“I’m afraid we’ve frightened him off,” whispered Mundon. Just then a slight sound told them that the burglar was still there. A flash of light through the cracks of the door told them that he carried a dark lantern. “Be ready!” Mundon directed. “I’ll unlock the door and we’ll rush for the gates!” He unlocked the door and the partners tore across the rough floor to the gates. They were somewhat surprised to find them locked. “Who’s there? Stop, or I’ll fire!” cried Ben. They listened, trying to locate the intruder in the darkness; but the silence following this challenge remained unbroken. “He must hev run up the beach to climb the bulkhead,” said Mundon. “I’ll go out and head him off. You stay here and watch. If he’s hidin’ here, and makes a sound, you call me.” Left alone in the darkness, Ben fancied several times that he heard the burglar moving in the black shadows of the interior. But a careful investigation, with the aid of a lantern when Mundon returned, proved that the place was empty. “I don’t see how he could hev got over that bulkhead so quick,” Mundon remarked, as he related his unsuccessful attempt to capture the man. “Must hev ben mighty lively, and an acrobat in the bargain, to git out of sight in that time. Let’s see what mischief he’s ben up to.” The “jigger” was undisturbed, but they found footprints in the moist ground near the furnace. “Mebbe he came in a boat,” Mundon suddenly suggested. “Mebbe he wasn’t after our gold at all.” Ben stared in surprise. “Not after the gold!” he exclaimed. “Then what in thunder was he after?” “Can’t you guess?” “No.” “Well, I was thinkin’ that mebbe there’s more opium hidden away here that we ain’t found.” “Opium!” “Well, we found one lot here. Why shouldn’t we find some more. Who’s to say that we found all there was stowed here?” “They would have taken it away before this.” “How could they? They didn’t dare come back while there was a chance of them Custom House fellers bein’ ’round. And lately we haven’t let this place out our sight.” “That’s so,” replied Ben. “You think there’s more opium hidden somewhere round this furnace?” “That’s it.” “Well, I’ll take out those loose bricks in the morning--those on the side next the water, that we didn’t touch.” In the morning a thorough search was made, but no opium was found. No satisfactory explanation of the presence of the midnight visitor offered itself, but matters of greater importance soon occupied the thoughts of the partners. News of the venture spread. The scoop was read by thousands, and many of the curiously inclined were attracted to the spot. On the second day the crowd was so large that Ben was compelled to close the gates. There were several reporters, who took notes, photographed Ben and the interior of the building, and interviewed the partners as to their enterprise.