Sir Francis laughed.
"It's strange," he said, "what interest boys always have taken in smugglers, pirates, and brigand stories.

Why, you're as bad as the rest, boy! But there, I'm running away from your question.

Yes, I believe there were pirates here at one time; but it is over a hundred years ago, and they were a crew of low, ruffianly scoundrels, who got possession of a vessel and lived for years by plundering the outward and inward bound merchantmen; and being on a fast sailing vessel they always escaped by running for shore, and from their knowledge of the rocks and currents they could sail where strangers dared not follow.

But the whole history has been dressed up tremendously, and made romantic.

It was said that they brought supernatural aid to bear in navigating their craft, and that they would sail right up to the Crag and then become invisible: people would see them one minute and they'd be gone the next." "Hah!" ejaculated Mike, and his father smiled.