t already."

Although the tunnel was blocked, a cold draught from the cave below
seemed to be always blowing through it, every now and again coming in
stronger gusts as the storm increased. The darkness was so intense
that I already felt it oppressive, and thought that after a time it
would become positively unbearable.

"I wonder if the smugglers ever come here now," I said. "They might
perhaps know of the place, and use it as a hiding-place for their
goods."

With this notion in my mind I went down on my hands and knees, and felt
about in order to find anything which might prove that the tunnel had
been visited at one time or another by the "free traders." But though
I spent some time in groping about in this manner, I picked up nothing
but a few fragments of rock. Then I remembered Lewis's words, and how
he had distinctly stated that he was "the only one that knows." He had
no doubt been led by some accident to discover the shaft and the
passage, and had thought fit to keep the knowledge to himself, perhaps
intending to make good use of it when any special need should arise for
a place of concealment, either for men or "goods."

I sat down again by Woodley, and passing my hand over my clothes to
find if they were drying at all, I felt something hard in my inside
coat pocket. Wondering vaguely what it could be, I unbuttoned my
jacket, and while doing so remembered suddenly the metal tinder-box I
had found in the empty desk the day before I left school. I took it
out, fumbled with my fingers till I found the flint and steel, and--I
suppose for the sake of seeing a ray of light, however tiny and
momentary--I struck a spark. I hardly think if I had fired a gun it
could have produced a more unexpected effect on Woodley. He sprang to
his feet with something like a shout of surprise.

"What's that?" he cried. "A tinder-box! Where did you find it? I
made sure Rodwood had taken it with him in his pocket."

"This is another," I answered; "it's one I found at school. The lid
fits well, and has kept out the damp, I fancy."

"Bless the boy!" cried George, "why didn't you tell me you had it
before? I've been wishing and wishing for one this last hour or more."

"It's precious little good now that you have got it," I replied,
handing him the box in the darkness. "We've got nothing to light
except the tinder and matches, and that's no practical use."

"Wait a bit," interrupted the guard. "We'll make a lamp.