So he went out and took a survey around to make sure that no one else was in sight, then returned and made ready for the descent into the unknown regions. He had no weapon save his battered leopard wood staff; but that had served him once, and it might serve him again should the need present itself. He took one more look around, then put his foot upon the ladder and began the descent. The distance was not far, perhaps twelve to fourteen feet, at the end of which he alighted upon a bottom of rock and quite rough. As nearly as could be judged with the aid of the light he had, he concluded the crypt to be mostly the work of nature. Evidently the old monks or whoever had built the chapel, had found the cavern beneath and had thus utilized it. It was irregular in form, its greatest width at the point where he now stood being nine full paces, not far from twenty-seven feet. As soon as he had become more used to the gloom he moved on ahead, very soon making a new discovery, and one of importance. At the point where he had landed from the ladder the cavern had been entirely bare, the only things to attract his attention, besides the jagged walls, being the somewhat complicated and bulky machinery by which the altar was moved to and fro; but he had not advanced many steps into the place before he came in contact with things that opened his eyes and sharpened his understanding. Piled against the walls on either hand were barrels and casks and boxes, some of which appeared to have been there a long time, while others were evidently of more recent deposit. A little further on the cave narrowed, and was buried in darkness, but he believed there was a widening again further on. In this narrower part were a few boxes, and a lot of ship’s rigging--ropes, blocks, and old sails. Ah! Another thing struck the explorer; and it struck him forcibly. It was a strong draught of air fresh from the sea! He was too well used to the atmosphere of the sea to mistake it when it came full in his face, and filled his nostrils and his lungs. And now he could understand. In the slope of the crag towards the shore of the bay were several caves, two of which were of considerable size. One of these latter--he thought he knew which one it was--had a secret opening into a passage leading to the place where he now stood; and the smugglers had discovered it and were making use of it. Many things which had heretofore puzzled him were clear to him now. His father, he was confident, had known nothing of this cavern. During his father’s lifetime he had known how all the goods landed at the Cove were disposed of; but it had not been so since his death. Of late--within the three years last past--there had to his certain knowledge been many things brought in that had never been taken further inland, to be disposed of among the people there residing.