"You wouldn't do your share." That evening after tea they kept their word.

Vince handed Mike his two-and-fourpence-halfpenny, and Mike gave him the five shillings which he was to pay.
They found the old man standing outside his cottage, with his old spy-glass under his arm, waiting for them, and apparently he had been filling up the time by watching three or four vessels out in the offing.
"Let's have a look, Joe," said Vince, as soon as the business was over and the money lodged in a pocket, access to which was obtained by the old man throwing himself to the left nearly off his balance, and crooking his arm high up till he could get his fingers into the opening.
The telescope was handed rather reluctantly, and Vince focussed it to suit his sight as he brought it to bear on one of the vessels.
"Brig, isn't she, Joe ?" said Vince.
"Ay, my lad; looks like a collier." "Schooner," said Vince; and then, running the glass along the horizon, he took a long look at a small, smart-looking vessel in full sail, her canvas being bright in the evening glow.
"Why, she's a cutter!" said Vince, rather excitedly: "Revenue cutter." "Nay, nay, my lad, only a yawrt." "I don't think she is, Joe; I believe it's a king's ship." "Tchah! what would she be doing yonder ?" "I don't know," said Vince.
"Done with my glass ?" growled the old man.
"Directly," replied Vince; and he swept the sea again.
"Hullo!" he said suddenly: "Frenchman." "Eh?
Where ?" said Daygo quickly.
"Right away, miles off the North Point." The old man took the glass, altered the focus again, and took a long, searching look.
"Bah!" he exclaimed; "that's not a Frenchman, my lads," and he closed the glass with a smart crack.

"I say, lookye here." He led the way to the door, grinning tremendously, and pointed in to where, hanging over the fireplace, was the piece of well-tarred rope, hanging by a loop made of fishing line.
"Ready when wanted--eh ?" The boys laughed and went off soon after towards home.
"Five shillings worse off," said Mike, when they parted for the night; "but I'm glad we got out of all that so easily .-- I say, Cinder!" "Well ?" "It would have been rather awkward if he'd taken it the other way and been in a rage." "Very," said Vince, before whose eyes the two feet of rope seemed to loom out of the evening gloom.
"And it would have been all your fault." "Yes," said Vince shortly.

"Good-night: I want to get home." They parted, and as he walked back Vince could not help thinking a good deal about the previous afternoon's experience, and he shook his head more than once before beginning to think of the cavern..