uld come as have said that,"
shouted Mike.

"All right, then, I'll come," said Vince; and Mike gave him a hearty
slap on the back. "But look here, Mikey," he continued, "don't you ever
think about it?"

"About what?"

"The caves, and all that."

"Of course I do: I hardly think of anything else."

"Yes; but I mean about that young Carnach watching us and old Joe
hanging about after us."

"Thought it rather queer once or twice, but of course it was only
because we were so suspicious. If we hadn't had the cave and been
afraid of any one knowing our secret, we might have met them a hundred
times and never thought they were watching us."

"Yes, we might," said Vince thoughtfully. "I don't know, though: they
certainly did watch us."

"Then, if they did, it was because we looked as if we wanted to hide
something."

"Yes, that sounds right," said Vince. "I never looked at it in that
way, and it has bothered me a good deal. Why, of course that is it!
I'm all right now, and I'll go with you whenever you like; only we ought
to tell them soon. We have known it all to ourselves for some time
now."

"Very well, then, we'll tell them soon; and I know my father will say
that all the treasure there is to be divided between us two."

"Will he?" said Vince, laughing, for he was far from taking so sanguine
a view of the case as his companion; and the matter dropped. They
stopped watching the roll and impact of the waves till they were tired,
and then went home to wait for the fair weather, which was to usher in
their next visit to the caves.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

THE MYSTERY UNROLLS.

Four more days passed before the weather broke, and then two more when
they were not at liberty. But at last came one when their tutor
announced that they could have the whole day to themselves, and it was
not long before each announced at home that he was off out for a good
long cliff ramble.

This meant taking a supply of provisions, with which each was soon
furnished, so as not to break into the holiday by having to come back to
dinner.

No questions were asked, for it was taken for granted, both at the Mount
and at the Doctor's cottage, that they would be going fishing or
collecting; and the boys set off in high glee, meaning to supplement
their dinner with freshly cooked fish, and plenty of excitement by
climbing about the rocks at the entrance of the caves.

Everything seemed gloriously fresh and bright after the lat