we did fight to get out from below, and
it's all as simple as can be from up here."

And so it was, for three stones had been drawn down the slope, one
partly over the other and the other fitting nicely to either, but only
requiring a little effort to pull them back, _after_--

Yes, it was after one smaller wedge-shaped piece had been lifted out by
Tom Bodger, this wedge being like a key stone or bolt to hold the others
in place so tightly that it was impossible so shift them from below.

Tom Bodger had just removed the last stone into a big recess, which had
probably been formed by the smugglers to hold them, when the middy
turned round sharply upon a dark figure which had, unseen before, been
following them.

"Hallo!" he cried. "Who are you?"

"It's me, sir--Dunning, sir--the captain's gardener, sir. Come to see,
sir, if I could be of any help."

"No," cried Aleck, sharply, "you've come to play the spy, you deceitful
old rascal."

"Oh, Master Aleck, sir!" whined the man, "how can you say such a thing?"

"Because I know you by heart. You've been hand and glove with the
smugglers all through."

"Master Aleck, sir!"

"That will do," cried the lad, indignantly. "I've never told my uncle
what I've seen or heard, but I must now, and you know what to expect."

"Master Aleck!"

"That's it, is it?" said the middy. "He's one of the gang, and of
course I shall make him a prisoner as soon as we get out. Here, you,
Bodger, I order you in the King's name to take that man prisoner."

"Ay, ay, sir," cried Tom, and he made a move towards the gardener.

But it was ineffective, for the man suddenly thrust out a foot and
hooked one of the pensioner's wooden legs off the stone floor of the
slope, giving him a sharp thrust in the chest at the same time.

There is a game called skittles, or, more properly, ninepins, in which
if you strike one of the pins deftly it carries on the blow to the next,
which follows suit, and so on, till the blow given to number one has
resulted in all nine being laid low.

"Jes' like ninepins, Master Aleck," said Tom, "only there's nobbut three
on us. I beg your pardon, sir; I couldn't help it."

"No, no, no, no, no!" roared Aleck, each utterance being a part of a
hearty laugh, for the gardener had knocked Tom over, Tom had upset him,
and the blow he carried on to the midshipman had sent the latter rolling
down the slope, to come raging up as soon as he could gain his feet and
climb b