l deep cut there is? Bound to say that at
the right time they'd run a big lugger close in. Look yonder! It's
just like the way into a dock, and sheltered lovely. Ah, they're an
artful lot, smugglers! You never know what they're after."

It was about an hour later that, without passing a soul on their
solitary way, the party reached the cliff path down into the Den garden,
where no Dunning was visible, and a chill came over Aleck like a warning
of something fresh in the way of disaster that he was to encounter.

It came suddenly, but it was as suddenly chased away by his hearing the
voice of Jane crooning over the words of some doleful old West Country
ballad, not of a cheering nature certainly, but sufficient to prove that
someone was at the house.

"Wait here," he whispered to his companions. "Let me go and see my
uncle first."

He crept in unheard, glanced round to see that the lower room was empty,
and then went softly up the stairs, his well-soaked boots making as
little noise as if they had been of indiarubber.

The study door yielded to a touch, and he stood gazing at the figure of
his uncle, seated in his usual place, but with pen, ink and papers
thrust aside so that he could bow his grey head down upon his clasped
hands.

"Asleep, uncle?" said the lad, softly.

"Aleck, my boy!" cried the old man, springing up to catch the lost one
in his arms. "Heaven be thanked! I was mourning for you as dead."

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

Comfortably settled down at the Den as Aleck's guest and made most
welcome, the middy felt not the slightest inclination to stir; but all
through life there is to all of us the call of duty, and the lad was
ready to recommence his, and eager to report to headquarters his
discovery of the notorious smugglers' cave.

Enquiries at Rockabie proved that the sloop and cutter had both sailed,
so a letter had to convey some of the information--"a despatch," the
young officer called it; and after it was sent he constituted himself
guardian of the smugglers' treasure and headed a little expedition,
composed of Aleck and Tom Bodger, to examine the land way down into the
cave, which they approached by a rope provided by Tom, who said he
didn't "keer" about jumping down from that there shelf, because his legs
were so stiff.

Then a descent was made by the sloping zigzag paths, till the corner was
reached, about half way down, where the way was blocked.

"Only fancy," said Aleck. "How