"But, O Martin, 'twill make such dire mess and this our larder!"
"No matter, I'll clean it up. Howbeit I must learn whence cometh this cold-breathing air. Besides, the fire shall cook our supper and moreover--"
But here I checked speaking all at once, for above the dismal groans and wailing I had heard a sudden fierce whispering: "O Martin, O Martin!" sighed my companion, "We are not alone--somewhere there are people whispering! Did you hear, Martin, O did you hear?" And I felt her all of a-tremble where she leaned against me.
"'Tis gone now!" says I, speaking under my breath.
"But 'twas there, Martin--a hateful whispering."
"Aye, I heard it," says I fierce and loud, "and I'll find out who or what--"
"Who or what!" hissed a soft voice. Hereupon I sheathed the knife I had drawn and laughed, and immediately there came another laugh, though very soft.
"Ahoy!" I shouted, and presently back came the answer "Ahoy!" and then again, though much fainter, "Ahoy!" "'Tis nought but an echo," says I laughing (yet mighty relieved all the same).
"Thank God!" says she faintly, and would have fallen but for my arm.
"Why, comrade, how now?" says I; and for a moment her soft cheek rested against my leathern jerkin.
"O Martin," says she, sighing, "I do fear me I'm a monstrous craven--sometimes! Forgive me!"
"Forgive you?" says I, and looking down on her bowed head, feeling her thus all a-tremble against me, I fell a-stammering, "Forgive you, nay--where--here was an unchancy thing--'tis small wonder--no wonder you should grow affrighted and tremble a little--"
"You are trembling also," says she, her voice muffled against me.
"Am I?"
"Yes, Martin. Were you afraid likewise?"
"No--Yes!" says I, and feeling her stir in my hold, I loosed her.
And now, bringing fern and bracken from my bed I kindled a fire and, damping this a little, made a smoke the which, rising to a certain height, blew back upon us but always from the one direction; and peering up thither I judged here must be a space 'twixt the roof and the face of the rock, though marvellous well-hid from all observation. Hereupon, the place being full of smoke I must needs stamp out the fire lest we stifle; yet I had discovered what I sought. So whilst my companion busied herself about supper, I dragged our table from the outer cave, setting it in a certain corner and, mounted thereon, reached up and grasped a ledge of rock by which I drew myself up and found I was in a narrow opening or tunnel, and so low that I must creep on hands and knees.