e to go down any farther?"

"Not a bit," said Aleck, firmly. "Look for yourself. Here are the foot
nicks at the side, and the floor is all worn smooth. We must be right."

"Then forward once more. You must have missed something."

Aleck toiled up the slope again, reached the top, where the crack should
have run in a fresh direction and at a different inclination, and
carefully examined the place with his light, while his heart began to
beat faster and faster from the excitement that was growing upon him
rapidly. For as he ran his hands over the rock in front, which
completely blocked his way, he noted that there were three great
pieces--one which ran right into the angle, where the pathway should
have made its turn; a second, which lay between it and the smooth wall
at the bend; and another smaller piece, which lay over both, jammed
tightly in between the two other stones and the roof, and carrying
conviction to Aleck's mind as he now recalled the peculiar grating
sounds he had heard soon after the smuggler left them the previous day.

He was brought out of his musings by his companion, who suddenly
exclaimed:

"I say, look here; I'm not a puffin."

"Eh? No, of course not. What made you say that?"

"Because you seemed to think I was, keeping me perched up on a piece of
rock like this. Now, then, are you going on?"

Aleck was silent, for he had not the heart to say that which was within.

"Are you going dumb? If you've lost your way say so, and let's begin
again."

"It's worse than that," said Aleck.

"Worse? What do you mean?"

"Look here," said Aleck, holding the lanthorn up high with one hand, and
pointing with the other.

"Well, I'm looking, and I can see nothing but stone--rough stone."

"Neither can I. We can go no farther."

"What! You don't mean to say that the roof has fallen in?"

"No; it's worse than that."

"Can't be," cried the middy.

"Yes, it is, for we could have dug the fallen stones away. Sailor, I'm
obliged to say it--we're regularly trapped!"

"What! Who by? Oh, nonsense!"

"It's true enough, I'm afraid. The smuggler would not do as we did. We
trusted him, but he would not trust us."

"You don't mean to say he has blocked us in?"

"I'm obliged to say so. I heard him forcing down the stones after he'd
gone. Look for yourself. I can't move one."

"No," said the midshipman, quietly, as he reached past Aleck and tried
to give the top one a shake. "He has b