I hastily withdrew my face from the light of the lantern, which was shining through a crevice in the wall of the cave; and then like a blurred picture focusing to clearness everything took shape and coherence in my mind, and I knew exactly where I was. The lantern was standing where my father had placed it the day before when he had taken me down the secret passage and together we had examined the great closed doors. The crevice was the one through which I had thrust my hand, clearing it of its rubbish, so that now the lantern could shine right through. But now I was on the other side. Somehow I had dived under the submarine mouth of this cavern, never suspecting its existence. Quickly the thought flashed through my head that now I had found the hiding-place I wanted; but the thought melted as quickly as it came, for I had other matter on hand. For through the cranny I could hear the voices speaking distinctly enough to make out what they were saying, though of course I couldn't see anything as the lantern glared full into my face if I attempted to look into the passage beyond. And what I heard soon began to have an interest for me. There were two men, it seemed, and I assumed they were in their boat, probably on guard, for the tide was rising to the full now, and the cave must have been deep in water. I couldn't catch all they were saying; but when I heard the words, "Cut accrosst his hand," I strained my ears to the uttermost. "Yus," was the reply, "an' a burn too, warn't it?" "Aye; an' a brat with 'un, they do say." "Wull, I s'pose they'll nab 'un all right." "Hope so. Must have been ee what let Jem an' Roger into the trap last year." "Ah! Wull, Dirk'll see to 'un." "If he bean't too cute." "He'll need be if ee can hide they tracks." There was a short pause, and the last speaker began again: "But how did Dirk get wind of it?" "Wind of what?" "Why, the burn, and the brat, an' that." "Dunno quite. Some one let on, I spose. Some one what was nabbed, I dessay, an' found 'un out when it was too late. Got word through, I expect. Dirk's sharp."