“This room seems fairly dry, though,” said Leslie, “and I feel quite a breeze from somewhere.”
“Oh, it must be the place where the men were when we heard them talking!” Peggy exclaimed. She and Leslie searched the wall and ceiling and found a crack which they decided to be the opening to the “speaking tube,” for the immediate surroundings were like a wide funnel.
A pile of old and foreign-looking clothing in one corner gave Mr. Tudor good evidence of what he was seeking. There was a portable stove all greasy and rusty, with a cask which they thought contained gasoline. A wooden door boarded up one opening off from the passage but it was locked. As there was a narrow opening across the top of the ill-fitting door, Mr. Tudor suggested to Jack that he climb up to see what was inside. “Stand on my shoulders,” he said.
Jack helped himself first by the edge of a thick board in the door, which had been made by nailing horizontal planks across a frame. Partly lifted or supported by Mr. Tudor, Jack clung to the top of the door, with one foot on Mr. Tudor’s shoulder, and looked over. “Case after case, and a lot of loose bottles of liquor,” he reported.
“Bill’s activities include more than one line of smuggling,” Mr. Tudor replied, as Jack dropped to the floor again.
“My muddy feet will not help your coat any,” said Jack.
“It will dry and brush off. We have not found any pirate treasure for the girls yet,” he continued. “Perhaps there is a safe somewhere with the pirate jewels; but we must hurry. I want to see the front space again. Come, please.”
The party went back into the front of the cave, while Mr. Tudor and Jack searched the wall on the side toward the Ives’ little bay and dock. There, indeed, in a little recess, were some steps, the same sort of rocky steps, where the hand of man had assisted nature. At the top there was another door, locked. But this time Mr. Tudor drew a key from his pocket which unlocked it. A breeze blew in, fresh and sweet and cool. Carefully lighting his steps before him Mr. Tudor stepped outside, then made room for the rest.
They found themselves on a rocky ledge, rather narrow and walled in by rock. Mr. Tudor rounded a corner carefully, looked and came back. “Very clever,” said he. “This door is concealed by the mass of rock, and when you turn that corner, there you are in a narrow opening between rocks that looks just like a hundred others. Look, but be careful not to step off the edge.”
Each followed directions and looked. “A long plank would reach over to our steps,” said Peggy. “I’ve often wondered why that wide, long board was laid along the side of the steps. There is a sort of fastening there, too. I asked Mother about it once and she said she supposed it was there to strengthen the stairway. I wonder why they go in and out by boat when that is there.”