rapidly curving down, and the floor, which was sandy no longer, seeming
to rise as the sides of the cave contracted and the travelling had
become an awkward climb.

"I don't believe any of that stuff, father," said Dick softly.

"That's right," replied Mr Temple. "Hah: yes!" he said holding the
lantern so that the light shone on the roof--"tin!"

"Tin, father?" cried Dick joyfully. "Have you found tin?"

"Yes, but too poor to be worth working;" and Mr Temple went on a
little, and stopped to chip the side with his hammer. "Traces of copper
here," he said. "Look: peacock ore; very pretty to look at, but ruinous
to work, Dick. Ah! we seem to be coming to the end now."

"Would seals be likely to live in a cave like this?" said Dick.

"I should think not," replied Mr Temple. "The entrance is not near
enough to the water. I think they like a place where they can swim
right in and out at all times of the tide."

"That's so," said Josh, who had overheard the remark.

"The cave we know, Master Dick," said Will, "is one where you can row
right in."

"Can't we go now?" cried Dick excitedly.

"Wait, wait," said Mr Temple, "don't be impatient, my lad. All in good
time. Ah! here is the end; and look here, my man, here are some of your
strange creatures' drinking vessels."

As he spoke he stepped forward and let the light play upon some pieces
of wood, beyond which were five or six very old empty tubs that were a
little less than ordinary wooden pails, but narrow at each end like a
barrel.

Josh came forward with Will to stare at the half-rotten fragments, which
were black and slimy with the drippings from the roof, and the iron
hoops were so eaten away that upon Mr Temple touching one of the tubs
with his foot it crumbled down into a heap of black-looking earth.

"Fishermen's buoys," said Will, looking at the heap wonderingly.

"No, my lad; smugglers' brandy-tubs," said Mr Temple. "And you, Josh,
here's the explanation of your cock-and-bull story. Some fishermen once
saw the smugglers stealing in here by night, and at once set them down
as being supernatural. There, let's get out and climb up the rock to
the old working. No. Stop; just as I thought; here is the adit."

For they had suddenly come upon the narrow passage that led into the
shaft--a low square tunnel, not so carefully-cut as the one they had
previously explored.

"Is this likely to be an adit, father?" said Dick, who had caught the
term