The man went on, and we were left to the last, hearing one of them
whisper to his mate:

"This here's a rum game, Jemmy; don't look like much prize-money after
all."

By the time we boys were out the lieutenant had disappeared with the
coxswain in the first cavern, and his men followed, leaving my father
outside.

"Sep," he said, as I joined him, "where do you think the men went in?"

"That first place," I said decisively.

"Yes," said Bob Chowne; "that's the hole."

"So I felt certain," said my father; and Bigley stood aside looking on,
with his forehead full of wrinkles.

Another minute and the lieutenant was out with his men, the officer
furious with rage.

"Captain Duncan, are you in league with these smuggling dogs, or are you
not?"

"What do you mean, sir?" cried my father haughtily.

"Well, look here, sir," cried the officer moderating his tone. "You've
brought us here on a fool's errand. Where's this cargo that you saw
landed?"

"How can I tell, sir? You appealed to me as an officer to show you
where it was landed. It was here. The men were going in and out of
that cave for two or three hours."

"Then there must be an inner place," cried the lieutenant, stamping his
foot with rage. "Come and search again, my lads."

They disappeared for another ten minutes or so, and then came back with
the officer fuming with passion.

"Fooled!" he exclaimed aloud, "fooled! Here, back to the boat."

Everybody embarked again, and the boat was rowed back in silence to the
Gap, where we landed, and the lieutenant stepped out afterwards leaving
his men afloat.

"Now, then, Captain Duncan," he said, "before I go let me tell you that
I shall report your conduct at headquarters. I consider that I have
been fooled, sir, fooled."

"I had thought of doing the same by you, sir," retorted my father
coldly; "but I do not think it worth while to quarrel with an angry
disappointed man, nor yet to take further notice of your hasty words."

"What do you mean, sir? What do you mean?" blustered the lieutenant.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! I see! Here's a game!" roared Bob Chowne,
dancing about in the exuberance of his delight.

"What do you mean, sir? How dare you!" roared the officer turning upon
Bob.

"Why, I know," cried Bob. "What a game! Don't you see how it was?"

"Will you say what you mean, you young idiot?" cried the lieutenant.

"Oh, I say, it wasn't me who was the idiot," cried Bob bluntly.