Peterkin behaved like a hero.
He floated passively between us like a log of wood, and we passed the tunnel and rose into the cave in a shorter space of time than I had ever done it before.
Peterkin drew a long, deep breath on reaching the surface; and in a few seconds we were all standing on the ledge of rock in safety.

Jack now searched for the tinder and torch, which always lay in the cave.

He soon found them, and, lighting the torch, revealed to Peterkin's wondering gaze the marvels of the place.

But we were too wet to waste much time in looking about us.

Our first care was to take off our clothes, and wring them as dry as we could.