going and coming in their boat,
and would have been sure to land and come in."

"Land where?" said Mike scornfully. "No boat could land here, and
nobody could wade in, on account of the quicksands. But I'm right,
Cinder. These things are awfully old, and they'll be ours after all."

"Very well: we shall see," said Vince. "But I don't feel disposed to
stop here now. Let's get back home."

"Yes," said Mike, with a sigh, "let's get back home;" and, after setting
up a fresh bit of candle, they started for the inner cave, ascended the
slope, and made their way along the black passage to the spot where they
put out and hid their lanthorn.

This done, with the caution taught by the desire to keep their
hiding-place secret, Vince stepped softly on to the opening, and was
about to pass along to the end, but he paused to peer out through the
briars to see if all was right, and the next moment he stood there as if
turned to stone. Mike crept up to him and touched his shoulder, feeling
sure from his companion's fixed attitude that something must be wrong.

The answer to his touch was the extension of Vince's hand, and he
pointed upward and toward the side of the deep rift.

Mike turned his head softly, and gazed in the indicated direction. For
some moments he could see nothing for the briars and ferns; but at last
he bent a trifle more forward, and his fists clenched, for there, upon
one of the stones beside the entrance to their cave, with his hand
shading his eyes, and staring upward apparently at the ridge, was
Carnach junior.

"Spying after us," said Mike to himself; "and he does not know that we
are close to his feet."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

SOME DOUBTS ABOUT THE DISCOVERY.

Certainly Lobster did not know how near the two boys were, and he soon
proved it by coming closer, looking down, and then turning to
reconnoitre in another direction.

Vince stared at Mike, and their eyes simultaneously said the same thing:
"He must have been watching us, and seen us come in this direction."

It was evident that he had soon lost the clue in following them,
although, judging from circumstances, he must have tracked them close to
where they were.

They recollected now that they had not exercised their regular caution--
though, even if they had, it is very doubtful whether they would have
detected a spy who crawled after them, for the cover was too thick--and
a feeling of anger troubled both for allowing themselves to