I did not reply, for a great dread laid hold of me. Besides, the sight of Eli, as he made his way between the rocks, grunting and making all sorts of weird noises, was enough to make one's blood run cold. "Remember, Eli," I said, "everything must be clear and right. I'll have no dealings with darkness, mind that." But Eli made no answer, except to go jabbering as though he were mad. "'Tes a good job the tide es out," he grunted, presently. "Why?" "We cudden git in the Devil's Church else." "What have we to do with the Devil's Church?" "The dreckshuns be there," and he laughed in his strange, guttural way. As I have said, being better educated than most of the Cornish folk, I had been led to disbelieve in many of the foolish stories told, but I shuddered at the idea of going there. For, first of all, it was very difficult to get into, and could only be reached when the tide was out, and it was, moreover, reputed to be accursed ground. Here shipwrecked sailors had been lured by inviting lights and welcome sounds, and here they had met their doom. "I'll not go there, Eli," I gasped. "Don't be a vool, Jasper Pennington," snarled Eli. "We sh'll be saafe there. Nobody will disturb us. I put it there, I did. Come on, Pennington; and yer love is there, you boobah." I saw that the dwarf was much excited, and, like one under a spell, I followed him without another word. We climbed over many slippery, dangerous rocks, and then walked over the grass-grown summits of a small island. Then we slowly descended on the south side of the island. Neither of us spoke, for we were in great danger. Below us, many feet down, were great jagged rocks, at whose feet the frothy waves leaped. "How much farther?" I asked. "Here we be," grunted Eli, and he disappeared. The next minute I found myself in a roomy cavern. "Wait, and I'll get a light," cried Eli, feeling in his pockets. I heard a strange whizzing noise, and then something struck against my face, and I heard a screech in the darkness outside. "This is the Devil's Church," grunted Eli, "and 'tes 'ere I've put the dreckshuns." CHAPTER XXII HOW I FOUND THE SECRET OF THE TREASURE, AND WENT TO THE SCILLY ISLES The cave called the Devil's Church is little known, and yet it is larger than any of the caverns in Kynance Cove. Strangely enough, too, it is shaped like a church; even the entrance looks as though it might have been fashioned by the hands of men. It was perfectly dry, for the sea never entered it except at very high tides, and even when it entered the water was never known to reach the roof. It was, moreover, seldom visited, for, as I have before stated, in addition to its evil name, it was extremely difficult to reach. "You say you've put the papers here?" I said to Eli. "Iss; 'ere, stoop down and laive me git top yer back." I stooped down, and the dwarf climbed on my shoulders. I had no idea he was so heavy, and when he placed his shoes on my shoulders I gave a cry of pain.