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lies between the road and the sea on the side towards the ferry； and
presently a boy came running down to them full of news。 〃Danny Lund
has seen him；〃 said the boy； 〃he has seen him plainly in among the
rocks。〃 And then came Danny Lund himself； a small negro lad about
fourteen years of age； who was known in those parts as the idlest；
most dishonest； and most useless of his race。 On this occasion；
however； Danny Lund became important； and every one listened to him。
He had seen； he said； a pair of eyes moving down in a cave of the
rocks which he well knew。 He had been in the cave often； he said；
and could get there again。 But not now； not while that pair of eyes
was moving at the bottom of it。 And so they all went up over the
hill； Morton leading the way with hot haste。 In his waist…band he
held a pistol； and his hand grasped a short iron bar with which he
had armed himself。 They ascended the top of the hill； and when
there； the open sea was before them on two sides； and on the third
was the narrow creek over which the ferry passed。 Immediately
beneath their feet were the broken rocks； for on that side； towards
the sea； the earth and grass of the hill descended but a little way
towards the water。 Down among the rocks they all went； silently；
Caleb Morton leading the way； and Danny Lund directing him from
behind。
〃Mr。 Morton；〃 said an elderly man from St。 George； 〃had you not
better let the warders of the gaol go first； he is a desperate man；
and they will best understand his ways？〃
In answer to this Morton said nothing； but he would let no one put a
foot before him。 He still pressed forward among the rocks； and at
last came to a spot from whence he might have sprung at one leap
into the ocean。 It was a broken cranny on the sea…shore into which
the sea beat； and surrounded on every side but the one by huge
broken fragments of stone； which at first sight seemed as though
they would have admitted of a path down among them to the water's
edge； but which； when scanned more closely； were seen to be so large
in size； that no man could climb from one to another。 It was a
singularly romantic spot； but now well known to them all there； for
they had visited it over and over again that morning。
〃In there；〃 said Danny Lund； keeping well behind Morton's body； and
pointing at the same time to a cavern high up among the rocks； but
quite on the opposite side of the little inlet of the sea。 The
mouth of the cavern was not twenty yards from where they stood； but
at the first sight it seemed as though it must be impossible to
reach it。 The precipice on the brink of which they all now stood；
ran down sheer into the sea； and the fall from the mouth of the
cavern on the other side was as steep。 But Danny solved the mystery
by pointing upwards； and showing them how he had been used to climb
to a projecting rock over their heads； and from thence creep round
by certain vantages of the stone till he was able to let himself
down into the aperture。 But now； at the present moment； he was
unwilling to make essay of his prowess as a cragsman。 He had； he
said； been up on that projecting rock thrice； and there had seen the
eyes moving in the cavern。 He was quite sure of that fact of the
pair of eyes； and declined to ascend the rock again。
Traces soon became visible to them by which they knew that some one
had passed in and out of the cavern recently。 The stone； when
examined； bore those marks of friction which passage and repassage
over it will always give。 At the spot from whence the climber left
the platform and commenced his ascent； the side of the stone had
been rubbed by the close friction of a man's body。 A light boy like
Danny Lund might find his way in and out without leaving such marks
behind him； but no heavy man could do so。 Thus before long they all
were satisfied that Aaron Trow was in the cavern before them。
Then there was a long consultation as to what they would do to carry
on the hunt； and how they would drive the tiger from his lair。 That
he should not again come out； except to fall into their hands； was
to all of them a matter of course。 They would keep watch and ward
there； though it might be for days and nights。 But that was a
process which did not satisfy Morton； and did not indeed well
satisfy any of them。 It was not only that they desired to inflict
punishment on the miscreant in accordance with the law； but also
that they did not desire that the miserable man should die in a hole
like a starved dog； and that then they should go after him to take
out his wretched skeleton。 There was something in that idea so
horrid in every way； that all agreed that active steps must be
taken。 The warders of the prison felt that they would all be
disgraced if they could not take their prisoner alive。 Yet who
would get round that perilous ledge in the face of such an
adversary？ A touch to any man while climbing there would send him
headlong down among the wave！ And then his fancy told to each what
might be the nature of an embrace with such an animal as that；
driven to despair； hopeless of life； armed； as they knew； at any
rate； with a knife！ If the first adventurous spirit should succeed
in crawling round that ledge； what would be the reception which he
might expect in the terrible depth of that cavern？
They called to their prisoner； bidding him come out； and telling him
that they would fire in upon him if he did not show himself； but not
a sound was heard。 It was indeed possible that they should send
their bullets to； perhaps； every corner of the cavern； and if so； in
that way they might slaughter him； but even of this they were not
sure。 Who could tell that there might not be some protected nook in
which he could lay secure？ And who could tell when the man was
struck； or whether he were wounded？
〃I will get to him；〃 said Morton； speaking with a low dogged voice；
and so saying he clambered up to the rock to which Danny Lund had
pointed。 Many voices at once attempted to restrain him； and one or
two put their hands upon him to keep him back； but he was too quick
for them； and now stood upon the ledge of rock。 〃Can you see him？〃
they asked below。
〃I can see nothing within the cavern；〃 said Morton。
〃Look down very hard； Massa；〃 said Danny； 〃very hard indeed； down in
deep dark hole； and then see him big eyes moving！〃
Morton now crept along the ledge； or rather he was beginning to do
so； having put forward his shoulders and arms to make a first step
in advance from the spot on which he was resting； when a hand was
put forth from one corner of the cavern's mouth；a hand armed with
a pistol；and a shot was fired。 There could be no doubt now but
that Danny Lund was right； and no doubt now as to the whereabouts of
Aaron Trow。
A hand was put forth； a pistol was fired； and Caleb Morton still
clinging to a corner of the rock with both his arms was seen to
falter。 〃He is wounded；〃 said one of the voices from below； and
then they all expected to see him fall into the sea。 But he did not
fall； and after a moment or two； he proceeded carefully to pick his
steps along the ledge。 The ball had touched him； grazing his cheek；
and cutting through the light whiskers that he wore； but he had not
felt it； though the blow had nearly knocked him from his perch。 And
then four or five shots were fired from the rocks into the mouth of
the cavern。 The man's arm had been seen； and indeed one or two
declared that they had traced the dim outline of his figure。 But no
sound was heard to come from the cavern； except the sharp crack of
the bullets against the rock； and the echo of the gunpowder。 There
had been no groan as of a man wounded； no sound of a body falling；
no voice wailing in despair。 For a few seconds all was dark with
the smoke of the gunpowder； and then the empty mouth of the cave was
again yawning before their eyes。 Morton was now near it； still
cautiously creeping。 The first danger to which he was exposed was
this； that his enemy within the recess might push him down from the
rocks with a touch。 But on the other hand； there were three or four
men ready to fire； the moment that a hand shoul