ows.

"We need'n fear Cap'n Jack's gang to-night," laughed Eli.

"Why?"

"They never come near 'ere when th'oull Sir Nick is blowin' hes billies
by night."

I remembered the stories I had heard when I lived among them, and
believed he told the truth.

"I shudden like to zee th'oull chap hisself," grunted Eli, with a laugh,
"I shudden mind, though. We cud git our way ef he wos to come. We cud
jist sell ourselves to un, and then you'd bait the Trezidders aisy."

I did not reply, for a great dread laid hold of me. Besides, the sight
of Eli, as he made his way between the rocks, grunting and making all
sorts of weird noises, was enough to make one's blood run cold.

"Remember, Eli," I said, "everything must be clear and right. I'll have
no dealings with darkness, mind that."

But Eli made no answer, except to go jabbering as though he were mad.

"'Tes a good job the tide es out," he grunted, presently.

"Why?"

"We cudden git in the Devil's Church else."

"What have we to do with the Devil's Church?"

"The dreckshuns be there," and he laughed in his strange, guttural way.

As I have said, being better educated than most of the Cornish folk, I
had been led to disbelieve in many of the foolish stories told, but I
shuddered at the idea of going there. For, first of all, it was very
difficult to get into, and could only be reached when the tide was out,
and it was, moreover, reputed to be accursed ground. Here shipwrecked
sailors had been lured by inviting lights and welcome sounds, and here
they had met their doom.

"I'll not go there, Eli," I gasped.

"Don't be a vool, Jasper Pennington," snarled Eli. "We sh'll be saafe
there. Nobody will disturb us. I put it there, I did. Come on,
Pennington; and yer love is there, you boobah."

I saw that the dwarf was much excited, and, like one under a spell, I
followed him without another word. We climbed over many slippery,
dangerous rocks, and then walked over the grass-grown summits of a
small island. Then we slowly descended on the south side of the island.
Neither of us spoke, for we were in great danger. Below us, many feet
down, were great jagged rocks, at whose feet the frothy waves leaped.

"How much farther?" I asked.

"Here we be," grunted Eli, and he disappeared.

The next minute I found myself in a roomy cavern.

"Wait, and I'll get a light," cried Eli, feeling in his pockets.

I heard a strange whizzing noise, and then something struck against my