'If it was a bargain, why didn't the fellow stop?'

'That's what Fargis has to answer to me for,' returned his companion,
angrily. 'Cutting away like that for no reason at all that I can see,
and leaving us---- '

The voices died away, and Marjorie smiled to think how nearly she had
guessed right. They _had_ missed the boat. Now she would really have
some news for Alan. She resumed her way, though the silence was not
encouraging. She ought to meet Alan if he was still on the track of the
men. What could he be doing if he was not? It took some careful peering
into dark places to discover the entrance to the Smuggler's Hole, and
even then the blackness of the steps made her hesitate. Could she get
down without a ray of light? Not lacking in courage, however, she
ventured to feel her way to the bottom of the first flight. There the
dangers of the descent began, and she dared not proceed.

Deep silence reigned. As she stood listening, she did not know for what,
she suddenly heard a faint patter of paws, and the next moment, with a
whining yelp, a dog jumped up to her and careered round her feet. A
touch showed her it was Bootles--Bootles, distressed and eager; now
whining, now pulling at her dress, as if he wanted something very badly.
Her thoughts flew at once to Alan. Perhaps those horrid men had injured
him. In haste she tied a handkerchief to the dog's collar, and let him
lead her into the blackness till he halted, sniffing and barking, having
attained the object of his desires.

'Alan! Alan!' she called, in terror of what she might hear, yet resolved
to find out why the dog was so restless.

The rocks seemed to send back echoes of her voice, and aroused fears
lest Thomas might hear and return. Nevertheless she stood still and
listened intently; even the dog kept quiet. Was there an answer? She
could not quite make out. She must call again, though it required a
great effort to do so. There was no mistake this time.

'M-a-r-j-o-r-i-e-e-e!'

Muffled, scarcely audible as it was, the voice was no echo. It appeared
to come from the ground, but the dog's pulls and barks confused her. She
was afraid to advance, and little imagined how near she was already to
the unprotected edge of the rocky shaft down which Alan had fallen. She
had seen it during their explorations, but had quite forgotten its
existence. Nevertheless, she stooped to listen, and the dog crouched at
her side.

(_Continued on page 157._)

PUZZL