The Smugglers' Mine Read Online Free Page A

upstairs!”
    And to the great relief of the hiding trio, he disappeared back up the wooden staircase.
    The three companions scrambled up the chute and stole out into the night, knowing full well that in only a short time, they would need to return.

    The hours dragged. When they arose the following morning, the sun was cascading across the harbor, but Stanley was eager for the day to hurry along. Both he and Daisy had big hopes for what might lie beneath the Rock.

    â€œA great hoard of treasure has placed its picture in my mind,” announced Stanley, “with twinkling diamonds and dazzling, jeweled shapes of gold.”
    â€œI hope you’re right,” said Daisy. “After all this trouble, you deserve it.” But Daisy had more sense. “Just a modest trunk of pirate gold is all I expect,” she laughed. “Nothing more. Just enough to pay me a handsome living and leave me in comfort for the rest of my life, that’s all. Oh, and a handful of coins for the slab-lifter,” she joked.
    The two of them were sitting on the harbor wall. Stanley had been whiling away the hours looking for crabs. He had a line of shells and bits of bone all laid out neatly in front of him.
    MacDowell shuffled up alongside them.
    â€œThat’s a smart-lookin’ assortment o’ beach
life if ever I saw one. This is a funny old place though, Stanley. Are yer sure yer not breaking some ancient law of the Rock by takin’ them there shells and bones?”
    â€œNot as far as I know,” laughed Stanley.

    â€œShells are shells. They don’t belong to anyone in particular, just to whoever picks them up and takes them, I guess.”
    They sat in the sun for a little longer and watched the tide move slowly back. When they were absolutely sure that it was far enough out, they made their move, splitting up and reassembling at the bottom of the village.

    Back at Crampton Rock, MacDowell was the lookout this time, bundling the other two unceremoniously down the chute. And then he followed, sailing down into the damp darkness and not caring that his shabby clothes would now be soaking wet. But someone was watching, still and silent, taking it all in, squinting his eyes at the faces and making sure that who he saw was who he thought he knew.

    All the while, the treasure seekers made their every move without speaking a single word. Each was fully aware that should they speak and alert the house, they would jeopardize everything.
    After all, they were about to uncover the greatest secret that Crampton Rock had ever kept.
    MacDowell fished around in the half-dark. He had left his crowbar by mistake the previous night, and finally found it propped up against the wall. He was certain he hadn’t left it there, but he grabbed hold of it and began to lever up the flagstone in the corner.
    Sure enough, by the light of Stanley’s candle the deep void of the well could be seen. Yes, it was dark and damp, but it led somewhere. A flight of steps led down through the narrow opening.

    â€œAfter you then, Stanley, Daisy,” MacDowell whispered. Then he followed them into the void, leaving the basement in emptiness until they returned.
    Or so they thought. But in the corner, where they themselves had hidden from Berkeley the previous night, two moonlike eyes shone in the darkness. And when the treasure seekers had disappeared into the uncertainty of the black hole, a small figure stepped out into the open and poked its inquisitive head down the well.

    Deep down and farther in, the three treasure seekers squinted into the darkness ahead. Daisy stood beside Stanley, eyeing the rough
wall of the hollow. She moved closer, shoving past him.
    â€œStanley, bring your candle up to the wall,” she said. She placed her hand against the coarse surface. As the light came nearer, the rock face twinkled in the dark.
    Three faces leered up close and gasped in astonishment. Stanley raked the candle along the