The Buccaneer - A Tale

Immediately as the moonlight was left behind, the cavern became high and

arched, as if either Nature, or some skilful workman under her

superintendence, had foreseen to what important purposes it might be

applied. Huge masses of flint, and still larger fragments of granite,

were scattered about as if by giant hands, yet without any seeming

attention to order or regularity. The initiated, however, well knew that

such was not the case. Burrell, immediately on entering, proceeded to

the farther extremity, and kneeling, placed his mouth to the ground, and

gave a loud sharp whistle: he then stood erect, at a little distance

from the spot on which he had knelt. Presently what appeared a lump of

grey stone, moved upwards, then aside, and the head and shoulders of a

man from beneath sprang into its place so suddenly as to have appeared

the work of magic. He leaned a little on one side, to permit Burrell to

descend; and the next minute the cavern seemed as if no human step had

ever disturbed its solitude. Six or eight rugged stairs brought the

knight into a low but spacious apartment, from which there was no

apparent exit except by an arched doorway, where the commencement of a

spiral ascent was visible, leading almost perpendicularly into the

secret room of the widow Hays' small hostelry, in which our acquaintance

Jack Roupall and his friends had been concealed, and which, it may be

here stated, served other purposes than to afford comfort and

entertainment to the wayfarer.

It may also be observed, that, if at any time the widow's house was

suspected of harbouring dangerous or outlawed persons, and consequent

search was made under its roof, those to whom concealment was either

convenient or necessary had a ready sanctuary in the cavern beneath,

where they might either tarry until assured of safety, or whence they

could easily escape on board one of the free traders which rarely passed

a week without a call of inquiry at some point along the coast. The

cavern was, therefore, known to many, for many were they to whom it had

been a shelter and a safeguard. Not so the inner temple (if we may so

apply the term), to which Burrell now sought admission through a door

with the nature of which only some half a dozen were acquainted. To them

the secret had necessarily been confided, but under the most awful oaths

of secrecy, and a terrible pledge that the life of him who might reveal

it, was to be at all times, and in all places, at the disposal of any

one of those who shared with him a knowledge so fearful.