"Of course, dad," he burst out impulsively, "whatever you wish——"
"But where am I to go?" he asked, when his father had placed his hand on his shoulder to show his approval.
"Ah! that will interest you, I think. Captain McDonnell has offered to take you cruising in the Drake for a month."
"Dad!"
Both Captain Stanley and Captain McDonnell smiled at that enthusiastic, forceful exclamation.
"Appeals to you, eh?" chuckled McDonnell.
"Rather!" ejaculated Dare. "There's nothing I'd like better, seeing I can't stay on here."
"Then be on board by five o'clock."
* * * * *
At half-past five the Drake broke out her anchor and, dipping her flag to the Customs House ensign, slowly got under way. When she reached the Oven she slackened speed, and a gun was trained on the former harbour of the smugglers. The shell expelled from it struck the face of the cliff just above the narrow opening. There came a report as though the cliff itself had split in twain, then hundreds of tons of loosened rock fell to form a barrier for all time to the entrance to the cave.