“In the Queen’s name, I arrest you, Carver Kinlay!” said the officer in a firm, loud voice.

“Not so easily,” said Kinlay, who was evidently determined not to surrender himself without resistance; and planting one foot firmly on the little bridge which spanned the stream, he drew a large revolver and pointed it full at the lieutenant’s head.

Standing very near to him, in a dark crevice at his right hand, I saw the movement.  I saw Carver’s eyes flash in the torchlight, and just as the click of the trigger sounded I sprang quickly forward and knocked the man’s hand upward.  The shot rattled among the stalactites of the roof, and the report filled the cavern with deafening noise.

Kinlay was utterly taken aback by what happened, and as the weapon fell from his hand and dropped into the deep water, he turned instinctively to see who had attacked him.  Two of the cutter’s men thereupon crossed the planks and encountered him on the large flat rock whence the casks had been taken, while I made my way past them.

I was walking coolly over the little bridge, with my extinguished lantern in my hand, when the lieutenant stepped forward and took me by the collar.

“Aha, youngster!” he exclaimed, “I’ve seen you before.  You’ve done me a good turn, but I must take you nevertheless.”

And he retained his hold of my jacket, giving directions to his men the while.

I made a gentle protest, showing no resistance, and stood by the officer, looking excitedly at the scuffle that ensued between the smugglers and the revenue men.  Tom Kinlay had already been seized and dragged off to the cutter’s boat.  One of the smugglers had retreated to the inner recesses of the cave, taking refuge in the darkness, and the three others were having a severe fight with the sailors, using large knives in their defence.

Two of them were speedily overpowered, one of them receiving a serious wound in his side, the other a great cut across his cheek.  They were both taken to the boat, and there kept under strict guard.  The third man managed to get over to Kinlay.

Carver, on losing his pistol, had taken out his sheath knife, and armed with this he fought with furious determination, standing with his back against a wall of rock.  One of his antagonists, in trying to lay hold of his hand, was badly cut, and the other disabled by a blow in the face.  But when Carver was joined by his comrade there was a rush of the cutter’s men across the bridge, and the smugglers were finally conquered.

They had yet to be brought over to the outer side of the stream, however, and this was a work of no small difficulty.  A couple of the sailors walked over the narrow planks, one before and one behind their prisoner, who made an unsuccessful attempt to break loose.

Then Carver was brought to the bridge in a similar manner; and he also attempted to escape by making a spring forward when he reached the middle of the planks.  His captors, however, were ready for him.  The man behind him had held his two hands, and when by main force he got his right hand free, the sailor held with such a tight grip to the other that Carver was pulled round and he overbalanced himself.