“We’re done for!” thought Frank. “If he ever comes close enough to pick up that silk he’ll see us, sure.” But the other man objected. “What’s the use? You won’t get any more thanks for carrying all that stuff upstairs, even if Burke does take it. And if he doesn’t, you’ll just have to cart it all the way down again. My motto in this gang is to do just what Snackley tells me and no more.” “I guess you’re right. We’ll just bring up the dope.” To the relief of the boys the man turned away and went back to the other side of the chamber. They could hear a rustling sound. Then came the words: “Well, we’ve got it. Let’s go back up.” The switch snapped and the cavern was steeped in darkness immediately. It was a darkness immeasurably welcome to the lads crouched behind the boxes. They began to breathe more easily. They heard the door close and then they could hear the footsteps of the two men as they ascended the stairs in the passageway. When the footsteps could be heard no more, Frank switched on the flashlight with a sigh of relief. “That was a close call. Gosh, but I was sure they had us.” “We wouldn’t have had any chance with that pair. You can bet your life they carry guns.” “Well, let’s follow them.” “I’m with you. We know we’re on the right track.” “And we know we’re liable to blunder right into the whole den of smugglers if we don’t watch our step. It’s going to be ticklish from now on.” “It can’t be any more ticklish than it has been. I lived about ten years while that pair was in here.” They crossed the chamber and again opened the door. Cautiously, they stepped out on the landing, closed the door behind them, and again confronted the flight of steps. “I’ll go first,” said Frank. “Stick close behind me.” He decided to turn out the flashlight, because it was barely possible that the smugglers might have a guard at the top of the stairs, in which event their approach would be discovered. So, in the inky blackness, they ascended, step after step. They reached the top of the first flight of stairs and then they found themselves upon a crude landing of planks which ran along the side of the rock wall for some distance until it ended in another flight of steps. Here the boys stopped again to listen. All was as silent as the tomb save for the distant pounding of the sea upon the cliff. “I don’t hear a sound,” whispered Joe. “Come on,” came from his brother. The passage through the rock was of considerable depth, and they went on up countless steps until their limbs were weary. They had never realized that the cliff was so high until now. But at length they reached the final landing and there they were confronted by another door. This door, they assumed, either led out into the open or into some cave just below the surface of the ground. Perhaps, thought Frank, it even led into the cellar of the Polucca house. The boys pressed close to the door, taking care to make no noise, and listened. They heard not a sound.