ess than ordinary flooring, but if you look carefully
you will see a knot in one of the boards near the wall. Pry this out
with your knife, and you will then be able to lift the cunningly
contrived trap door. This leads to the passage, which is more than forty
feet long. The passage leads to the cellar of the house, entrance to the
house being made by moving the trapdoor upwards. This requires a little
effort, as it is covered by the dirt floor for three or four inches. In
this trap is a ring to lift it when you want to get back to the passage.
Once you have gotten through the trap, smooth the dirt back over it,
leaving a chip or something directly over the spot where the ring is so
you will waste no time in finding it when you want to go back.

"I must tell you this, however; once you get in the house, you will be
in great peril, as these men are unscrupulous in the highest degree.
Green would be behind the bars long before this except for good luck and
the extreme precautions that he takes. Add to this the fact that many of
the people in this section see no harm in smuggling, and would never
give information even if they had it, and you can see how Green has so
long managed to escape paying the penalty for his misdeeds. Now that is
all I can tell you, and you had better be getting along on your work, as
it is now midnight, and it will take you at least fifteen minutes to get
to Green's barn."

Mr. Everett concluded by giving them minute instructions as to how to
reach the farm of the suspected smuggler leader.

"I know all this is dangerous," said Mr. Everett, "but you boys are now
working for your country, and as you have taken the responsibility you
must be prepared to carry it out to the end. For safety's sake, however,
I am going to propose the following measure. Come back to the house as
soon as you have either succeeded or failed in your mission. If you are
not here by six o'clock, I will take it on myself to summon help from
the Customs authorities up the line, or arm a posse here and search
Green's house. I hope that won't be necessary, for it would put an end
to discovering what is in the wind, but that is better than that you
boys should fall into trouble. Now God speed you on your way."

They said goodbye to Mr. Everett, after shaking hands with him, and once
again hearing his wishes for good luck.

Ruth led the way to the door, shyly adding her own wishes for their
success.

"Now you are sure you kno