Mark's eye eagerly searched the cave for an expected object, but that object, to his inexpressible relief, he found not.
"Thank heaven he isn't here," whispered he. "Thank God for our preservation," he solemnly added, aloud: and the three men stood in deep silence, the two young men and the old, while the schoolmaster offered up a brief thanksgiving in that strange oratory.
Then came the difficult consideration of what must be done under such novel circumstances. Here was a perfect little distillery in full working; the whole plant, as it is termed, of an illicit still, in complete order. Here was a large heap of dried heather stored up for fuel; for it is the heather smoke which imparts that peculiar mountain flavor which distinguished the illicit whiskey from the lawfully manufactured but ever dangerous and treacherous liquor. And there, in the deep chamber of the adit, was a long array of stone jars, many of them evidently full and others empty; while just at the mouth of the cave was a lot of heavy jars, arranged as if in readiness for removal.
"I take possession in the king's name," said Mark, with serious dignity. "This discovery must be notified immediately to Mr. Knibb; and then we wash our hands of the affair. But recollect, my friends, we have not yet found Miles Lawson. Everything must be sacrificed to the search for him. All this, while he may be perishing in the snow."
"Ay, ay, the young master first of all, and then the spoil," replied Geordie Garthwaite.
"We had best have a dram to drive the cold out of us, in course," suggested one of the farm lads.
"And just to see if it is worth anything," added the other.
"Not a drop shall be touched," said Mark, firmly; "I wish I dare pour it all out on the heather; but it is not ours end I cannot do as I would. Now for the young master, without a moment's waste of time."
"What if the Miner and Broom Tim should come back and take all the stock away?" reasoned one of the young men, as they descended.
"They will not do that," said old Geordie. "They saw we knew them, and they are far enough off by this time. Besides, they'd never think we should be such silly folks as to leave the prey." Then, coming close to Mark, he said in a low voice, "What is't has brought you a'top here, Master Wilson, to seek for young master in such a rabbit-hole like?"