then in much quicker time than I have
told it up they popped to the surface and were cast
at full length upon a sandy beach； where they lay
choking and gasping for breath and wondering what had
happened to them。
Trot was the first to recover。 Disengaging herself
from Cap'n Bill's wet embrace and sitting up； she
rubbed the water from her eyes and then looked around
her。 A soft； bluish…green glow lighted the place；
which seemed to be a sort of cavern； for above and on
either side of her were rugged rocks。 They had been
cast upon a beach of clear sand； which slanted upward
from the pool of water at their feet a pool which
doubtless led into the big ocean that fed it。 Above the
reach of the waves of the pool were more rocks； and
still more and more； into the dim windings and recesses
of which the glowing light from the water did not
penetrate。
The place looked grim and lonely； but Trot was
thankful that she was still alive and had suffered no
severe injury during her trying adventure under water。
At her side Cap'n Bill was sputtering and coughing；
trying to get rid of the water he had swallowed。 Both
of them were soaked through； yet the cavern was warm
and comfortable and a wetting did not dismay the little
girl in the least。
She crawled up the slant of sand and gathered in her
hand a bunch of dried seaweed； with which she mopped
the face of Cap'n Bill and cleared the water from his
eyes and ears。 Presently the old man sat up and stared
at her intently。 Then he nodded his bald head three
times and said in a gurgling voice：
〃Mighty good； Trot； mighty good！ We didn't reach Davy
Jones's locker that time； did we？ Though why we didn't；
an' why we're here； is more'n I kin make out。〃
〃Take it easy； Cap'n；〃 she replied。 〃We're safe
enough； I guess； at least for the time being。〃
He squeezed the water out of the bottoms of his loose
trousers and felt of his wooden leg and arms and head；
and finding he had brought all of his person with him
he gathered courage to examine closely their
surroundings。
〃Where d'ye think we are； Trot？。〃 he presently asked。
〃Can't say； Cap'n。 P'r'aps in one of our caves。〃
He shook his head。 〃No；〃 said he； 〃I don't think
that； at all。 The distance we came up didn't seem half
as far as the distance we went down； an' you'll notice
there ain't any outside entrance to this cavern
whatever。 It's a reg'lar dome over this pool o' water；
and unless there's some passage at the back； up yonder；
we're fast pris'ners。〃
Trot looked thoughtfully over her shoulder。
〃When we're rested；〃 she said； 〃we will crawl up
there and see if there's a way to get out。〃
Cap'n Bill reached in the pocket of his oilskin coat
and took out his pipe。 It was still dry； for he kept it
in an oilskin pouch with his tobacco。 His matches were
in a tight tin box； so in a few moments the old sailor
was smoking contentedly。 Trot knew it helped him to
think when he was in any difficulty。 Also； the pipe did
much to restore the old sailor's composure； after his
long ducking and his terrible fright a fright that
was more on Trot's account than his own。
The sand was dry where they sat； and soaked up the
water that dripped from their clothing。 When Trot had
squeezed the wet out of her hair she began to feel much
like her old self again。 By and by they got upon their
feet and crept up the incline to the scattered boulders
above。 Some of these were of huge size； but by passing
between some and around others； they were able to reach
the extreme rear of the cavern。
〃Yes；〃 said Trot； with interest； 〃here's a round
hole。〃
〃And it's black as night inside it；〃 remarked Cap'n
Bill。
Just the same；〃 answered the girl； 〃we ought to
explore it； and see where it goes； 'cause it's the only
poss'ble way we can get out of this place。〃
Cap'n Bill eyed the hole doubtfully
〃It may be a way out o' here； Trot；〃 he said； 〃but it
may be a way into a far worse place than this。 I'm not
sure but our best plan is to stay right here。〃
Trot wasn't sure； either； when she thought of it in
that light。 After awhile she made her way back to the
sands again； and Cap'n Bill followed her。 As they sat
down； the child looked thoughtfully at the sailor's
bulging pockets。
〃How much food have we got； Cap'n？〃 she asked。
〃Half a dozen ship's biscuits an' a hunk o' cheese；〃
he replied。 〃Want some now； Trot？〃
She shook her head； saying：
〃That ought to keep us alive 'bout three days if
we're careful of it。〃
〃Longer'n that； Trot；〃 said Cap'n Bill； but his voice
was a little troubled and unsteady。
〃But if we stay here we're bound to starve in time；〃
continued the girl； 〃while if we go into the dark hole
〃
〃Some things are more hard to face than starvation；〃
said the sailor…man； gravely。 〃We don't know what's
inside that dark hole： Trot； nor where it might lead us
to。〃
〃There's a way to find that out；〃 she persisted。
Instead of replying； Cap'n Bill began searching in
his pockets。 He soon drew out a little package of fish…
hooks and a long line。 Trot watched him join them
together。 Then he crept a little way up the slope and
turned over a big rock。 Two or three small crabs began
scurrying away over the sands and the old sailor caught
them and put one on his hook and the others in his
pocket。 Coming back to the pool he swung the hook over
his shoulder and circled it around his head and cast it
nearly into the center of the water； where he allowed
it to sink gradually； paying out the line as far as it
would go。 When the end was reached； he began drawing it
in again； until the crab bait was floating on the
surface。
Trot watched him cast the line a second time； and a
third。 She decided that either there were no fishes in
the pool or they would not bite the crab bait。 But
Cap'n Bill