Moonfleet
One afternoon of the year 1795, John Trenchard, 15, by chance discovers a secret passage in the graveyard of the village of Moonfleet (South England). Later that night, he returns with a candle to explore the secret passage.
I kept in the shadows as I walked along the streets. Everyone was asleep in Moonfleet, and there were no lights in any of the windows except the inn. When I reached the graveyard, I began to feel afraid. I looked at the hole under the stone, and I didn’t know whether to go on or go back. Then, to my surprise, I saw a boat lying near the shore. It was strange for a boat to be in Moonfleet Bay so late at night. Then, I saw a blue light on the boat, and I knew it was the smugglers’ boat, and that they were giving a signal to someone on the shore. I took one last look round and entered the hole.
Holding my candle high up in front of me, I walked down the passage. At last, I came to a stone wall which someone had built across the passage, but which was now broken to make a door. I stood still and wondered what kind of place I had come to.
I went through and found myself in a large room. In the middle of the room were a great number of boxes and barrels full of smuggled goods. I had found the smugglers’ storeroom !