home they
could _then_ organise an expedition for a second attempt; but that it
would be folly to make a necessity of this if by some extra effort on
their part the business could be managed without it.

This point being settled, the next question to be decided was--how they
were to set about the collection of the precious metal; for it was
obvious that any attempt to absent themselves from their daily
attendance at the shipyard would not only excite suspicion, but it might
also provoke a very unpleasant manifestation of active hostility on
Ralli's part.

Here Violet Dudley came to the rescue with a very practical suggestion.

"If you, Lance," said she, "can contrive to mark the two passages out of
the great central cavern in such a manner that we women cannot possibly
mistake one for the other, and so go astray, we might perhaps be able to
collect the gold and convey it to a suitable spot for removal; and when
enough has been gathered we can take our time about transporting it down
here."

"An admirable suggestion, Miss Dudley!" said Captain Staunton. "That
effectually disposes of one part of the difficulty. But it will never
do to bring the gold here; we could not possibly convey it on board the
schooner without detection, even if we were quite sure of the success of
our plan for making our escape in her. Do you think, Evelin, the
pirates have any knowledge of the existence of this cave of yours?"

"I am pretty certain they have not," was the reply. "There is no sign
of any human foot having ever passed over the ground before our own; and
it is so eminently well adapted for a place of concealment for their
booty--and, indeed, for themselves as well--in the event of the island
ever being attacked, that I feel sure they would, had they known of it,
have stocked it with provisions and in other ways have prepared it as a
place of refuge. It was only by the merest accident that I discovered
the spot to-day; and but for the fact that our search not only led us up
to the head of the ravine but also actually caused me to scale the face
of the rock, it would have remained undiscovered still. A man might
stand within twenty feet of the entrance without suspecting its
existence; and, unless he had occasion to scramble up the rock as I did,
and in exactly the same place, he would never find it."

"Very well, then," said Captain Staunton, "what I propose is this.
Since the ladies are kindly disposed to give them we wil