ed as dead. To my dull mind everything was enshrouded in
mystery, but the very mystery urged me forward to find out the truth
concerning Granfer Fraddam's treasure.

When we reached Penzance I bought a compass and a chart containing many
particulars about the Scilly Isles. This done we trudged on to the
Land's End, and, arrived there, the real difficulties of our adventure
presented themselves. First of all we had to possess a boat, and to do
this without causing suspicion seemed difficult. Then we had to obtain
tools and start on our journey without being seen. Eli, however, laughed
at my fears.

"'Tes arternoon now, Jasper Pennington," he said; "I'll git the boat,
you git the other things."

I asked him many questions as to how the boat was to be obtained, but he
made no answer save to tell me to be in Gamper Bay, close by a rock
called the Irish Lady, at ten o'clock that night, when the moon would
rise. I knew I could trust him; so walking to the village of St. Bunyan,
which is about three miles from Land's End, I obtained at a blacksmith's
shop a pick, a crowbar, and a shovel, according to the directions given.
This done I found my way back to the coast again. I had plenty of time,
so putting the tools in a safe place I wandered along the edge of the
cliffs. The moon had not yet risen, but for the time of the year the
weather was very calm and pleasant. The waves leaped pleasantly on the
great rock called the Armed Knight, and even the breakers on Whicksand
Bay were not angry, as is usually the case on this wild coast. A few
clouds swept along the sky, but mostly the heavens were clear. Presently
I looked at my watch, and after some trouble discovered that it was
nearly nine o'clock. As I was nearly a mile from the Irish Lady I
determined to start, and was just going to the place where I had laid
the pick and shovel when I heard the sound of voices in the near
distance. I immediately fell flat on the ground, for I did not wish to
be seen. A minute later I knew that two men were coming toward me, and I
judged would pass close beside me. However, I lay still. I was partly
covered by the heather which grew abundantly just there, and in the dim
light could not be distinguished by the ordinary passer-by from the many
great gray rocks which were scattered along the headland.

"I heard the dwarf say," said a voice which I could not recognise, and
yet which seemed very familiar to me, "that they would start from the
Iri