with the Sea Eagle screened behind the
encircling cliffs, waiting like a black spider to rush out and capture
some unsuspecting craft.

"Pick her up, boys," said the Captain, "you know where she belongs,"
pointing to the boat.

"Aye, aye, sir," they replied, and putting it on their shoulders they
carried the boat along a narrow path that divided the thick undergrowth;
until, after going several hundred yards, they reached a thick screen of
brush through which they shoved, and came to a cave.

Although so well hidden, the entrance to the cavern was quite high, so
that the men gained admission without stooping, and going a short
distance into the dark interior, they placed the boat gently down
against the wall. There was a constant and heavy drip of water, so that
there was no chance for the boat to warp, as it would have surely done
if placed outside in the dry California air.

"I don't like this yere cave," remarked Pete, when left alone with
Cales.

"What's the matter with it? It's dark and damp, but that is the nature
of caves."

"It makes me feel creepy, that's all," replied Pete, "and it takes
considerable to do that."

"Whatever happened?" inquired Cales, grinning, "something terrible, I
reckon, to make your thick hide chilly."

"It were before your time," replied Pete somewhat reluctantly, "we
raided a ranch back thar agin the mountings. Senor Sebastian owned it
and it was said that he could ride all day and never git off his place,
and that he had more sheep and cattle than thar is folks in Frisco."

"The Captain shanghied him, I reckon," cut in Cales.

"You hold your windlass," commanded the old man in a querulous tone,
"I'm telling this yarn."

"All right, Pop," said Cales in a conciliating manner, "have it yer own
way." He was really anxious to hear the story the old man had referred
to.

"Young fry is always flapping," the older speaker mumbled,--then he
took up the course of his narrative. "Waal, as I was telling ye, this
Senor had lots of money and the Cap'n being short of funds thought that
he could use some of it. So one night we ran into the cove, it was
blacker even than this. I don't see how the old man ever got the craft
past the sharks' teeth at the entrance but he did."

"He could have brought her in with his eyes shut," declared Cales. "I
never have seen his equal for navigating."

"Waal, we made camp here that night, and the next day, the Cap'n with
some of the gang, left for th