MOONFLEET

Deep in the shadow of R.L.S., both for style and material, is this 18th century tale of smuggling, storied treasure and the adventures therefrom. Orphaned John Trenthard happens on the secret of the Mohune tombs, is befriended by the master of the inn, Elzevir, who heads up the contrabandiers, and flees with him when they are caught in a last smuggling of liquor. Fending for themselves they discover the code that leads them to the discovery of the Mohuns diamond, in disguise escape to Holland, where they are arrested when they try to recover it from the merchant who pronounced it paste. Broken, branded convicts they are returned to Moonfleet when their slave-ship is wrecked, and Klzevir gives his life to save John. The Dorsetshire coast, contraband stored in burial vaults, two villains and a subdued romance keep this in the rhythm and ring of period derring-do.