, four of you stop here; Dick, take
command. We'll go forward and turn the enemy, and try to take them in
the rear. Stand fast if they come at you; no pistols, but use your
cutlasses. We shall come up to you at the least sound, to help."

The men uttered a low, "Ay, ay, sir," speaking as if they were oppressed
by the darkness, and the master whispered.

"Now, my lad," he said, "try and give us the shape of the place like."

Archy obeyed, and explained where the smugglers' stores lay, and the
pile of little kegs, if they had not been moved, the place where he had
slept, and the positions of the huge pillars and heaps of broken stones.

"And you was shut up here all that time, and didn't go mad!" said Gurr.
"Well, you are a wonder! Tell you what, my lad, I should just like to
make sure that those brandy kegs are still here, and then I think we'll
be off, and come back with lights. There's no one here but ourselves.
Place isn't big enough for any one to be hiding without our hearing
them?"

"Plenty, Mr Gurr," said Archy firmly; "and I am sure they are here; but
it is impossible to search without lights. They may be hiding behind
the pillars or piles of stone. Have lights got as soon as possible, and
then we can come and make them prisoners."

All this was said in a hurried whisper, as the two stood together in
front of their men, and in absolute darkness, for they had advanced into
the place far enough for the faint light which filtered down from the
trap-door to be completely lost.

"Yes; but I'd like to be able to tell the skipper that we have got
something in the way of a prize for the men. Can you lead us to it, my
lad?"

"But you couldn't take it away."

"Well, we might carry one keg aboard, as a sample. Now then, where will
it be from here?"

"Give me your hand, and I'll lead you right to it."

"There you are. Take care how you go. Can you keep close behind us, my
lads? Better join hands. Now then, are you ready?"

"Ay, ay," came in a low murmur; and, grasping the master's hand, Archy
led on, fully believing that the smugglers were still there, but feeling
that they would keep in hiding, and try to escape when they were gone.

"Say, my lad," whispered the master, "I pity you--I do from my soul.
Think of you being shut up all alone in a place like this! Hah! Look
out!"

The order was needless, for the smugglers gave every one warning to do
that.

One moment the King's men were advanci