that he had only been brought ashore
so that he could go up to the mine, give some orders, and then return,
when he was to show the lieutenant where the cave lay to which the
smugglers had taken their cargo of contraband goods.

The lieutenant walked up to the mine works with my father, and as he
evidently wished me to stop, I remained by the cutter's boat with my
companions, and, boy-like, we began to joke the sailors for not catching
the lugger.

They took it very good-temperedly, and laughed and said no one had been
much hurt.

"He was too sharp for us," the coxswain said grinning; "and--my! How he
did do the skipper over getting away. He's a cunning old fox, and no
mistake."

"How did you lose the lugger?" I said.

"Oh, it was too dark to do any more, and she went right in among the
rocks about Stinchcombe, where we were obliged to lie to and wait for
daylight. He's a fine sailor, I will say that of him."

"What, your lieutenant?" I said.

"Oh, he's right enough. I meant smuggler Uggleston. He's got away, and
it don't matter; we're bound to have a lot o' prize-money out of the
cargo we're going to seize."

"Are you going to seize it this morning?" I asked.

"Yes, my lad; and here comes the skipper back along o' the old cappen."

They were close upon us already, and we boys looked eagerly at the
lieutenant, longing to go with them, but not being invited of course.

It was too much for Bob Chowne though, who spoke out.

"I say, officer," he cried, "we three saw the cargo landed night before
last."

"You three boys?"

"Yes," said Bob, "we were all there."

"Jump in then, all of you," said the lieutenant.

We wanted no further asking, and the men pushed off and rowed straight
for the little bay, where in due time we arrived in face of the caves.

"And a good snug place too," said the lieutenant. "Good sandy bottom
for running the lugger ashore. Nice game must have been carried on
here. Come, Captain Duncan," he continued in a jocular tone, "you knew
of this place years ago."

"I give you my word of honour, sir," replied my father coldly, "that I
was quite unaware of even the existence of the caverns till a few days
ago; and even then I did not know that they were applied to this
purpose."

"Humph! And you so near!"

"You forget, sir, that my house is two miles and a half along the coast,
and I have only lately purchased the Gap."

My father was evidently very much annoyed, but as