. By the way, where's the
ledge where you people were hidden?"

"Up there," said Bob promptly, and I saw the officer scan the place.

"What, coming?" said the lieutenant.

"Yes," replied my father; "but I think these lads ought to stand aside
in case of danger."

"Yes," was the short response. "Here, boys, you stop here. You are not
armed," he added with a sneering laugh.

"I only wish we had your father's cutlasses here, Sep," whispered Bob,
"and we'd show them."

We stood back as the man went first with the lantern, closely followed
by the lieutenant with his drawn sword; and we waited as the last
disappeared in the opening, fully expecting to hear shots fired.

But all was perfectly still, and Bigley was creeping slowly nearer and
nearer to the opening when Bob Chowne made a rush.

"Here, you chaps get all the fun," he exclaimed. "I shall go in and
see."

The two sentries laughed, for they were big brown good-tempered looking
fellows, and in we all three went, to find ourselves in quite a long
rugged passage, running upward and opening into a big hollow at the end,
where the lantern was being used to peer in all directions, till it was
evident that nothing was there.

"We're in the wrong hole," said the officer. "Now, my lads, forward!"

He went sharply out into the daylight again, to where the two sentries
were on guard, and entered quickly, passing through the dripping water
closely followed by his men.

But there was not room for all, and he backed out directly.

"There's nothing here," he cried angrily.

"Try the other hole," said Bob, running to where we had found the narrow
opening behind an outlying buttress of rock.

Bob stepped in first this time, the lieutenant following, and then the
man with the lantern.

"Bravo, boy!" cried the lieutenant; "this is the place. Rather awkward,
but here we are. Come along, my lads."

The sailors scrambled in as quickly as they could, and we all followed
rather slowly down what was a jagged crack in the rock about two feet
wide and sloping, so that one had to walk with the body inclined to the
right.

This at the end of about twenty feet opened out into quite a large rough
place, which contained some old nets and tins, along with about a dozen
half rotten lobster-pots, but nothing more.

"There must be another place somewhere," cried the lieutenant after
convincing himself that there was no inner chamber. "Lead on, coxswain,
with the light."