ought to know, and we intend to keep you out of harm's way for a day
or two; and that's the fact, if it pleases you to know it."

Peter was aware that expostulation was useless, so he resigned himself
to his fate, believing that Herring, though a daring smuggler and
utterly lawless, would do him no personal harm. He felt the cart go up
and down several rough places, and he was certain that it doubled
several times, and had made a full circuit more than once. The object
of the smugglers, it was evident, was to mislead him and to make him
suppose that he had gone a long distance. He kept his own counsel,
however, and in a short time the cart stopped, and he was told to get
out. He called Trusty to come and lead him, but no Trusty came.

"The dog couldn't quite keep up with us, and maybe he has lost his way,"
said Herring. "But never do you mind, Peter, I'll lead you; here, take
my arm."

Poor Peter did as he was directed, and then he found himself going up
some very rough stone steps, and then he knew by the change of air that
he had been led through a doorway into a room, and that there were
people in it, though they did not speak; and then Dick led him into
another room, and told him to sit down on a chair, and that he must make
up his mind to remain there for some days to come, and that if he
promised to be quiet and to behave well, he should be well treated.
Saying this, the smuggler walked out of the room, and bolted the door
behind him.

Peter immediately got up and felt about the room. It contained, he
ascertained, a low pallet bed, a table and a chair, and had a small
lattice window, with a bar across it; but it was so small that even
without the bar he could scarcely have got through it had he wished. He
opened the window gently. He could hear the sough of the sea on the
beach, far down below him. "I thought as much," he said to himself,
"they have brought me to old Dame Herring's cottage, upon Eastdown
Cliff. I was here as a boy more than once, and could find my way from
it easy enough, if I had Trusty's help to keep me from any pits or holes
dug of late. I know the reason why this has been done. They suspect
that I know what I do know, and perhaps more, and they want to keep me
out of the way till they have carried out their undertaking. However,
they might have treated me worse; so I'll not complain, but try and take
matters easily."

Saying this he took off his wallet and the knapsack which