face, and I heard a screech in the darkness outside.

"This is the Devil's Church," grunted Eli, "and 'tes 'ere I've put the
dreckshuns."

CHAPTER XXII

HOW I FOUND THE SECRET OF THE TREASURE, AND WENT TO THE SCILLY ISLES

The cave called the Devil's Church is little known, and yet it is larger
than any of the caverns in Kynance Cove. Strangely enough, too, it is
shaped like a church; even the entrance looks as though it might have
been fashioned by the hands of men. It was perfectly dry, for the sea
never entered it except at very high tides, and even when it entered the
water was never known to reach the roof. It was, moreover, seldom
visited, for, as I have before stated, in addition to its evil name, it
was extremely difficult to reach.

"You say you've put the papers here?" I said to Eli.

"Iss; 'ere, stoop down and laive me git top yer back."

I stooped down, and the dwarf climbed on my shoulders. I had no idea he
was so heavy, and when he placed his shoes on my shoulders I gave a cry
of pain.

"Aw," laughed Eli, "I be'ant no wizard, be I? I be 'eavier than the
church Bible, I be. Ther' now, hold yerself stiddy, and I'll take et
out."

He felt along the roof of the cavern, and presently gave a grunt of
satisfaction.

"I've got et, Jasper, I've got et. 'Tes oal 'ere. Pennington and the
purty maid. Aw, aw!"

With that I let him down on the floor, and saw that he held something
in his hand.

"Now, then, let's see it," I cried, for in my eagerness I had forgotten
all about my ghostly fears.

"Come 'ere to a lew place," said Eli; "this'll do. I'll hould the candle
while you raid."

The packet which he had taken from a hole in the cave was covered with
some kind of skin, and was carefully sewn with strong twine. I took my
knife from my pocket, and was about to cut it open when I looked around.
The candle which Eli held partially lit up the cave, sufficient, indeed,
to enable me to see nearly every part of it. A moment later I had
started to my feet and seized the pistol which I had bought at Truro,
but my hand became nerveless.

Close to me, not ten feet away, I saw that which turned my blood to ice.
It seemed to my excited imagination a creature fashioned in the likeness
of a man, and yet its eyes shone as I had never seen human eyes shine,
and the face was terrible to look upon. The thing held up its hands, and
I saw that they were long and lean. He uttered a cry. "No, no, no!" he
said.