“Spoiled beef and rotten clothes,” laughed Jack.  “However, I will go with you, Dick.”

They took the boat and rowed to the woody point where they made fast, and climbed to the top as before, having much less trouble on account of not having the younger boy to assist.

They made their rope fast to a tree near the edge of the hole among the rocks, and by its help descended to the bottom, then lighting their way to the hole in the side of the vessel.

With the axe Percival cut away the jagged edges of the timbers at the opening, and then he and Jack pushed forward, using the axe now and again as rubbish of various kinds came in their way.

They could see boxes and bales and casks on either side as they went on, there being a passage-way between the tiers of the cargo, and here and there a post or stanchion had half fallen and impeded their progress, obliging them to cut it.

As Percival had predicted, there was a door at the end of the bulkhead, dividing the hold from the cabin, but this was fast.

“It is not very thick,” said Percival.  “I believe I can break it in with a blow of the axe.”

“Wait a moment, Dick,” said Jack cautiously.  “Listen!  It strikes me I hear the sound of water.  We don’t want to let a flood in on us.  It is likely that the after hold and cabin are full of water, and we don’t want to be swamped.”

Percival put his ear to the door, and then flashed his light through the keyhole.

“There’s nothing there, Jack,” he said.  “If there were water it would come through here.  We have gone so far, and I’d like to go the rest of the way and get to the cabin.  I believe we can.  There is probably a passage on one side of the companion leading to the after cabin.”

“Yes, and the companion is open, and the place full of water.”

“There is none here, at any rate, and it will be time enough to look for trouble when it comes,” returned Percival impatiently.  “Stand aside, old man, and throw the light on the door so that I can give a good blow.”

Jack did as requested, and Percival raised the axe and dealt the door a sturdy blow, which took it off its hinges and sent it crashing into a narrow passage beyond.

“There is no water there!” he exclaimed in triumph.  “Come on, Jack.”

The two boys went into the passage, stepping over the fallen door, Jack showing the way with the pocket electric light, which was great use to them in the strange place.

The passage was narrow, not wide enough for the two boys to walk side by side, and was about two fathoms in length, leading to another door which was fast like the first.

In many vessels there is a passage like this leading from the after cabin to the steerage, where the entire hold is not open from the hatches to the keel, as in big ships, which the captain may use in reaching certain portions of the cargo with less trouble than in the case of its being stored in a solid bulk.