ere no
revenue man thus far had ever been able to look upon it of his own free
will.

But finally they heard Polly say that it was close by. Thad also noticed
that the girl had changed her manner more or less. She climbed now
without making the slightest noise; just as though some instinct, born
of her life in the zone where warfare always existed between her people
and the Government agents, had caused her to exercise caution.

Thad saw that they were approaching what must be a rocky gully, leading
to some sort of cave. He remembered that Polly had, while speaking,
happened to mention the fact that her father's famous Still was located
in a cave, which could never be found by the smartest agent the
authorities had ever sent to look for such illegal distilleries.

"Look out yer don't slip!" came in a low but thrilling whisper from the
guide at this juncture; and from this Thad assumed that they must be
passing along the edge of some dizzy precipice, that had to do with the
safety of the manufactory, the existence of which had so long taunted
the Government.

Now and then Polly would give a slight pause. At such times Thad
believed she must be looking cautiously around, to make sure that the
guard had not returned to the place since she left there some time
before.

Then he realized that he could no longer see the stars overhead. From
this he judged they must have passed underground; and that this was a
fact he presently learned when, by stretching out his hand, he felt the
cold rock close by.

All around them was pitch darkness at first, and the girl had made Bob
take hold of her dress, while Thad in the rear kept a hand on his chum's
back as they moved slowly along.

Presently the watchful scoutmaster made a little discovery that afforded
him pleasure. There must be a light ahead somewhere, for he began to
catch a faint glow, such as might come from a lantern.

This illumination grew gradually stronger, until they could actually
manage to see dimly around them.

"Wait hyah foh me, till I see ef ther coast is clar," whispered the
girl.

The two scouts saw her slip away. It struck Thad that possibly he and
his chums had much to learn ere they could pass along as noiselessly as
this mountain girl.

How the seconds dragged. Each one must have seemed torture to poor
anxious Bob, knowing as he did that the one he had long mourned as dead
was so near at hand. They heard nothing save a dripping sound, which
mig