is young
gaoler--officer and smuggler, but both boys of one blood, who had fought
each according to his lights.

"Hah!" sighed Ram, as he gripped hard, and then let go. "Now, then,
tell 'em to shove the stones, sharp, and let 'em fall out. Quick!
Before the powder ketches."

"Powder?" said Archy in an awe-stricken whisper. "Yes; there's a lot
not far from the kegs." The men cheered, as the fresh order was given,
and a new set took the places of those who were growing weary, sending
the stones out rapidly, till there was room for a man to creep through.

"Here, Ram, you through first, and show them how to climb on the shelf."

"No, no, you lead, Mr Raystoke," cried the master. "Silence, sir! I
know what I'm doing," yelled Archy. "Out with you, Ram."

The boy went through like a rabbit, passing something dark before him,
and then rapidly one by one the men followed, with the flames roaring
horribly now below, and explosion after explosion following quickly, the
cave rapidly becoming a reservoir of fire.

"Hurrah! That's all," cried Mr Gurr. "Now, Mr Raystoke."

"No, sir, you."

"I say you."

"And I--"

Archy yielded to his superior in the expedition, crept out, and the
master was following, and got stuck, but a fierce tug from a couple of
the men set him free, and he had only just joined the two boats' crews
standing side by side on the shelf of rock, when the whole cliff seemed
to shake; and, as if the passage they had left were some vast cannon,
the artificial wall left was blown right out by an awful burst of flame,
the stones hurtling down as if the end of the cliffs had come, and
falling with a mighty splash into the chasm.

The men stood white and awe-stricken, expecting the cliff to crumble
away beneath them, but save that a stream of fire roared out of the
opening, all was now still.

Then, in the midst of the awe-inspiring silence, Ram spoke,--

"I thought it wouldn't be long before the powder caught;" and then,
before any one could reply, the lad said quietly, "I didn't want to be
burnt to death. Better go to prison for smuggling. I say, I got this
rope. Hadn't we better make it fast somewhere, and then you can all get
down to the big shelf? I'll come last, and unfasten it."

"And then how will you get down?" said the master suspiciously.

"Oh," said Ram, laughing, "I can climb down; can't I, orficer?"

"Yes," said Archy quietly. "He can get down. You will not try to
escape, wi