s Inn about smuggled whisky. Here, then, I had discovered the
secret store of some unlawful trader. But my surprise at this soon
abated in my anxiety to find Thora. I was continuing my way yet
further when my foot touched something strange. I turned my light
upon it, and there, lying before me, was the sleeping form, not of
Thora, but of Tom Kinlay.

Chapter XXXVI. Trapped In The Cave.

I stood for some moments transfixed with surprise at seeing Tom
Kinlay in this situation. He was lying with his head and shoulders
upon a square box and snoring loudly. Behind him were piled up many
kegs, which I doubted not were filled with contraband spirits. As I
reasoned on all this I surmised that Tom was there probably by the
directions of his father, whom, after what I had heard and seen, I
could not but associate with the smugglers.

I now, for the first time, saw also some shade of reason for the
enmity that had existed between Carver and my father. At the time
of the wreck of the Undine, years before, when he was stranded in
the cavern, Carver had no doubt seen the convenience of the place
for smuggling purposes. The cave was commodious, and the fact that
its situation was little known among the natives gave it the
additional advantage of secrecy.

I could not tell whether Kinlay had carried on his illicit traffic
whilst my father was alive, but I guessed that this was so; and
believing that my father was the only man who knew his secret, I
saw reason sufficient for enmity. My father's death had removed the
one great obstacle in the way of Carver's carrying on the smuggling
unsuspected. It had also enabled him to become a pilot--a position
which gave unusual opportunity to a man so unscrupulous. As pilot
he was able to board any vessel that entered the Orcadian waters,
and in the case of ships which came over from the Continent or from
the north of Scotland with contraband goods, a transfer of cargo
could be boldly effected without exciting suspicion. And here in
the cave I saw before me a part of the smuggler's store.

Having explored the cavern by the light of my lantern, I was forced
to believe that Thora was not there. I returned once more to the
kegs of spirits before departing.

Tom was still sound asleep. Approaching him, I turned the light
upon him and knelt down, shielding the light from his closed eyes.

Suddenly I was alarmed by hearing the noise of voices at the outer
part of the cave--the voices of m