again in a hurry, not I. Why, I couldn't 'a been
half-way down--no, nor yet a quarter--when a big stone came right down
on me shoulder and knocks me flat. Mother did wonder why I couldn't move
my arm without pain for quite a long time. I crawled back the way I had
come. Master Peet was always saying the roof wasn't safe, but I didn't
believe him. But I have had enough of it now. I preferred finding the
key, even if it was slower.'

There was a pause. The faint ripple of the tide was followed by the hiss
of the water as it surged round the rocks and fell back. Not daring to
move in the silence, Alan stood still.

'The game's worth the candle, I suppose?' said Thomas, presently.

'I should just think so!' returned his companion, his voice growing
hard. 'I have not had time or light to examine the box, but I trusted
you to see that it contained all we wanted. Of course, if it does
not---- '

'I put in all I could see,' began Thomas, sullenly.

'Then we have a great prize--the only specimen known, and we shall see
our money back for that. As to the rest, why--until I can examine things
for myself, I can't tell you anything. I should like to get off before
the loss is discovered, and--well, how safe are we here? I should not
wish to be caught like a rat in a trap while we are waiting for the tide
to go down.'

'We're as safe here as anywhere,' returned Thomas, in the same sullen
tone. 'Now, tell me,' he continued, with some irritation in his voice,
'have you got to pay that boat and the crew out of our profits in this
business?'

His companion gave a low chuckle of amusement.

'There is not much that Jean Marie Fargis will not do for me, my
friend.'

'That's the skipper, I suppose?'

'It is. He got into an ugly scrape not many years ago, and people have
not forgotten it. I pulled him out of it, and started him in another
walk of life. He is not like to forget, even if I would let him. So he's
useful, you see.'

'I see. All the same, I expect this business will cost a pretty penny if
Fargis is afraid of you.'

'You will get your pay, never fear.'

'But if the coastguard sees him fishing in British waters?'

'Then his orders are--cut and run. He can meet us at Havre or
Cherbourg.'

'That's where he come from, is it?'

'No, it isn't. They are some of his places of call in his fishing trade.
He lives at Tout-Petit--quite a small place, further south. Go there,
man, if ever you find it wise to disappear, and