ape thus
provided, and a few minutes later stood once more within the portal of
the great cavern. His first care was to haul up the tackle and dispose
it as he imagined it to have been left, with the attached cord hanging
down the face of the cliff.

"There!" he said, when this was done to his satisfaction. "The young
fellow is almost certain to come back for another look at me, and,
though I fancy he'll be somewhat surprised to find me gone, it will
never enter his head that I am up here. Then when he leaves I will
simply follow his lead, and so find the way out of this mysterious
place. Perhaps, though, I can discover it for myself."

Thus thinking, Peveril made as careful an examination of the cavern
walls as the fading light would permit, but could find no sign of an
opening. Finally, deciding to carry out his original plan, he selected
a hiding-place, and, settling himself in it as comfortably as
possible, began to await with what patience he might the return of his
young friend.

By this time the cavern was quite dark, save for a dim twilight at its
opening; and, having nothing to distract his attention, he began to
realize how very weary he was after the exertions and nervous strain
of the past three days. He had also just eaten a hearty meal. It is
little wonder then that, within five minutes, and in spite of his
strenuous exertions to keep awake, he fell fast asleep. Fortunately
he did not snore, nor make any sound to betray his presence, but
unfortunately, also, his slumber was so profound that when, a little
later, Mary Darrell and her father softly entered the gallery and
cautiously proceeded to its mouth for a look at the prisoner, whom
they supposed still to be on the black ledge, he did not waken.

Puzzled as they were at his disappearance, they were also greatly
relieved to have him gone. They never for a moment imagined that he
could have regained the cavern, and so, after drawing up the basket,
they retired as they had come, leaving Peveril undisturbed to his nap.

While it was not certain that the expected smuggling schooner would
reach the coast that evening, she might do so, and, with the
cautiousness marking all of his operations, Ralph Darrell decided that
it would not do for her cargo to be landed while there was a chance of
a stranger, who was at the same time an enemy, being in the
neighborhood. He felt assured that the young man who had so
mysteriously appeared and disappeared that day m