ot?"

If he had it was useless to lower down the slab, so Hilary let it stay,
and waited minute after minute to see if he would come. But all
remained perfectly still, and, to all appearance, the people who made
the old place their rendezvous were now away.

Hilary was divided in his mind as to what he should do. To be
precipitate might ruin his chance of getting away, while if he left it
too long the smugglers might return, and his opportunity would again be
gone. He decided, then, on a medium course--to wait, as far as he could
judge, for half an hour, and then make his attempt.

Meantime he began to think of what course he should pursue when he was
free, and it seemed that all he could do would be to strike inland at
once, for that would be the safest plan. If he tried to reach the coast
the chances were that he would encounter one of the gang, or at all
events some cottager who would most probably be in their pay.

"The half-hour must be up now," he exclaimed; and, after listening at
the door, he thrust the cutlass in his belt, and made for the hole
formed by the raised flag.

"I wonder how far it is down?" he muttered. "Seven feet at the outside;
and if I lower myself gently I shall be able to touch the floor, or
perhaps I shall come down on some barrel or package."

As he spoke he lowered himself gently down, with a hand on either side
of the aperture, and then, swinging his legs about, one of them kicked
the side, showing that the cellar or vault was a little smaller in
dimensions than the place above.

He lowered himself a little more, and a little more, his sea life having
made the muscles of his arms as tough almost as iron, and at last,
having a good hold of the stones on either side, he let himself steadily
go down till his head was beneath the floor and he hung down at the full
length of his hands.

"Deeper down than I thought for," he muttered, as he swung himself to
and fro. "Shall I drop, or sha'n't I? It can't be above a foot; but
somehow one don't like to let go of a certainty, to drop no one can tell
where--perhaps on to bottles, or no one knows what."

He still swung in hesitation, for it seemed cowardly to go back, now he
was so far down; but somehow the desire to be upon the safe side
obtained the mastery, and he determined to go back.

Easier settled upon than done. His muscles were tough enough, but
somehow his position was awkward, and his hold upon the stones so slight
that,