By this time I had mastered the amazement which for the moment had overcome me, and had surmised who they were. Undoubtedly they were the smugglers who infested the coast, and who knew the secret of Granfer Fraddam's Cave. Probably they belonged to Jack Truscott's famous gang, and had brought a cargo of goods that very night. I heard the swish of the waves rushing up the cave, so I knew the tide was high. I measured the men, too, from a wrestler's standpoint, and calculated their strength from the size of their bare arms, and the breadth of their chests. All the fear that had come into my heart left me. Living men did not frighten me. "I might as well ask who you are," I replied coolly. "Oh, tha's yer soarts, es et? Well, I think we may, so we'll tell 'ee, es you'll never go out of this 'ere place a livin' man." "Never go out a living man. Why, pray?" "Well, 'cos you do knaw too much, tha's why. This caave es wot you call convainient. See, matey? Well, ef other people wos to knaw 'bout et, twudden be convainient." "I quite understand. You are smugglers, and wreckers most likely. Perhaps even worse than that. Perhaps you belong to Jack Truscott's gang. Ah, I see you do. Well, your idea is to kill me because I have found your hiding-place." "That's ev et. Generally we be'ant cruel men, we be'ant. But some things must be done. You zee, dead men kip their saicrets well; livin' ones do'ant. You be a curyus-looking cove, ragged 'nough for a vuss cutter, but you be'ant owr soart." "No," I said, coolly, "I'm not your sort." "And you'd splet on us the fust fair chance you got, I spect?" "Probably." "Well, that settles et, and so--" He drew his finger across his throat significantly. I must confess that a curious sensation came into my heart; but I did not betray any fear, and after a few seconds I was able to speak steadily. "You've done that kind of thing before, I expect?" I said, watching the spokesman's face closely. "Sam have done et a vew times," he said, looking significantly at his companion, "I do'ant do et oftener than I can 'elp." The man called Sam grinned, as though he was proud of his distinction. "In cold blood?" I queried. I kept on asking these questions, because I wanted to gain time. I had heard of many bloody deeds being done off the Lizard, but, as I said, the coast of St. Eve had been regarded as quiet and free from violent men and violent deeds ever since Granfer Fraddam died. "We'd ruther do et in hot fight," said the man, with a curious twitch of his lips, "a good bit ruther. Et _do_ come aisier that way; but there, we ca'ant allays pick and choose." I have not inserted the epithets with which they garnished their words, neither can I describe the careless way in which they spoke of murder. But in my heart came a great loathing for them, and a desire to be even with them.