window."

"It's a lie," cried the ruffian savagely; "I don't believe you."

"I knew you would not," said Hilary laughing. "Where is it then?"

"I swallowed it."

"What!" said the fellow staring.

"Hilt and all if you like. Now, do you believe that?" The man stared
at him.

"Because you would not believe the truth, so there's what you asked
for--a lie."

The fellow stared at him again, seized hold of him, and felt him all
over in the roughest way. Then, satisfied that the weapon was not
concealed about the lad's person, he looked round the place once more,
walked to the side of the room so as to get a view of the window-ledge,
and then he turned to Hilary once more.

"When did you drop it out?" he said sharply.

"As soon as I awoke this morning," replied Hilary. "Just before you
came."

"Come along, my lads," said the fellow, who then withdrew with his
followers. The door clanged to, was locked, and as Hilary listened he
heard them all depart, securing the farther door behind them; and,
satisfied that they were gone, he nimbly climbed up to the window,
raised the cutlass by means of the worsted, and having taking it in he
descended once more, unfastened and rolled up the thread for further
use, and then thrust the weapon down under his vest and into the left
leg of his trousers, feeling pretty sure that they would not search him
again.

A few minutes later he heard voices, and going beneath the window, and
raising himself up till his ear was level with the ledge, he could hear
all that was said, and he knew that the men were searching for the
sword.

"Don't seem to be about here," said one of the men.

"Look well," Hilary heard Allstone say.

"That's just what we are doing. Think he did throw it over?"

"Must have done so," said Allstone; "there isn't a place anywhere big
enough to hide a knife."

"Then some one's been by this morning and picked it up," said one of the
men, "for it don't seem to be anywhere here."

"Turn over that long grass," said Allstone, "and kick those weeds
aside."

Hilary heard the rustling sounds made by the men as they obeyed their
leader; but of course there was no result.

"Somebody come by and picked it up," said the man again; and, apparently
satisfied, the party went away, Hilary raising his eyes, saw the
smugglers go round the corner of the house below the ivied gable,
leaving him wondering whether they would come back.

"They may," he thought; "and if t