ew an old mason residing about two miles off who
had worked there, and who was, he rather thought, the very man who had
told him of it. He would go off at once and fetch John Trowel and his
tools, and they would very soon burrow into the molehill if one existed.

Charley and Tom occupied the time of Peter's absence in preparing with a
rope and a lantern to explore the cavern they hoped to find. They
forgot at first that they might possibly encounter opposition, as it was
certain that if the cavern did exist it had had occupants, and probably
had still, who would not welcome any intrusion on their privacy.
Charley, however, at length thought of this. It did not for a moment
make him hesitate about carrying out his plans, but he thought that it
would be wise to provide himself and Tom with arms. The captain had a
brace of pistols and a fowling-piece, and Tom had an old French cutlass
which he had taken from the enemy, and treasured as a trophy of his
fighting days. Charley at once went up to the captain, who was writing
to the officers of the coastguard, and to others who might possibly hear
something of his little girl. "Any news? any news?" he asked, as
Charley entered.

"No, sir, but if we could find our way into some of the smugglers'
hiding-places, we might learn more than we do now, and as I would rather
have a weapon in my hand than trust to my fists with such gentry, I beg
that you will lend me your firearms."

The captain made no answer, but pointed to them over the fireplace,
where they hung, with a flask of powder and a bag of bullets.

Charley hurried off to avoid having any questions asked him. Tom was
delighted to get the weapons, and declared that, although he had but one
arm, he could use his cutlass as well as any man. He then put on a belt
that he might stick a pistol in it, and advised Charley to do the same,
that he might hold the gun ready for use. At last old John Trowel
arrived with Peter. He remembered perfectly all about the vault, had
once been down it, and thought that he could find the entrance without
difficulty, though it had been been blocked up; but as to a passage
leading down to the beach--of that he could not speak with any
certainty.

"No time is to be lost, though!" exclaimed Tom, when he heard this.
"Come along, and mind you make as little noise as possible."

The old mason went at once up to the very spot where Tom had seen the
light, and he began immediately to work