"Thomas Kinlay, you will now hold up your right hand and repeat these words distinctly after me."
Kinlay raised his hand above his head and repeated the solemn and impressive words of our Scotch adjuration:
"I swear by Almighty God, as I shall answer to God at the great day of judgment, that I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help me, God!"
When this was done Mr. Duke leaned back in his chair and said:
"Now, Mr. Thomson, if you please."
"You were taken in the cave of Gaulton on Saturday, were you not?" repeated Mr. Thomson, addressing Tom.
Tom sullenly answered "Yes."
"Now, tell us," the bailie continued, "when you entered that cave with your father and the crew of the St. Magnus, whom did you find there?"
Tom had first seen me when I was taken down to the cutter's boat, and no doubt he had believed that it was I who had guided the revenue men to the cavern. He, therefore, grasped at the interpretation implied by the bailie's question, and, whether intentionally or not, suppressed the fact that he was himself in the cave before the smugglers arrived, he merely said:
"We didna find anybody in the cave."