After an absence of little more than an hour he rejoined the girl. She saw him from afar, and wondered whence he obtained the axe he shouldered.
"You are a successful explorer," she cried when he drew near.
"Yes, Miss Deane. I have found water, implements, a shelter, even light."
"What sort of light--spiritual, or material?"
Iris could not remain serious for many consecutive minutes, but she gathered that he was in no mood for frivolity.
"And the shelter--is it a house?" she continued.
"No, a cave. If you are sufficiently rested you might come and take possession."
Her eyes danced with excitement. He told her what he had seen, with reservations, and she ran on before him to witness these marvels.
"Why did you make a new path to the well?" she inquired after a rapid survey.
"A new path!" The pertinent question staggered him.
"Yes, the people who lived here must have had some sort of free passage."
He lied easily. "I have only cleared away recent growth," he said.
"And why did they dig a cave? It surely would be much more simple to build a house from all these trees."
They had entered the cavern but a little way and now came out.
"These empty cartridges are funny. They suggest a fort, a battle." Woman-like, her words were carelessly chosen, but they were crammed with inductive force.
Embarked on the toboggan slope of untruth the sailor slid smoothly downwards.
"Events have colored your imagination, Miss Deane. Even in England men often preserve such things for future use. They can be reloaded."
"Yes, I have seen keepers do that. This is different. There is an air of--"
"There is a lot to be done," broke in Jenks emphatically. "We must climb the hill and get back here in time to light another fire before the sun goes down. I want to prop a canvas sheet in front of the cave, and try to devise a lamp."
There was a pause, a mere whiff of awkwardness.
"I will mount guard outside," went on Jenks. He was trying to improve the edge of the axe by grinding it on a soft stone.
The girl went into the cave again. She was inquisitive, uneasy.
"That arrangement--" she began, but ended in a sharp cry of terror. The dispossessed birds had returned during the sailor's absence.
"Please don't. There has been enough of death in this place already."