was wider, so that they got along more pleasantly. But at the
end of another twenty yards the walls began to close in, and the place
looked so uninviting that Mike stopped. "Hadn't we better go back?" he
said. "What for?" replied Vince. "Let's see the end of it. We can't
make any mistake in going back. There's no roof to fall, and no pits or
holes to drop into."

"But it may go on for ever so long; and, I say, I don't believe a pigeon
ever flew through here."

"Well, I don't know," said Vince. "It seemed to me as if they did,
and--Hurrah, Ladle! I can see light."

"Light? So there is. Look! it must come from round the next corner.
That's reflection we can see."

And so it proved: for upon passing the next sharp angle Vince found
himself facing the sea, which was visible through a great arch, far
larger and more rugged than that in their own cavern mouth. Going on a
little farther, he found himself at the end of the singular zigzag
passage, which was an opening in the roof of another and larger cavern,
and into which they looked down as from a window.

It was lighter and loftier than their own, and, like it, beautifully
carpeted with sand; but, to the amazement of the lads, instead of this
being smooth and wind-swept, as that of their own place when they first
discovered it, the floor was covered with footmarks leading from the
mouth inward to where the great cave grew dim and obscure. There were
sails, too, and ropes. Several small yards and spars lay together by
the side of the wall, and farther in were sails and three or four oars.

But what most took their attention was the fact that, dimly outlined in
the higher part of the cave there were little stacks, which looked as if
they were built up of packages or bales, side by side with which,
carefully stacked in the sand, were dozens upon dozens of small kegs.

As their eyes grew more familiar with the gloom at the upper end, they
realised that there were a great number of these bales and kegs, the
former being of three kinds, varying a good deal in shape and size.

They neither of them spoke, not daring even to whisper, for the feeling
was strong upon them that the next thing they would see must be the
figure of some fierce-looking smuggler in big boots, belted, carrying
cutlass and pistols, and crowned with a scarlet cap.

Then they started back in alarm, for there was the sharp whirring of
wings, and half a dozen pigeons darted out of the cavern