orning mist, was unmistakably the Crag, and they
were once more close to home.

Here, then, was the answer to the question they had asked one another--
Where are we sailing to now?

Yes: there was the Crag, with its familiar outline; and his heart beat
fast as he felt that if Mike's father were on the look-out with his
glass he would be able to see the lugger's sails.

"No, he must be in bed and asleep," thought Vince. "But I'll fetch Mike
up to see. Why, old Jacques must be taking us home. No; he is going to
fetch another load!"

"Yais, zat is ze Crag," said a voice behind him, and there stood the
captain with a glass under his arm. "Now you vill go down and stop vis
ze ozaire boy till I tell you to come up. But zis time you can stay in
ze cabin. Mind," he said impressively, "you vill stay. You
_comprenez_?"

"Oh yes," said Vince; "but you will let us go as soon as you've got the
cargo all on board."

"Aha, you sink so?"

"Yes."

"But you are not so stupede as to sink I can take all avay at von trip.
_Non, mon ami_, it vill take four or five time more. Now go down, and
tell ze ozaire to obey, and not make feel zat I can shoot."

"May I bring him up to see the Crag?" said Vince.

"No," replied the captain abruptly. "He sleep. Let him rest. Better
you sleep too."

Vince glanced in at the cabin, to find that the deadlights were up and
the place very dimly lit by the tiny skylight. Then, closing the door
as he entered the cupboard-like place in which they passed their nights,
he found Mike still sleeping; and fearing that he would get into trouble
if he tried to watch their approach, he lay down too, and was awakened
apparently in a few minutes by Mike shaking him.

"I say, it's awfully late, and we've anchored again."

"Dressed?" said Vince in wonder.

"Yes, and I was going on deck, but the skipper pushed me back and banged
down the hatch. I say, I haven't the least idea where we are."

"I have," said Vince.

"Well, where?"

"Back at the cavern."

"Nonsense."

"You'll see."

Mike did see, and before long, for half an hour later the captain came
down in the cabin, breakfast was eaten, and then the boys were allowed
to go on deck, to find themselves in their old berth, with the rocks
towering up and shutting them in, while the lugger was safely moored
head and stern to the wall-like rock.

Vince involuntarily looked round for the rugged face of old Joe Daygo,
and one of the men not