Andy went to the crack again. He shone his torch down it. Then he shone his torch above and belowand he found something on a ledge below that made bun almost shout.
“Look, Toman iron bar! Put there to use as a lever, I shouldn’t wonder! Well, I’ll try!”
He picked up the strong iron bar, and slipped it into the crack. He and Tom pressed hardand lo and behold, part of the rock slipped aside with a curious grating noise! It was evidently balanced so finely on its base that it could be moved almost at a touch. When it was open, the boys saw the dark entrance into the hill. Andy shone his torch in. It looked rather frightening.
“Wellwho would have thought of a way in like that!” said Andy in a whisper. “I feel like Ali Baba now. Don’t let’s try and shut the rock behind us, in case we can’t open it from the inside. We don’t want to make ourselves prisoners.”
They left the rock as it was, put down the iron bar and went inside the hill. A long tunnel yawned in front of them. After they had followed it for some way it split in two. One tunnel then went upwards and the other downwards. Which should they follow?
“Up, I think,” said Andy. “The up-going one may lead us to the light at the top of the island and we could have a good look at it.”
The boys crept on up the tunnel, using their torches, but switching them off at once if they thought they heard anything. But the inside of the rocky hill was dark and silent It was weird to be there in the middle of the night, not knowing what they might see or hear!
The tunnel split into two again. One tunnel ran on the level and the other still went up. Andy and Tom went along the level one to see what they could find. They came to a strong wooden door, with bolts and a lock.
“I bet this is the door of the cave those men shut us in to-day and yesterday,” said Andy. “We’ll see, shall we?”
Cautiously they opened the door. Yesit was the very same cave. They retraced their steps and joined the tunnel that went on upwards.
They suddenly saw a light shining somewhere in front of them. “Quiet!” hissed Andy. “Stand still and listen.”
But there was nothing at all to be heard. So they went cautiously on towards the light. They came into an enormous cave, lighted by a great ship’s lantern that swung from an iron hook in the rocky roof. This cave was furnished most comfortably, with two or three mattresses, a table, chairs, and cupboards in which stores were evidently kept. A stove was burning, with a kettle boiling away on top.
On the table was set a meala very good meal too, which made Tom feel very hungry indeed. The pink slices of ham lay on a dish, and a jar of tongue had been opened nearby. A rich dark plum-cake stood on a plate, and a tin of peaches had been opened.
“Look at that!” said Tom, his mouth watering, “I really must have a slice of that ham!”
“Be careful! The meal is set for someone and the kettle boiling, so that the man it’s meant for can’t be far away!” whispered Andy. “He’ll be back soon. We don’t want to be caught.”
“Can’t we just nip in and get some of the ham?” begged Tom. “There’s time!”
“Well, quick then!” said Andy. He nipped in with Tom. The boys snatched four slices of the ham, and a half loaf of bread. Andy cut an enormous slice of the cake. They stuffed everything into their pockets. They were just about to run out of the cave into the tunnel when they heard someone coming!
The Someone sang as he came, a sea-shanty. It was Bandy’s hoarse voice.
“Quick! Hide!” said Andy, looking round. “Into that chest, quick!”
They lifted the lid of an enormous chest and got inside it, putting the lid down quietly just as Bandy came into the lighted cave. He came in singing lustily, and took the kettle off the stove.
He made himself some tea, and then sat down to the table. He stared at the ham.
“Look at that! Where’s half the ham gone? And where’s my bread? If that greedy pig of a Stumpy has come in here and taken my supper again I’ll knock him down!”
Bandy growled and muttered. Then he saw that someone had cut a huge slice of the plum-cake and he rose to his feet in anger.
“My cake too! I’ll teach him! I’ll box his ears till he can’t tell if he’s standing up or sitting down. I’llI’ll
“
He disappeared out of the cave, taking the tunnel that led downwards. Andy and Tom badly wanted to laugh. Poor Stumpy! He would deny till he was black in the face that he had taken Bandy’s supper, but Bandy wouldn’t believe him.
“Let’s get out of -here whilst we’ve got the chance,” said Andy, walking out. “We’d better go on upwards, or we shall run into Bandy. Come on, Tom.”
Tom stopped to snatch a few more bits of ham, and another piece of cake. Then he ran after Andy into the tunnel again. Upwards they went, wondering where they would come to.
They had to use their torches again. Presently there were rough steps cut in a steep upward passage. It seemed as if they were never coming to an end. Tom gave a huge pant and sat down.
“Andy. I must have a rest! I simply must! Those steps are so steep.”
Andy sat down beside him, panting too. He switched off his torch. He smiled in the darkness to think of Bandy going off to accuse Stumpy, whoever he might be. of taking his supper. The ham, bread and cake were now safely disposed of, and both boys felt very satisfied.
They got up after a rest and continued on their way. Suddenly the steps stopped, and they came out on to a kind of platform. The wind swept suddenly and viciously on them.
“We’re on the top of Smuggler’s Rock, the very topwhere that light was flashed from!” cried Andy. “My. isn’t the wind fierce!”
“Lookhere’s the enormous lamp that must have flashed those signals!” said Tom, and he flashed his torch on to a great lamp, which was, of course, not now lighted. “See, Andythe beams from this would flash a long wayto ships far out, waiting to come in with smuggled goods!”
“My word!” said Andy. “That’s just about right! We’re very high up here. Ships many miles away could catch these signals.”
Suddenly he clutched Tom’s arm. “Listenaren’t those footstepsand whistling again? Perhaps Bandy is coming up to signal. Hop under the platform that the lamp’s on. We may not be seen at all!”
They crept under the wooden platform on which the great lamp Stood, Then Bandy came, and began to do something to the lamp. In a minute or two brilliant flashes lit up the night. The lamp was signalling to someone.
Bandy signalled for ten minutes. Then he turned out the light in some way and went down the steps again. The boys didn’t dare to follow. They went down a few steps, found a rough, hidden corner in the rocky wall, and lay down there. In a few moments they were asleep!
They awoke at dawn, stiff and shivering, cross at having been to sleep. Andy went on to the windy platform and looked all roundwhat a perfectly marvellous view. Why. he could see all round the rocky island!
He looked down on the side he had never seen before,and gave a low cry. “Look, Tomlook down there. Whatever do you make of that!”
CHAPTER 19.
More Discoveries.
THE two boys gazed down, far, far down, to where the sea gleamed in the early sunlight. They saw a blue harbour, an almost round cove, protected on all sides by steep, rugged rocks. At first it seemed as if there was no outlet to the sea itself at allthe harbour looked more like an inland lake.
It was full of motor-boats, some large, some small! They lay at rest, all but one, which was just making its way cautiously into the cove, through so narrow an opening that the boys could scarcely make it out from where they were.
“Look at that!” said Andy. “Whoever would dream there was this cove, this natural harbour the other side of the island! No one can see it from the other sideand I imagine that unless you know your way among those far-flung rocks stretching out there for miles, you’d never find your way in here. Well, wellI must say it’s a nice little smugglers’ haunt!”
The motor-boats looked like toys from where the boys stood. They were very high up indeed. The strong wind almost blew their heads off their shoulders. They could see for miles and miles round the island, on every side.