, or I should have come down to quiet him if I'd been near," said the
smuggler, gruffly. "Come on."

He led the way farther in away from the mouth of the cavern, and in and
out amongst rocks which lay about the rugged floor, the course being
beside the water, which now began to grow of a jetty black, while from
time to time Aleck caught a gleam of something bright overhead, showing
that here and there the roof came lower. He saw, too, that the winding,
canal-like channel of water gradually grew narrower, till the lanthorn
illumined the place sufficiently for the lad to see that they could
easily cross to the other side by stepping from rock to rock, which rose
above the shallow water.

"We'll go over here," said the smuggler, "but by and by the water will
be right over there, and you have to go right to the end and climb along
the ledge. Can you see where to step?"

"Yes. Go on."

"Mind how you come; the stones here are slippery with the wet seaweed."

"I can manage," said Aleck, and he carefully stepped across and stood on
the other side. "Now, where is he?"

"Yonder, half way up that side! There's a snug hole there, plenty big
enough for him. I've slept there lots of times when we've been busy."

Aleck did not enquire what the business was, but he surmised as he
followed the guide, with the light from the lanthorn enabling him to see
where to put his feet.

They were now going back towards the submerged mouth of the vast cavern,
and Aleck felt a strange sensation of relief even at this, for thoughts
would keep crowding into his brain about what would be the consequence
if a greater tide than usual flooded the place, a thought so horrible
that the perspiration stood out upon his forehead, though it might have
been caused by the exertion of stepping over the rugged floor and the
heat of the place.

"Isn't he very quiet?" whispered Aleck.

"Yes, but he's watching us," said the man, in a hoarse whisper, while
Aleck looked in vain for a likely place to be the young officer's
prison, "over yonder" being a very vague indication.

Just then the smuggler began to step up a steep slope of moderate-sized
rocks piled one upon the other, to stop short about ten feet above where
his companion was standing.

He held the lanthorn down low for the lad to see, and as Aleck stood
beside him he raised the light as high as he could, so that the dim rays
fell upon the angry staring eyes of the young officer, who lay up