d think so," said Vince quickly--"I'm sure they would; but
I don't know about it's being brave. It's only what two fellows would
do one for the other. It's what English chaps always do, of course, but
it's like making a lot of fuss about it to call it brave. I should say
it's what a fellow should do, that's all."

"And no one knows--no one saw us go to the hole," said Mike bitterly.
"Oh, I say, Vince, we have made a mess of it to keep it a secret."

"Yes, we have, and no mistake."

"And no one knows," repeated Mike thoughtfully. "Don't you think
Lobster might know, and tell them?"

"No, I'm sure he can't. Of course old Joe knows; but he won't speak,
because if he did, and told the truth, the captain here would be ready
to shoot him."

"And my father would have him locked up, and tried for what he has
done."

"Yes," said Vince, nodding his head; "Joe won't speak--you may depend
upon that. Why, Mike, while we were fishing for that crab, and were so
still, some one must have come across the cave behind us and never known
we were there."

"Yes, and then we were caught as fast as the crab was and--"

"_Eh bien, mes enfans_, my good boy, are you hungry for your dinner?"

"Not very," said Vince, turning sharply as the skipper came silently up
behind them. "We feel as if we should like to dine at home."

"Aha! You not mean zat, my _bon garcon_. Not ven I ask you to have
dine vis me. Let us go and demand vat ze cook man--ze _chef_--have to
give us, for it is long time since ze _dejeuner_ and ve have much to do
after. Come, sheer up, as ze sailor _Anglais_ say. You like ze sea?"

"Yes," said Vince; "both of us do."

"And you can reef and furl ze sail?"

"Yes, we've often been in a boat."

"Brava! it is good; and, aha! ze brave cook go to prepare ze cabin for
ze dinnaire. You sall bose be my compagnie _cet_--to-day."

Just then Vince caught sight of one of the lugger's boats, and noticed
that it was particularly broad and punt-like in make, evidently so that
it should carry a big load and at the same time draw little water--a
shape that would save it from many dangers in passing over rocks, and
also be very convenient for running in and landing upon the sands.

This boat was very heavily laden with bales, carefully ranged and
stacked, while the boat's gunwale was so close to the surface that a
lurch would have caused the water to flow in.

But the men who managed her seemed to be quite accustomed t