d next we descended, and I was
led along what seemed a narrow path by the careful way in which my
conductors stepped. We went over certainly more than a mile of ground,
and then we halted till other parties came up, and I was led down a
gentle declivity on a soft, sandy soil; but I no longer felt the light
cool wind blowing on my cheek, from which I conjectured we were leaving
the open air.

Scarcely a word had been spoken to me the whole of this time by any one
of the party. I once ventured to ask my conductors where they were
going to take me; but the answer I got in a low growl--"Hold your
tongue, you young whelp!" and the click of a pistol lock--made me
unwilling to enter on another question. I was more seriously alarmed
about my uncle. For myself I feared nothing, as I did not think that
the smugglers would hurt a young boy like me; but from the manner of
their proceeding, and the few words they let fall of concentrated hate
and anger, I was afraid that, supposing they were the crew of the
_Kitty_, they might wreck their vengeance on his head and murder him. I
had become deeply attached to him. I felt miserable at the thought of
his danger, and I earnestly, though silently, prayed for his
preservation. After we had gone a little way, I was almost convinced,
from the damp, stagnant feel of the atmosphere, that we were in a cavern
or a large vault of some sort or other. I was confirmed in this opinion
by hearing a voice before me say, "Stoop down your head or you will hit
the rock."

I thought he addressed me, so I bent down as if I were passing under a
very low archway, when my conductors laughed, and one observed to the
other, "The youngster thinks himself a giant; howsomever, he won't ever
be much bigger than he now is, will he, Jim?"

"No; he's nibbled his last biscuit," growled out his companion. "Come,
heave ahead, master."

On hearing these last observations I had stopped, scarcely able to make
my feet move on; for I thought the villains were going to treat me as
they had treated the poor wretch we had just found, for I had no doubt
they were his murderers. They again urged me forward, and I presently
found myself in a place surrounded by a number of people--at least so I
judged by the suppressed hum of voices which I heard.

"Cast off the handkerchiefs from the prisoners' eyes," said a voice in
an authoritative tone.

I felt a fellow fumbling at the handkerchief round my head; but
pretending