tay at home in the evening?" asked the
fisherman after a pause.

"Sometimes he goes out in his boat late at night and rows about half the
night. I suppose he gets tired of being alone or else can't sleep."

John Trafton nodded with an expression of satisfaction.

This would suit his plans exactly. If he could only enter the cave in
one of these absences, he would find everything easy and might
accomplish his purpose without running any risk.

It was clear to him now that the gold of which the trader spoke was
given to his nephew by the hermit. He was justified in thinking so, as
there was no other conceivable way in which Robert could have obtained
it. He coveted the ten-dollar gold piece, but he was playing for a
higher stake and could afford to let that go for the present at least.

The fisherman lit his pipe and smoked thoughtfully.

His wife was not partial to the odor of strong tobacco, but tobacco, she
reflected, was much to be preferred to drink, and if her husband could
be beguiled from the use of the latter by his pipe then she would gladly
endure it.

John Trafton smoked about ten minutes in silence and then rose from his
chair.

"I guess I'll go out on the beach and have my smoke there," he said as
he took his hat from the peg on which he had hung it on entering the
cabin.

"You're not going back to the tavern, John?" said his wife in alarm.

"No, I've quit the tavern for to-night. I'll just go out on the beach
and have my smoke there. I won't be gone very long."

When Trafton had descended from the cliff to the beach he took the
direction of the hermit's cave.

Of course he had been in that direction a good many times, but then
there was nothing on his mind and he had not taken particular notice of
the entrance or its surroundings.

It was a calm, pleasant moonlight night and objects were visible for a
considerable distance. Trafton walked on till he stood at the foot of
the cliff containing the cave. There was the rude ladder leading to the
entrance. It was short. It could be scaled in a few seconds, and the box
or chest of gold, in whose existence Trafton had a thorough belief,
could be found. But caution must be used. Possibly the hermit might be
at home, and if he were, he would, of course, be awake at that hour.
Besides, the cave was dark and he had no light.

"When I come I will bring matches and a candle," thought the fisherman.
"I can't find the gold unless I can see my way. What a f