CHAPTER XVII.
A CAVE AND A SNAKE.
"Now we are in for it, Sam. They won't give us a second chance to escape."
A groan was the answer, coming from out of the darkness of the hold of the Peacock. Sam was too much stunned and bruised to reply to the words from his brother.
The two boys had been hustled on board of the schooner with scant ceremony, and now they found themselves bound and handcuffed, so that it was next to impossible for either of them to move. Hour after hour had passed, yet nobody had come near them.
"I reckon they are going to starve us to death for what we did," went on Tom, after a long pause.
"If only I had a drink of water," came at last from his younger brother. "My mouth is as dry as a chip, and I seem to have a regular fever."
"Make the best of it, Sam," returned Tom soothingly. "This state of things can't last forever. If they—Oh!"
