't know," said Mike. "It seems very queer. The cave can't
be so dangerous to come to, if boats can land cargoes. Old Daygo's all
wrong, then?"

"Of course he is; so are all the people. Every one has told us that the
Black Scraw was a terrible place, and looked as if they thought it was
haunted by all kinds of sea goblins. Let's get away."

"Think we'd better?"

"Yes; I keep expecting to see a boat come round the corner into sight.
I shouldn't like to be here when they did come."

"But it's so disappointing!" cried Mike. "I thought we were going to
have all this to ourselves."

"I don't think I did," said Vince thoughtfully.

"But I don't believe you're right, Cinder. These things can't have been
put here in our time, or we must have known of it. See what a little
place the Crag is."

"Yes, it's small enough, but the Scraw has always been as if it were far
away, and people could come here and do what they liked."

"But they wouldn't be so stupid as to come here and leave things for
nobody," said Mike. "Is there anybody here who would want them?"

"No," replied Vince; "but smugglers might make this a sort of
storehouse, and some bring the things here from France and Holland and
others come and fetch them away. There, come on, and let's get up into
the crack. I don't feel safe. It has regularly spoiled our place,
though, for whoever comes here must know of the other cave."

"Well," said Mike, as they stood by the rope, and he gazed longingly
back at the rich store he was about to leave behind, "I'll come; but I
don't believe you're right."

"You'll soon see that I am, Ladle; for before long all these things will
be taken away--perhaps by the time we come again."

"If it's as you say we shan't be able to come again," replied Mike
rather dolefully; and then, in obedience to an impatient sign from his
companion, he took hold of the rope and climbed slowly up, passing in at
the opening, and being followed by Vince directly after.

Then the rope was drawn up and coiled, and both took a long and envious
look at the cargo that had been landed there at some time or other,
before making their way along the fissure to their own place.

"I don't believe any one would do as we've done, and come along there,"
said Mike, as soon as they were safely back. "Perhaps, if you're right
about that stuff being new, these smuggling people don't, after all,
know of this cave."

"They must have seen it when they were