men laughed at me.

"You'll soon have time enough to rest yourself, youngster," said one of
them. "You may consider yourself fortunate that things are no worse
with you."

Finding that it would be useless to say anything more, I held my tongue.
I must own that I now bitterly regretted having interfered against the
smugglers. They were fully convinced that I had done so, and I could
not defend myself. I had heard of the fearful punishment that they had
at times inflicted on informers; and even should they spare my life, I
thought it too probable that they would ship me off to some distant part
of the world, or shut me up in a cavern or some other place from which I
could not make my escape. It seemed to me that several hours had passed
since I was captured, and that it must now be broad daylight; but the
bandage was so tightly secured over my eyes that I could not move it
with my eyebrows, nor could I, from my arms being fastened behind my
back, get my hands free to do so. Again and again I begged my captors
to listen to me and loosen my arms, as the ropes hurt me. When I
declared that I could go no farther, one of the men answered fiercely:--

"We'll soon see that, youngster."

He gave me a prod with the point of a knife or cutlass, I could not tell
which. It showed me that they were not likely to treat me very
ceremoniously. "I must make the best of a bad matter, I suppose," I
thought, and did not attempt to stop. Suddenly the men brought up, and
then turning sharp round told me to lift my feet, and I found that we
were walking up some wooden steps. This I could judge of by the sound
made by our feet. Then we went along a level floor. Presently, after
passing through two or three doorways, as I supposed, we descended also
by wooden steps, till I felt convinced, by the closeness of the
atmosphere, that we had reached a vault.

"You may make yourself comfortable here, young gentleman, for the rest
of your life," said one of the men, with a hoarse laugh. "I've a notion
that you'll not again be inclined to go and inform against poor fellows
who are carrying on their business without wishing to do you or any one
else harm."

"Stay; that jacket of his, and his waistcoat, are a great deal too good
for him," observed another man.

And forthwith, having released my arms, they took off the garments they
spoke of.

My first impulse, on getting my hands free, was to try and get the
bandage from my eyes, but