Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume I.djvu/184

 like a prudent man, he was silent; but, manet altâ mente repôstum, the injury was not forgotten, and a fair opportunity of revenge soon presented itself to him. The baronet again came to Castleton, to visit the cavern. Dekin, however, endeavoured to persuade him to desist from entering it, as the waters were out above, and the stream likely to overflow below. But all his representations were without effect; the noble baronet would not brook contradiction, and insisted on being taken in. More wise than his companion, Dekin planted a man at the little river over which the visitor is ferried, with orders for him to discharge a pistol when he perceived the waters begin to rise. The duet had reached the extremity of the cavern, and were now returning, when the report of the pistol was heard. "What is that?" exclaimed the baronet, astonished at the reverberated sound. Dekin informed him, and at the same time contrived, as if by accident, to extinguish the tapers in his hand. In this dreadful situation, "every man for himself," seemed to be the obvious rule of action ; and Dekin, with many expressions of alarm, slipped from the side of his companion. Nothing could now equal his horror; he prayed and intreated not to be deserted in this desperate situation, and made offers of the most liberal rewards, if the guide would