27
　　A lot of things are made clear
　　‘I’ve got some weird¹ things to tell you,’ said Jack² eagerly. ‘First of all, whatdo you think I found? A cave absolutely chock full of money – papermoney – notes, you know. Well, I should think there must have beenthousands and thousands of pounds’ worth there – you’ve simply no idea.’
　　‘Ah,’ said Bill Smugs, in a voice full of satisfaction. ‘Ah! Now that reallyis news. Fine, Jack!’
　　‘Then I saw a lot of machines at work,’ went on Jack, pleased to find thathis news was so intensely interesting to Bill. ‘And an engine. I thought itwas to smelt³ or roast the copper⁴, or whatever they have to do with it, butone of the machines looked like a printing-press.’
　　‘Ah-ha! said Bill, with even greater satisfaction in his voice. ‘This iswonderful news. Amazing! Jack, you’ve solved a five-year-old mystery – amystery that has been puzzling the Government and the whole of the policefor a long time.’
　　‘What mystery?’ asked Jack.
　　‘I bet I know,’ put in Philip excitedly. ‘Bill, that machinery⁵ is for printingfalse paper money, isn’t it? – counterfeit⁶ notes – dud money. And themoney, in notes, that Jack found, is stored there after being printed. It willbe taken from this island and used by the crooks⁷ or their masters.’
　　‘You’ve just about hit it,’ said Bill. ‘We’ve been after this gang for years– couldn’t find where they had their printing-outfit installed – couldn’tmake out where the money appeared from. It’s excellently done – only anexpert can tell the difference between a real bank-note and these dud ones.’
　　‘Bill! So the men aren’t working the copper mines then!’ cried Jack, inastonishment. ‘We were wrong about that. They chose these old mines, notto work any copper in them, but to hide their printing machines, and to doall their work in safety. How clever! How

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