For once my slow-thinking mind was able to hit upon a plan. I remembered when I was with Cap'n Jack's gang hearing of a cave in Gramper Bay, not far from the Irish Lady, where smugglers landed their goods. One of Cap'n Jack's men had pointed it out to me, and had told me that a gang who worked with them sometimes often kept a boat in it.
This I told to Eli, who immediately suggested our trying to find it.
"What we do we must do dreckly, Maaster Jasper," he said; "they be watchin' for we."
I felt the truth of his words, and a few minutes later we had accomplished a precipitous and dangerous descent to the shore beneath. We should have got down more quickly but for the tools which I carried.
We searched very quietly, very cautiously, for I remembered what I had heard, and were not long in finding out the cave I have mentioned.
I may say here that I visited the Land's End only last week, and I find that the place is now quite open to view. A great mass of cliff which formerly hid its mouth has during the last few years fallen away, so that it can be no longer regarded as secret. Then, however, the opening was fairly well hidden.
On entering the place I was delighted to find two fairly large boats. I discovered, too, that oars were lying in them, also a small mast and sails.
"Good, good!" cried Eli, in a hoarse whisper. "Lev us be off right away."
"The moon has not yet risen, Eli," I said; "it'll be dangerous to go out among so many rocks."