“We didna find anybody in the cave.”

“That is strange,” said Mr. Thomson.  “Then you saw nothing of Ericson in the cave?”

“Nothing, sir, until I saw him in the Clasper’s pinnace.”

“Of course we are to understand,” observed Bailie Duke, “that Ericson might hide in the cave without being discovered by the smugglers.  Lieutenant Fox had better be questioned about his manner of arresting the lad;” and he looked towards the officer.

Mr. Fox bent forward in his chair and said:  “I first saw Ericson in the cave when, as I believe, he saved my life by knocking a pistol from Carver Kinlay’s hand.  I believe the lad was in there before the crew of the St. Magnus.”

“Then that is proof sufficient that Ericson was hiding,” said Mr. Thomson with an air of triumph.

“Halcro! come forward, will you?” said Mr. Duke, “and stand beside Kinlay.”

I did as he requested, and then I was required to take the oath as Kinlay had taken it.  Mr. Thomson looked satisfied.

“Tell us, Ericson,” said Bailie Duke, taking a pinch of snuff, and then bending forward with his elbows on the table, “tell us this:  When you bravely, and at the risk of breaking your neck, climbed down the North Gaulton Cliff to render assistance, as you supposed, to Thora Kinlay, did you find anyone in the cave?”

“Yes, Mr. Duke,” I answered with directness, “I found Tom Kinlay.  He was alone and asleep.”

“You descended the cliff without the aid of ropes, I believe?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you know any other lad in Pomona who could have done such a thing?  Kinlay, there, for instance?”

“He might have done it, sir, but not in winter.”

“How, then, do you account for Kinlay getting into the cave?”

“I suppose, sir, that he had my ropes;” and I pointed to the coil of rope on the table.

“Now, further, do you recognize this gun?”

“Yes; it is mine.”

“When did you last use it?”

“Two days before I went away in the Falcon, more than two months since.”

There was a pause here and a passing of the snuffbox.  Bailie Duke then turned to Kinlay, holding the viking’s stone in his fingers.

“Have you ever had this curious stone in your possession, Kinlay?” he asked.

“Yes; I got it from my sister,” replied Tom.

“Ericson,” asked Mr. Duke, “how came the stone in your possession on Saturday?”

“Jessie and I found it at the head of the Cliff,” I said.  “It was that which made me believe that Thora was in the cave.  She got the stone from me before I went away, and I thought she had maybe dropped it as she was getting over the cliff.”

“But what on earth could the lass want in the cave?” asked Mr. Thomson.

“She was unhappy at home,” I explained, “and had threatened to run away.  I supposed she had taken refuge in the cave.”