Cutlass and Cudgel, by George Manville Fenn. 

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In some ways this book is reminiscent of "The Lost Middy", by the sameauthor, but I suppose that with a similar theme, a nosey midshipmantaken prisoner by a gang of smugglers, there are bound to be otherpoints of similarity. Anyway, it is a good fast-moving story, withlots of well-drawn human interest. 

It starts off with a comic scene, where the Excise patrol vessel iscruising near an area suspected of being heavily involved withsmuggling. Suddenly a large object is seen swimming in the water, and itturns out to be a cow. Then there's all the business of milking the cowon the deck of a sailing-vessel. Pretty soon, however it gets serious, and we meet various characters living nearby. Soon the inquisitivemidshipman is taken prisoner, and it falls to another teenager, the sonof one of the chief rogues, to bring him food. Both boys becomefriendly with each other, but the midshipman can only express it byappearing to hate the farm-fisher boy, whom he considers to be sociallyfar beneath him. The farm-boy tries so hard to be kind to themidshipman, who is so rude in return. 

Eventually the midshipman escapes, the smugglers are caught, and thefarm-boy becomes a seaman on the Excise vessel. NH_______________________________________________________________________

CUTLASS AND CUDGEL, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

"Heigh-Ho-Ha-Hum! Oh dear me!"

"What's matter, sir?"

"Matter, Dirty Dick? Nothing; only, heigh-ho-ha! Oh dear me, howsleepy I am!"

"Well, sir, I wouldn't open my mouth like that 'ere, 'fore the sun'sup. "

"Why not?"

"No knowing what you might swallow off this here nasty, cold, foggy, stony coast. "

"There you go again, Dick; not so good as Lincolnshire coast, Isuppose?"

"As good, sir? Why, how can it be?" said the broad, sturdy sailoraddressed. "Nothin' but great high stony rocks, full o' beds of greatflat periwinkles and whelks; nowhere to land, nothin' to see. I amsurprised at you, sir. Why, there arn't a morsel o' sand. "

"For not praising your nasty old flat sandy shore, with its marshbeyond, and its ague and bogs and fens. "

"Wish I was 'mong 'em now, sir. Wild ducks there, as is fit to eat, notiley fishy things like these here. "

"Oh, bother! Wish I could have had another hour or two's sleep. I say, Dirty Dick, are you sure the watch wasn't called too soon?"

"Nay, sir, not a bit; and, beggin' your pardon, sir, if you wouldn'tmind easin' off the Dirty--Dick's much easier to say. "

"Oh, very well, Dick. Don't be so thin-skinned about a nickname. "

"That's it, sir. I arn't a bit thin-skinned. Why, my skin's as thickas one of our beasts. I can't help it lookin' brown. Washes myselfdeal more than some o' my mates as calls me dirty. Strange and curioushow a name o' that kind sticks. "

"Oh, I say, don't talk so, " said the lad by the rough sailor's side; andafter another yawn he began to stride up and down the deck of HisMajesty's cutter _White Hawk_, lying about a mile from the Freestonecoast of Wessex. 

It was soon after daybreak, the sea was perfectly calm and a thick greymist hung around, making the deck and cordage wet and the air chilly, while the coast, with its vast walls of perpendicular rocks, lookedweird and distant where a peep could be obtained amongst the wreaths ofvapour. 

"Don't know when I felt so hungry, " muttered the lad, as he thrust hishands into his breeches pockets, and stopped near the sailor, who smiledin the lad's frank-looking, handsome face. 

"Ah, you always were a one to yeat, sir, ever since you first cameaboard. "

"You're a noodle, Dick. Who wouldn't be hungry, fetched out of his cotat this time of the morning to take the watch. Hang the watch! Botherthe watch! Go and get me a biscuit, Dick, there's a good fellow. "

The sailor showed his white teeth, and took out a brass box. 

"Can't get no biscuit yet, sir. Have a bit o' this. Keeps off thegnawin's wonderful. "

"Yah! Who's going to chew tobacco!" cried the lad with a look ofdisgust, as he buttoned up his uniform jacket. "Oh, hang it all, I wishthe sun would come out!"

"Won't be long, sir; and then all this sea-haar will go. "

"Why don't you say mist?" cried the lad contemptuously. 

"'Acause it's sea-haar, and you can't make nowt else on it, sir!"

"They haven't seen anything of them in the night, I suppose?"

"No, sir; nowt. It scars me sometimes, the way they dodges us, and getsaway. Don't think theer's anything queer about 'em, do you?"

"Queer? Yes, of course. They're smugglers, and as artful as can be. "

"Nay, sir, bad, I mean--you know, sir. "

"No, I don't, Dick, " cried the young officer pettishly. "How can Iknow? Speak out. "

"Nay, I wean't say a word, sir; I don't want to get more scarred than Iam sometimes now. "

"Get out! What do you mean? That old Bogey helps them to run theircargoes?"

"Nay, sir, I wean't say a word. It's all werry well for you to laugh, now it's daylight, and the sun coming out. It's when it's all black aspitch, as it takes howd on you worst. "

"You're a great baby, Dick, " cried the midshipman, as he went to theside of the cutter and looked over the low bulwark toward the east. "Hah! Here comes the sun. "

His eyes brightened as he welcomed the coming of the bright orb, invisible yet from where he stood; but the cold grey mist that hungaround was becoming here and there, in patches, shot with a softdelicious rosy hue, which made the grey around turn opalescent rapidly, beginning to flash out pale yellow, which, as the middy watched, deepened into orange and gold. 

"Lovely!" he said aloud, as he forgot in the glory of the scene thediscomfort he had felt. 

"Tidy, sir, pooty tidy, " said the sailor, who had come slowly up towhere he stood. "And you should see the morning come over our coast, sir. Call this lovely? Why, if you'd sin the sun rise there, it wouldmak' you stand on your head. "

"Rather see this on my feet, Dick, " cried the lad. "Look at that!Hurrah! Up she comes!"

Up "she"--otherwise the sun--did come, rolling slowly above themist-covered sea, red, swollen, huge, and sending blood-tinted raysthrough and through the haze to glorify the hull, sails, and rigging ofthe smart cutter, and make the faces of the man at the helm and theother watchers glow as with new health. 

The effect was magical. Just before all was cold and grey, and theclinging mist sent a shiver through those on deck; now, their eyesbrightened with pleasure, as the very sight of the glowing orb seemed tohave a warming--as it certainly had an enlivening--effect. 

The great wreaths of mist yielded rapidly as the sun rose higher, therays shooting through and through, making clear roads which flashed withlight, and, as the clouds rolled away like the grey smoke of the sun'sfire, the distant cliffs, which towered up steep and straight, like sometitanic wall, came peering out now in patches bright with green andgolden grey. 

Archibald Raystoke--midshipman aboard His Majesty the king's cutter, stationed off the Freestone coast, to put a stop to the doings of asmuggler whose career the Government had thought it high time tonotice--drew in a long breath, and forgot all about hunger and cold inthe promise of a glorious day. 

It was impossible to think of such trifling things in the full burst ofso much beauty, for, as the sun rose higher, the sea, which had beenblood-red and golden, began to turn of a vivid blue deeper than theclear sky overhead; the mist wreaths grew thinner and more transparent, and the pearly glistening foam, which followed the breaking of each waveat the foot of the mighty cliffs, added fresh beauty to the gloriousscene. 

"Look here, Dirty Dick, " began the middy, who burst out into a heartyfit of laughter as he saw the broad-shouldered sailor give his face arub with the back of his hands, and look at them one after the other. 

"Does it come off, Dick?" he said. 

"Nay, sir; nothin' comes off, " said the man dolefully. "'Tis my naturtoo, but it seems werry hard to be called dirty, when you arn't. "

"There, I beg pardon, Dick, and I will not call you so any more. "

"Thankye, sir; I s'pose you mean it, but you'll let it out again soon asyou forget. "

"No, I will not, Dick. But, I say, look here: you are a cheat, though, are you not?"

"Me, sir? No!" cried the man excitedly. 

"I mean about the Lincolnshire coast. Confess it isn't half sobeautiful as this. "

"Oh, yes it is, sir. It's so much flatter. Why, you can't hardly finda place to land here, without getting your boat stove in. "

"If all's true, the smugglers know how to land things, " said Archibald, as he gazed thoughtfully at the cliffs. 

"Oh, them! O' course, sir, they can go up the cliffs, and over 'em likeflies in sugar basins. They get a spar over the edge, with a reg'larpulley, and lets down over the boats, and then up the kegs and balescomes. "

"Ah, well, we must catch them at it some day, Dick, and then there'll belots o' prize-money for you all. "

"And for you too, sir; officers comes first. But we arn't got the prizeyet, and it's my belief as we shan't get it. "

"Why?"

"Because it seems to me as there's something not all right about thesehere craft. "

"Of course there is, they are smugglers. "

"Yes, sir, and worse too. If they was all right, we shouldn't ha' beencruising 'bout here seven weeks, and never got a sight o' one of 'em, when we know they've been here all the time. "

"I don't understand you, Dick, " said the middy, as he watched the goingand coming of the rock pigeons which flew straight for the cliff, seemedto pass right in, and then dashed out. 

"Well, sir, I can't explain it. Them there's things as you can'texplain, nor nobody else can't. "

He wrinkled up his face and shook his head, as if there were a greatdeal more behind. 

"Now, what are you talking about, Dick?" cried the lad. "You don't meanthat the smuggler's a sort of ghost, and his lugger's all fancy?"

"Well, not exactly, sir, because if they was, they couldn't carry realcargoes, which wouldn't be like the smuggler and his lugger, sir, and, of course, then the kegs and lace wouldn't be no good. But there's abit something wrong about these here people, and all the men thinks sotoo. "

"More shame for them!" said the middy quickly. "Hi! Look there, Dick;what's that?"

He seized the sailor by the shoulder, and pointed where, some fivehundred yards away, close under the cliff, but on the rise of the lineof breakers, there was something swimming slowly along. 

Dick shaded his eyes, for no reason whatever, the sun being at his back, and gazed at the object in the water. 

"'Tarnt a porpus, " he said thoughtfully. 

"As if I didn't know that, " cried the lad; and, running aft, hedescended into the cabin, and returned with a glass, which he focussedand gazed through at the object rising steadily and falling with theheave of the sea. 

"See her, sir?"

"Yes, " answered the middy, with his glass at his eye. "It's a bullockor a cow. "

"Werry like, sir. There is sea-cows, I've heared. "

"Oh, but this isn't one of them. I believe it's a real cow, Dick. "

"Not she, sir. Real cows lives in Lincolnshire, and feeds on grass. Inever see 'em go in the sea, only halfway up their legs in ponds, andstand a-waggin' their tails to keep off the flies. This here's asea-cow, sir, sartin. "

"It's a cow, Dick; and it has tumbled off the cliff, and is swimming forits life, " said the lad, closing the glass. 

The sailor chuckled. 

"What are you laughing at?"

"At you, sir, beggin' your pardon. But you don't think as how a cowwould be such a fool as to tumble off a cliff. Humans might, but cowsis too cunning. "

"I don't believe you would be, " cried the lad smartly. "Put you upthere in such a fog as we've had, and where would you be?"

"Fast asleep in the first snug corner I could find, " said the sailor, asthe midshipman ran aft, and descended into the cabin, to go to the endand tap on a door. 

There was no answer, and he tapped again. 

"Hullo!"

"Beg pardon, sir, " began the midshipman. 

"Granted! Be off, and don't bother me again. "

There was a rustling sound, and a deep-toned breathing, that some rudepeople would have called a snore. The midshipman looked puzzled, hesitated, and then knocked again. 

There came a smothered roar, like that of an angry beast. 

"Beg pardon, sir. "

"Who's that?"

"Raystoke, sir. "

"What do you want? Am I never to have a night's rest again?"

All this in smothered tones, as if the speaker was shut up in a cupboardwith a blanket over his head. 

"Wouldn't have troubled you, sir, but--"

"Smugglers in sight?"

"No, sir; it's a cow. "

"A what?"

"Cow, sir, overboard. "

"Quite right. Milk and water, " came in muffled tones. 

"Beg pardon, sir, what shall I do?"

"Go and milk her, and don't bother me. "

"But she's swimming under the cliff, sir. "

"Go and ask her on board, then. Be off!"

Archy Raystoke knew his commanding officer's ways, and after waiting afew moments, he said softly, after giving a tap or two on the panel--

"Shall I take the boat and get her aboard?"

There was a loud rustle; a bang as if some one had struck the bulkheadwith his elbow, and then a voice roared--

"Look here, sir, if you don't be off and let me finish my sleep, I'lllet go at you through the door. You're in charge of the deck. Go anddo what's right, and don't bother me. "

_Bang_!

Another blow on the bulkhead, and rustling noise, and, as well as if hehad seen it all, Archy knew that his officer had snuggled down under theclothes, and gone to sleep. 

But he had the permission, and calling to a couple of the crew, he soonhad the small boat in the water, with Dick and another man pullingtowards where the cow was slowly swimming here and there, with its wetnose and two horns a very short distance above the surface. 

"Now, then, Dick, is it a sea-cow?" cried Archy, as they drew nearer. 

"Well, sir, what else can it be?"

"Ah, you obstinate!" cried the lad. "Now, then, what are we going todo? We can't land her, " he continued, looking up at the towering cliff, "and, of course, we can't take her in the boat. "

"I'll soon manage that, " said Dick, leaving his rowing to take up a coilof rope he had thrown into the boat, and make a running noose. 

"Yes, but--"

"It's all right, sir. Get this over her horns, and we can tow heralongside, and hyste her on deck in no time. "

The cow proved that she was accustomed to man, for, as the boatapproached, she swam slowly to meet it, raising her nose a little toutter a loud bellow, as if glad to welcome the help. So quiet andgentle was the poor creature, that there was no difficulty in passingthe noose over her horns, making the line fast to a ring-bolt, so as tokeep her head well above the surface, and then Dick resumed his oar; andafter a glance round to make sure that there was no place where the poorbeast could be landed, Archie gave the order for them to row back towhere the cutter lay in the bright sunshine, five hundred yards from theshore. 

He looked in vain, for at the lowest part the green edge of the cliffwas a couple of hundred feet above the level of the sea, and right andleft of him the mighty walls of rock rose up, four, five, and even sixhundred feet, and for the most part with a sheer descent to the waterwhich washed their feet. 

The cow took to her journey very kindly, helping the progress byswimming till they were alongside the cutter, where the men on deck werelooking over the low side, and grinning with amusement. 

"Pull her horns off, sir!" said Dick, in answer to a question, as heproceeded to pass the rope through a block, "not it. "

"But hadn't we better have a line round her?"

"If you want to cut her 'most in two, sir. We'll soon have her onboard. "

Dick was as good as his word, for the task was easy with a vessel so lowin the water as the cutter; and in a few minutes the unfortunate cow wasstanding dripping on deck. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

"Can any one of you men milk?" said Lieutenant Brough, a littleplump-looking man, of about five and thirty, as he stood in navaluniform staring at the new addition to His Majesty's cutter _WhiteHawk_, a well-fed dun cow, which stood steadily swinging her long tailto and fro, where she was tethered to the bulwarks, after vainly tryingto make a meal off the well holystoned deck. 

There was no reply, the men grinning one at the other, on hearing sonovel a question. "Do you men mean to say that not one amongst you canmilk?" cried the lieutenant. 

No one had spoken; but now, in a half-shrinking foolish way, Dick pulledhis forelock, and made a kick out behind. 

"You can?" cried the lieutenant, "that's right; get a bucket and milkher. I'll have some for breakfast. "

"Didn't say as I could milk, sir, " said Dick. "Seen 'em milk, though, down in Linkyshire, and know how it's done. "

"Then, of course, you can do it, " said the lieutenant shortly; "looksharp!"

The men grinned, and Dirty Dick by no means looked sharp, butexceedingly blunt and foolish as he shuffled along the deck, providedhimself with a bucket, and then approached the cow, which had suddenlybegan chewing the cud. 

"Look at her, mate, " said one of the sailors. 

"What for?" said the man addressed. 

"Some one's been giving her a quid o' bacca. "

"Go on. "

"But some one has. Look at her chewing. "

"Why, so she is!" said the sailor, scratching his head, as he watchedthe regular actions of the cow's jaw, as she stood blinking her eyes, and swinging her tail to and fro, apparently quite content; the more so, that the sun was shining upon her warmly, and the sea water rapidlyquitting her skin for the deck, where it made a rivulet into one of thescuppers. 

Jack the sailor is easily pleased, for the simple reason that anythingis a relief from the tedium of life on ship-board; consequently thecoming of the cow was like a half-holiday to them at the wrong end ofthe day, and they stood about nudging each other, as Dirty Dick trottedup with his bucket, Archy looking on as much amused as the men. 

The cow blinked her eyes, and turned her head to smell at the bucketwhich Dick set down on the deck, and stood scratching his head. 

"Well, sir, go on, " said the lieutenant--"Seems to me, now, MrRaystoke, that we ought to have cream and fresh butter. Capital prizeyou've taken. --Do you hear, sir? Go on. "

"Yes, sir. Beg pardon, sir, but you see I wants something to sit on. 'Nother bucket. "

"You, sir, fetch another bucket, " said the lieutenant sharply; andanother was brought, turned upside down, and, taking the first bucket, amidst the titterings of the men, Dick seated himself, leaned his headagainst the cow's side, placed the vessel between his legs, and began tooperate in true dairyman style upon the cow. 

_Whack_! _Bang_! _Clatter_!

There was a tremendous roar of laughter from every one on board exceptfrom Dirty Dick, who was down on his back a couple of yards away, staring at the cow as if wondering how she could have gone off as shedid. For the quiet-looking, inoffensive beast was standing perfectlystill again, blinking her eyes and chewing her cud, but writhing andtwisting her tail about as if it were an eel, after, at Dick's firsttouch, raising one of her hind legs and sending the pail flying acrossthe deck and the would-be milker backwards. 

"Come, come, " said the lieutenant, wiping his eyes and trying to lookvery important and stern, "that's not the right way, my man. Tryagain. "

Dick rose unwillingly, planted the upturned bucket once more in itsplace, and took the milking bucket from one of the men who had picked itup. Then, sitting down again rather nervously, he once more placed thevessel between his legs, stuck his head against the cow's side, andprepared to milk. 

_Whack_!

The bucket flew along the deck again, and Dick bounded away, savinghimself from falling this time as he was prepared, and made a suddenleap backwards to stand wiping the perspiration from his forehead. 

There was another roar of laughter, and the lieutenant bade Dick tryagain. 

The man gave his officer an appealing look which seemed to say, "Tell meto board the enemy, sir, and I'll go, but don't ask me to do this. "

"Come; be smart!"

Dick turned, glanced wistfully at Archy, shaking his head at himreproachfully, sighed, and, taking the bucket again, he looked into itwith his rugged brown face full of despair. 

"It's quite empty, Dick, " said the middy, laughing. 

"Yes, sir; there's nowt in it, and, " he added to himself, "not like tobe. "

Again he settled himself into his place in as businesslike a way as afarm lad would who was accustomed to the cow-shed, but the moment hebegan the cow gave her tail a swing, lifted her leg, and planted it inthe bucket, holding it down on the deck. 

"Pail's full, " cried Archy; and the men yelled with delight, theirofficer vainly trying to control his own mirth as Dick began to pat andapostrophise the cow. 

"Coom, coom! Coosh, cow, then, " he said soothingly. "Tak' thy leg ooto' the boocket, my bairn;" and to the astonishment of all present thecow lifted her leg and set it down again on deck. 

"Well done, my lad, " cried the lieutenant. "Now, then, look sharp withthe milk. "

Dick sighed, wiped his hands down the sides of his breeches, and beganonce more, but at the first touch of the big strong hands accustomed tohandle capstan-bars and haul ropes, the cow gave a more vigorous kickthan ever; away flew the bucket, and over went Dick on his back. 

He sprung up angrily now in the midst of the laughter, and touched hisforehead to his commanding officer. 

"It arn't no good, sir; she's a beef cow, and not a milker. "

"You don't know your business, my lad, " said the lieutenant. 

"But she's such a savage one, sir. Don't go anigh her, sir. "

"Nonsense!" said the lieutenant, going up to the cow, patting her andhandling her ears and horns; to all of which attentions the animalsubmitted calmly enough, blinking her eyes, and gently swinging hertail. 

"I think I could milk her, sir, " said Archy. 

"Think so, Raystoke?" said the lieutenant. "I was just thinking Ishould have liked some new milk. "

"So was I, sir. Shall I try?"

"Yes, " said the lieutenant. "I believe I could do it myself. It alwayslooks so easy. But no; won't do, " he said firmly, as he drew himself upand tried to look stern and tall and big, an impossibility with a man offive feet two inches in height, and whose physique had always beenagainst his advance in the profession. For as a short energetic littleman he might have gained promotion; as a little fat rosy fellow theLords of the Admiralty thought not; and so, after endlessdisappointments regarding better things, he had been appointed commanderof the little _White Hawk_, and sent to cruise off the south coast andabout the Channel, to catch the smugglers who were always too clever tobe caught. 

"No, " he said shortly, as he drew himself up; "won't do, Raystoke, though you and I are condemned to live in this miserable little cutter, and on a contemptible kind of duty, we must not forget that we areofficers and gentlemen in His Majesty's service. Milking cows won't do. No; we must draw the line at milking cows. But I should have liked adrop for my breakfast. "

"Ahoy!" cried one of the men loudly. 

"Ahoy yourself!" cried a voice from off the sea on the shore side, andall turned to see a boat approaching rowed by a rough-looking fisherman, and with a lad of about sixteen sitting astern, who now rose up toanswer the man who shouted. 

"Where did he come from?" said the lieutenant. "Anybody see him putoff?"

"No, sir! No, sir!" came from all directions; and the lieutenant raisedhis glass to sweep the coast. 

"What do you want?" cried the man at the side as the boat came on, andthe lieutenant bade the man ask. 

"Want?" shouted the lad, a sturdy-looking fellow with keen grey eyes andfair close curly hair all about his sunburned forehead. "I've comeafter our cow!"

CHAPTER THREE. 

"How do, Sir Risdon?"

The speaker was a curious-looking man of fifty, rough, sunburned, andevidently as keen as a well-worn knife. He was dressed like a farmerwho had taken to fishing or like a fisherman who had taken to farming, and his nautical appearance seemed strange to a man who was leading avery meditative grey horse attached to a heavy cart, made more weightyby the greatcoat of caked mud the vehicle wore. 

He had been leading the horse along what was called in Freestone a road, though its only pretensions to being a road was that it led fromShackle's farm to the fields which bordered the cliff, and consisted oftwo deep channels made by the farm tumbril wheels, and a shallow trackformed by horses' hoofs, the said channels being more often full ofwater than of mud, and boasting the quality of never even in the hottestweather being dry. 

The person Blenheim Shackle--farmer and fisher, in his canvas sailor'sbreeches, big boots, striped shirt, and red tassel cap--had accosted, was a tall, thin, aristocratic-looking gentleman, in a broad-skirted, shabby brown velvet coat, who was daintily picking his way, cane inhand, over the soft turf of the field, evidently deep in thought, butsufficiently awake to what was around to make him stoop from time totime to pick up a glistening white-topped mushroom, and transfer it toone of his pockets with a satisfied smile. 

"Ah, Master Shackle, " he said, starting slightly on being addressed. "Well, thank you. A lovely morning, indeed. "

"Ay, the morning's right enough, Sir Risdon. Picking a few mushrooms, sir?"

"I--er--yes, Master Shackle. I have picked a few, " said the tall thingentleman, colouring slightly. "I--beg your pardon, Master Shackle, fordoing so. I ought to have asked your leave. "

"Bah! Not a bit, " said the fisher-farmer, with a chuckle. "You'rewelcome, squire. "

"I thank you, Master Shackle--I thank you warmly. You see her ladyshipis very fond of the taste of a fresh gathered mushroom, and if I see afew I like to take them to the Hoze. "

"Ay, to be sure, " said Shackle, as he thought to himself "And preciousglad to get them, you two poor half-starved creatures, with your showand sham, and titles and keep up appearances. "

"I--er--I have not got many, Master Shackle. Would you like to see?"continued the tall thin gentleman, raising the flap of one of hissalt-box pockets. 

"I don't want to see, " growled the other, as he stood patting the neckof his old grey horse. "Been to the cliff edge?"

"I--yes, Master Shackle. "

"See the cutter?"

"I think I saw a small vessel lying some distance off, with whitesails. "

"That's the _White Hawk_, Luff Brough. And I wanted to speak to you, Sir Risdon. "

The gentleman started. 

"Not about--about that--" he stammered. 

"Tchah! Yes. It was about that, man, " said the other. "Don't shy atit like a horse at a blue bogey in a windy lane. "

"But I told you, man, last time, that I would have no more to do withthat wretched smuggling. "

"Don't call things by ugly names. "

"My good man, it is terrible. It is dishonourable, and the act is abreaking of the laws of our country. "

"Tchah! Not it, Sir Risdon, " cried the other so sharply, that the greyhorse started forward, and had to be checked. "Not the king's laws, butthe laws of that Dutchman who has come and stuck himself on the throne. Why, sir, you ought to take a pleasure in breaking his laws, after theway he has robbed you, and turned you from a real gentleman, into apoor, hard-pressed country squire, who--"

"Hush! Hush, Master Shackle!" said the tall gentleman huskily. "Don'trake up my misfortunes. "

"Not I, Sir Risdon. I'm full o' sorrow and respect for a noblegentleman, who has suffered for the cause of the real king, who, when hecomes, will set us all right. "

"Ah, Master Shackle, I'm losing heart. "

"Nay, don't do that, Sir Risdon; and as to a few mushrooms, why, you'rewelcome enough; and I'd often be sending a chicken or a few eggs, or akit o' butter, or drop o' milk, all to the Hoze, only we're feared herladyship might think it rude. "

"It's--it's very good of you, Master Shackle, and I shall never be ableto repay you. "

"Tchah! Who wants repaying, Sir Risdon? We have plenty at the farm, and it was on'y day 'fore yes'day as I was out in my little lugger, andwe'd took a lot o' mackrel! `Ram, ' I says to my boy Ramillies, `thinkSir Risdon would mind if I sent him a few fish up to the Hoze?'

"`Ay, father, ' he says, `they don't want us to send them fish. Mylady's too proud!'"

Sir Risdon sighed, and the man watched him narrowly. 

"It's a pity too, " the latter continued, "specially as we often have somuch fish we puts it on the land. "

"Er--if you would be good enough to send a little fish--of course veryfresh, Master Shackle, and a few eggs, and a little butter to the Hoze, and let me have your bill by and by, I should be gratified. "

"On'y too glad, Sir Risdon, I will. --Think any one's been tellingtales?"

"Tales?"

"'Bout us, Sir Risdon. "

"About _us_!"

"You see the revenue cutter's hanging about here a deal, and it looksbad. "

"Surely no one would betray you, Master Shackle?"

"Hope not, Sir Risdon; but it's okkard. There's a three-masted luggercoming over from Ushant, and she may be in to-night. There's some nicethick fogs about now, and it's a quiet sea. Your cellars are quiteempty, I s'pose?"

The last remark came so quickly, that the hearer started, and made noreply. 

"You see, Sir Risdon, we might run the cargo, and stow it all up at myplace, for we've plenty o' room; but if they got an idea of it aboardthe cutter, she'd land some men somehow, and come and search me, butthey wouldn't dare to come and search you. I've got a bad character, but you haven't. "

"No, no, Master Shackle; I cannot; I will not. "

"The lads could run it up the valley, and down into your cellar, SirRisdon, " whispered the man, as if afraid that the old grey horse wouldhear; "nobody would be a bit the wiser, and you'd be doing a neighbour agood turn. "

"I--I cannot, Master Shackle; it is against the law. "

"Dutchman's law, not the laws of Bonnie Prince Charlie. You will, SirRisdon?"

"No--no, I dare not. "

"And it gives a neighbour a chance to beg your acceptance of a littledrop o' real cognac, Sir Risdon--so good in case o' sickness. And a bitof prime tay, such as would please her ladyship. Then think howpleasant a pipe is, Sir Risdon; I've got a bit o' lovely tobacco at myplace, and a length or two of French silk. "

"Master Shackle! Master Shackle!" cried the tall thin baronetpiteously, "how can you tempt a poor suffering gentleman like this?"

"Because I want to do you a bit of good, Sir Risdon, and myself too. Itell you it's safe enough. You've only to leave your side door open, and go to bed; that's all. "

"But I shall be as guilty as you. "

"Guilty?" the man laughed. "I never could see a bit o' harm in doingwhat I do. Never feel shamed to look my boy Ramillies in the face. Ifa bit o' smuggling was wrong, Sir Risdon, think I'd do it? No, sir; Ithink o' them as was before me. My father was in Marlborough's wars, and he called me Blenheim, in honour of the battle he was in; and Icalled my boy Ramillies, and if ever he gets married, and has a son, he's to be Malplackey. I arn't ashamed to look him in the face. "

"But I shall be afraid to look in the face of my dear child. "

"Mistress Denise, Sir Risdon? Tchah! Bless her! I don' believe she'dlike her father to miss getting a lot of things that would be good forhim, and your madam. There, Sir Risdon; don't say another word aboutit. Leave the door open, and go to bed. You shan't hear anybody comeor go away, and you're not obliged to look in the cellars for a fewdays. "

"But, my child--the old servant--suppose they hear?"

"What? The rats? Tell 'em to take no notice, Sir Risdon. Good day, Sir Risdon. That's settled, then?"

"Ye-es--I suppose so. This once only, Master Shackle. "

"Thank ye, Sir Risdon, " said the man. "Jee, Dutchman!"

The horse tugged at the tumbril, and Sir Risdon went thoughtfully alongthe field, toward a clump of trees lying in a hollow, while MasterShackle went on chuckling to himself. 

"Couldn't say me nay, poor fellow. Half-starved they are sometimes. Wonder he don't give up the old place, and go away. Hope he won't. Them cellars are too vallyble. Hallo! What now?"

This to the fair curly-headed lad, who came trotting up across the shortturf. 

"Been looking at the cutter, father?"

"Oh, she don't want no looking at. Who brought those cows down here?"

"Jemmy Dadd. "

"He's a fool. We shall be having some of 'em going over the cliff. Gohome and tell mother to put a clean napkin in a basket, and take tworolls of butter, a bit of honey, and a couple of chickens up to theHoze. "

"Yes, father. "

"And see if there's any eggs to take too. "

"Yes, father. But--"

"Well?"

"Think the lugger will come to-night?"

"No, I don't think anything, and don't you. Will you keep that rattletongue of yours quiet? Never know me go chattering about luggers, doyou?"

"No, father. "

"Then set your teeth hard, or you'll never be a man worth your salt. Want to grow into a Jemmy Dadd?"

"No, father. "

"Then be off. "

The boy went off at a run, and the fisher-farmer led his horse along thetwo rutted tracks till he came down into the valley, and then went onand on, towards where a couple of men were at work in a field, doingnothing with all their might. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

Ramillies--commonly known by his father's men as Ram--Shackle trotted upover the hill, stopping once to flop down on the grass to gaze at thecutter, lying a mile out now from the shore, and thinking how differentshe was with her trim rigging and white sails to the rough lugger of hisfather, and the dirty three-masted vessels that ran to and fro acrossthe Channel, and upon which he had more than once taken a trip. 

He rose with a sigh, and continued his journey down into the hollow, andalong a regular trough among the hills, to the low, white-washed stonebuilding, roofed with thin pieces of the same material, and gaily dottedand splashed with lichen and moss. 

He was met by a comfortable-looking, ruddy-faced woman, whoshouted, --"What is it, Ram?" when he was fifty yards away. 

The boy stated his errand. 

"Father says you were to take all that?"

"Yes. "

"Then there's a cargo coming ashore to-night, Ram. "

"Yes, mother, and the cutter's lying a mile out. "

"Oh, dear, dear, dear!" cried the woman; "I hope there won't be notrouble, boy. "

She stood wiping her dry hands upon her apron, and gazed thoughtfullywith wrinkled brow straight before her for a minute, as if conjuring upold scenes; then, taking down a basket as she moved inside, she began topack up the various things in the dairy, while Ram looked on. 

"Father didn't say anything about a bottle of cream, mother, " said theboy, grinning. 

"Then hear, see, and say nothing, my lad, " cried his mother. 

"And I don't think he said you was to send that piece of pickled pork, mother. "

"He said chickens, didn't he?"

"Said a chickun. "

"Chicken means chickens, " cried Mrs Shackle, "and you can't eat chickenwithout pork or bacon. 'Tisn't natural. "

"Father said two rolls of butter. "

"Yes, and I've put three. There, these are all the eggs I've got, andyou mind you don't break 'em!"

"Oh, I say, mother, " cried Ram, "aren't it heavy!"

"Nonsense! I could carry it on my finger; there, run along like a goodboy, and you must ask for her ladyship, and be very respectful, and say, Mother's humble duty to you, my lady, and hopes you won't mind hersending a bit o' farm fare. "

"But she ought to be thankful to us, mother?"

"And so she will be, Ram?"

"But you make me speak as though we were to be much obliged to her fortaking all these good things. "

"You take the basket, and hold your tongue. Father's right, you chattera deal too much. "

Ram took the basket, grunted because it was so heavy, and then set offup the hill-slope towards where the patch of thick woodland capped oneside of the deep valley, and at last came in sight of a grim-lookingstone house, with its windows for the most part covered by theirdrawn-down blinds. Under other circumstances, with fairly kept gardensand trim borders, the old-fashioned building, dating from the days ofHenry the Seventh, would have been attractive enough, with itsbackground of trees, and fine view along the valley out to thefar-stretching blue sea; but poverty seemed to have set its mark uponthe place, and the boy was so impressed by the gloomy aspect of thehouse, that he ceased whistling as he went across the front, outside thelow wall, and round to the back, where his progress was stopped by thescampering of feet, and a dog came up, barking loudly. 

"Get out, or I'll jump on you--d'ye hear?" said Ram fiercely. 

"Down, Grip, down!" cried a pleasant voice, and a girl of fifteen camerunning out, looking bright and animated with her flushed cheeks andlong hair. 

"Don't be afraid of him, Ram; he will not bite. "

"I'm not afraid of him, Miss Celia; if he'd tried to bite me, I'd havekicked him into the back-garden. "

"You would not dare to, " cried the girl indignantly. 

"Oh yes, I would, " said Ram, showing his white teeth. "Wouldn't do forme to be 'fraid of no dogs. "

The girl half turned away, but her eye caught the basket. 

"What's that you came to sell?" she said. 

"Sell? I don't come to sell. Father and mother sent this here. It'sbutter, and chickuns, and pork, and cream, and eggs. "

"Oh!" cried the girl joyously, "my mother will be so--"

She stopped short, remembering sundry lessons she had received, and thetears came up into her eyes as she felt that she must be proud and notshow her delight at the receipt of homely delicacies to which they werestrangers. 

"Take your basket to the side door, and deliver your message to Keziah, "she said distantly. 

"Yes, miss, " said Ram, beginning to whistle, as he strode along with hisbasket, but he turned back directly and followed the girl. 

"I say, Miss Celia, " he cried. 

"Yes, Ram. "

"You like Grip, don't you?"

"Yes, of course. "

"Then I won't never kick him, miss. Only I arn't fond on him. Here, mate, " he continued, dropping on one knee, "give us your paw. "

The dog, a sturdy-looking deerhound, growled, and closed up to hismistress. 

"D'ye hear? Give's your paw. What yer growling about?"

The dog didn't say, but growled more fiercely. 

"Grip, down! Give him your paw, " cried the girl. 

The dog turned his muzzle up to his mistress, and uttered a low whine. 

"Says he don't like to shake hands with a lad like me, " said Ram, laughing. 

"But I say he is to, sir, " cried the girl haughtily. "Give him yourpaw, Grip. "

She took the dog by the ear and led him unwillingly toward the boy, whose eyes sparkled with delight while the hound whimpered and whinedand protested, as if he had an unconquerable dislike to the act he wascalled upon to perform. 

"Now, " cried the girl, "directly, sir. Give him your paw. "

What followed seemed ludicrous in the extreme to the boy, for, inobedience to his mistress's orders, the dog lifted his left paw andturned his head away to gaze up at his mistress. 

"The wrong paw, sir, " she cried. "Now, again. "

"_Pow how_!" howled the dog, raising his paw now to have it seized bythe boy, squeezed and then loosened, a termination which seemed to givethe animal the most profound satisfaction. For now it was over, hebarked madly and rushed round and round the boy in the most friendlyway. 

"There, miss, " said Ram with a grin; "we shall be friends now. Nex'rats we ketch down home, I'll bring up here for him to kill. Hey, Grip!Rats! Rats!"

The dog bounded up to the boy, rose on his hind legs and placed hisforepaws on the lad's chest, barking loudly. 

"Good dog, then. Good-bye, miss; I must get back. "

"Oh!"

"You call, miss?" cried the boy, turning as he went whistling away. 

"Yes, yes, Ram, " said the girl hesitatingly, and glancing behind her, then up at the house where all was perfectly still. "Do you remembercoming up and bringing a basket about a month ago?"

"Yes, miss, I r'member. That all, miss?"

"No, " said the girl, still hesitating. "Ram, are the men coming up tothe house in the middle of the night?"

"Dunno what you mean, miss. "

"You do, sir, for you were with them. I saw you and ever so many morecome up with little barrels slung over their shoulders. "

Ram's face was a study in the comic line as he shook his head. 

"Yes you were, sir, and it was wicked smuggling. I order you to tell medirectly. Are they coming up to-night?"

"Mustn't tell, " said the boy slowly. 

"Then they are, " cried the girl, with her handsome young face puckeringup with the trouble which oppressed her, and after standing lookingthoughtful and anxious for a few moments, she went away toward the frontof the house, while Ram went round to the side and delivered his basket. 

"Course we are, " he said to himself, as he went down the hill again. "But I warn't going to blab. What a fuss people do make about a bit o'smuggling! How pretty she looks!" and he stopped short to admire her--the _she_ being the _White Hawk_, which lay motionless on the calm sea. "Wish I could sail aboard a boat like that, and be dressed like thatyoung chap with his sword. I would like to wear a sword. I told fatherso, and he said I was a fool. "

He threw himself down on the short turf, which was dotted with black andgrey, as the rooks, jackdaws, and gulls marched about feeding togetherin the most friendly way, where the tiny striped snails hung upon thestrands of grass by millions. 

"It'll be a fog again to-night, " he said thoughtfully, "and she's sureto come. Ha, ha, ha!" he laughed, as he made a derisive gesture towardsthe cutter; "watch away. You may wear your gold lace and cocked hatsand swords, but you won't catch us, my lads; we're too sharp for that. "

CHAPTER FIVE. 

Shackle was quite right; the fog did begin to gather over the sea soonafter sundown, and the depressing weather seemed to have a curiouseffect on Farmer Shackle, who kept getting up from his supper to go andlook out through the open door, and come back smiling and rubbing hishands. 

Mrs Shackle was very quiet and grave-looking and silent for a time, butat last she ventured a question. 

"Did you see her at sundown?"

"Ay, my lass. 'Bout eight mile out. "

"But the cutter?"

"Well, what about the cutter?"

"Will it be safe?"

"Safe? Tchah! I know what I'm 'bout. "

That being so, Mrs Shackle made no remark, but went on cutting chunksof bread and butter for her son, to which the boy added pieces of coldsalt pork, and then turned himself into a mill which went on slowlygrinding up material for the making of a man, this raw material beingduly manipulated by nature, and apportioned by her for the future makingof the human mill. 

"Now, Ram, " said his father, "ready?"

"Yes, father, " said the boy, after getting his mouth into talking trim. 

"Lanthorns! Off with you. "

"Lanthorns won't be no good in the fog. "

"Don't you be so mighty clever, " growled Shackle. "How do you know thatthe fog reaches up far?"

"Did you signal s'afternoon, father?"

"Lanthorns! And look sharp, sir. "

The boy went into the back kitchen, took down from a shelf threehorn-lanthorns, which had the peculiarity of being painted black save inone narrow part. Into these he glanced to see that they were all fittedwith thick candles before passing a piece of rope through the rings atthe top. 

This done he took down a much smaller lanthorn, painted black all round, lit the candle within, and, taking this one in his hand, he hung theothers over his shoulder, and prepared to start. 

"Mind and don't you slip over the cliff, Ram, " said his mother. 

"Tchah! Don't scare the boy with that nonsense, " said the farmerangrily; "why should he want to slip over the cliff? Put 'em well back, boy. Stop 'bout half an hour, and then come down. "

Ram nodded and went off whistling down along the hollow for some hundredyards toward the sea, and then, turning short off to the right, he beganto climb a zigzag path which led higher and higher and more and moreaway to his left till it skirted the cliff, and he was climbing slowlyup through the fog. 

The lad's task was robbed of the appearance of peril by the darkness;but the danger never occurred to Ram, who had been up these cliff-pathstoo often for his pleasure to heed the breakneck nature of the roughsheep-track up and up the face of the cliff, leading to where it becamea steep slope, which ran in and on some four hundred feet, forming oneof the highest points in the neighbourhood. 

"It's plaguey dark, " said Ram to himself. "Wonder what they're going tobring to-night?"

He whistled softly as he climbed slowly on. 

"Fog's thicker than it was last night. They won't see no lanthorns, Iknow. "

"Dunno, though, " he muttered a little higher up. "Not quite so thick uphere. How old Grip growled! But he had to do it. Aren't afraid of adog like him. Look at that!"

He had climbed up the zigzag track another fifty feet, and stopped shortto gaze away at the bright stars of the clear night with the great layerof fog all below him now. 

"Father was right, but I dunno whether they'll be able to see from thelugger. Don't matter. They know the way, and they'd see the signals'afternoon. "

He whistled softly as he went on higher, laughing all at once at an ideawhich struck him. 

"Suppose they were to row right on to the cutter! Wouldn't it 'stonishthem all? I know what I should do. Shove off directly into the fog. They wouldn't be able to see, and I wouldn't use the sweeps till I wasout of hearing, and then--oh, here we are up atop!"

For the sheep-track had come to an end upon what was really thedangerous part of the journey. The zigzag and the cliff-path had beenbad, but a fall there would not have been hopeless, for the unfortunatewho lost his footing would go down to the next path, or the next, adozen places perhaps offering the means of checking the downward course, but up where the boy now stood was a slope of short turf with long drystrands which made the grass terribly slippery, and once any one hadfallen here, and was in motion, the slope was at so dangerous anelevation that he would rapidly gather impetus, and shoot right off intospace to fall six hundred feet below on to the shore. 

This danger did not check Ram's cheery whistle, and he climbed on, sticking his toes well into the short grass, and rising higher andhigher till he reached some ragged shale with the grass, now very thin, and about a hundred feet back from the sea, in a spot which he feltwould be well out of the sight of the cutter if those on board could seeabove the fog. He set down his lanthorns, two about five feet apart, lit them all, and held the third on the top of his head as he stoodbetween the others, so that from seaward the lights would have appearedlike a triangle. 

It seemed all done in such a matter of course way that it was evidentthat Ram was accustomed to the task, and supporting the lanthorn on hishead, first with one and then with the other hand, he went on whistlingsoftly an old west country air, thinking the while about Sir Risdon andLady Graeme, and about how poor they were, and how much better it was tolive at a farmhouse where there was always plenty to eat, and where hisfather could go fishing in the lugger when he liked, and how he couldfarm and smuggle, and generally enjoy life. 

"That's good half an hour, " said Ram, lowering his lanthorn, opening thedoor, and puffing out the candle, afterwards serving the others thesame. 

_Whew_--_whew_--_whew_--_whew_!

A peculiar whishing of wings from far overhead, as a flock of birds flewon through the darkness of the night, following the wonderful instinctwhich made them take flight to other lands. 

"Wasn't geese; and I don't think it was ducks, " said the lad to himself, as he slung his darkened lanthorns together, and began to descend ascoolly as if he had been provided by nature with wings to guard himagainst a fall down the cliff. 

"Wonder whether they saw the lights, " he said to himself. "Not muchgood showing them, if they were in the fog. "

He went on, gradually approaching the mist which lay below him, and atlast was descending the zigzag path with the stars blotted out, and thetiny drops of moisture gathering on his eyelashes, finding his way moreby instinct than sight. 

"Come in with the tide 'bout 'leven, " said Ram, as he still descendedthe face of the cliff, then the path, and at last was well down in thelittle valley, whose mouth seemed to have been filled up in someconvulsion of nature by a huge wall of cliff, under which the streamletwhich ran from the hills had mined its way. 

As soon as he was down on level ground, the boy started for home at atrot, gave the lanthorns into his mother's hands, and, after a briefinquiry as to his father's whereabouts, he started off once more. 

The part of the cliff for which he made was exactly opposite SirRisdon's old house, and to a stranger about the last place where itwould be deemed possible for a smuggler to land his cargo. 

Hence the successful landing of many a boat-load, which had beenscattered the country through. 

For there, at the foot of the cliff, lay a natural platform or pier, almost as level as if it had been formed for a landing stage. The deepwater came right up to its edge, and here, at a chosen time of tide, alugger could lie close in, and her busy crew and their helpmates landkeg and bale upon the huge ledge, --a floor of intensely hard stone, fullof great ammonites, many a couple of feet across, monsters ofshell-fish, which had gradually settled down and died, when the stone inwhich they lay had been soft mud. 

Revenue boats had of course, from time to time, as they explored thecoast, noted this natural landing-place, but as there was only a broadstep twenty feet above this to form another platform, and then thecliffs ran straight up two hundred feet slightly inclined over towardthe sea, and the existence of even a moderate surf would have meantwreck, it was never even deemed likely that there was danger here, andconsequently it was left unwatched. 

The smugglers had a different opinion of the place, and on Ram reachingthe spot he was in nowise surprised to find a group of about thirty menon the cliff, clustered about the end of a spar, whose butt was run downinto a hole in the rock, which lay a foot beneath the turf, and at whoseend, as it rose at an angle, was a pulley block and rope run throughready for use should the lugger come. 

"Where's father?" whispered Ram to one of the men, who looked curiouslyindistinct amid the fog. 

"Here, boy, " was whispered close to his ear. "Going down to help?"

"May I, father?"

Shackle grunted; and, after speaking to one of the men, Ram took hold ofthe loop at the end of the rope, thrust a leg through, held on tightly, and, after the word was given, swung himself off into the fog. 

The well-oiled wheel ran fast, and it was a strange experience that ofgliding rapidly down and steadily turning round and round with the thickdarkness all around, and nothing to show that he who descended was notstationary. The peril of such a run down would have appeared thegreater, could he who descended have seen how the rope was allowed torun. For no careful hands held it to allow it to glide through fingers, which could at any moment clutch the line tightly and act as a check. The rope lay simply on the turf, and the man who watched over thedescent, merely placed his boot over it, the hollow between sole andheel affording room for the rope to run, and a little extra pressurestopping its way. 

Thus it was that Ram was allowed to glide rapidly down, till byexperience the man knew that he was nearly at the bottom when the ropebegan to run more slowly, and then was checked exactly as the boy's feettouched the stone shelf, and he stepped from the loop on to theammonite-studded rock. 

Dimly seen about him was a group of a dozen men, whose faces lookedmysterious and strange, and this was added to by the silence, for onlyone spoke, and he when he was addressed, for the first few minutes afterRam's arrival among them, every one there being listening attentivelyfor the distant beat of oars. 

"Think she'll come to-night, young Ram?" said the man close by him. 

"Dunno. "

"Been to show the lights?"

"Yes. "

"Was there any fog up there?"

"No; clear as could be. "

"Then she may come. Pst!"

Hardly a breath could be heard then as ears were strained, and after agood deal of doubt had been felt, a kind of thrill ran through the menwho had taken hold of a line fastened to a stanchion and loweredthemselves down to the broad ledge. 

The low, regular, slow beat of great sweeps became now audible, butthough Ram strained his eyes seaward, nothing was visible for quiteanother ten minutes, when, as the boy stood at the brink of the upperledge he dimly saw something darker than the mist coming into view. Soon there came a faint crunching noise as of a fender being crushedagainst the rock, followed by the sound of ropes drawn over the bulwark, and Ram hesitated no longer, but ran to the loop, placed his leg throughit, gave the signal by shaking the rope, and in an instant he wassnatched from his feet, run up, the rope drawn in, and he was landed onthe turf. 

A small bag of stones was then attached to the loop, the wheel spunround, and the bag went whizzing down, while the group of men stoodwaiting and waiting, for they could see nothing below, hardly see eachother, so dense was the mist now. 

Sundry familiar sounds arose from time to time, and more than once thefarmer uttered an ejaculation full of impatience at the length of timetaken up in bringing the vessel below and taking precautions to keep herfrom grinding and bumping against the edge of the shelf, for though thesea was calm, there was the swell to contend with. 

At last. 

There was a murmur from below which those two hundred feet above knewwell, and as two stood ready, another man by them took hold of the rope, and suddenly started off at a run, disappearing at once in the fog, while a peculiar whizzing sound was heard, as the little wheel in theblock now ran round till all at once a couple of kegs and the bag ofstones appeared level with the top of the cliff. These were seized, unhitched, and as the bag ran down, a man knelt, fitted a short ropeabout the kegs and hoisted them on his shoulder, just as the man whoheld the rope trotted up out of the fog into which the other with thekegs disappeared. 

There was a faint hiss, and away ran the man again bringing the next twokegs up rapidly, to be set at liberty, slung, and hoisted on anotherman's back as the hauler came back out of the fog. 

And so the unloading went on with marvellous rapidity, the haulerrushing off into the fog, a couple of kegs coming up into sight, beingtaken out of the loops, slung and hoisted just as the hauler came backand the bearer disappeared, till quite a line of men were trudgingslowly up the hill, down into the valley, and up again toward Sir RisdonGraeme's old house, the Hoze, till all the bearers were gone, and thekegs still kept coming up out of the fog. 

The silence was astonishing, considering the amount of work being doneand the rapidity with which all went on. Away to left and rightsentries were placed, from among the haulers who, as they grew tired bytheir exertions in running up the kegs, were placed there to rest andlisten for danger from seaward; but hour after hour went on, thecarriers, augmented by a dozen more, came and went in two bands now, sothat part were returning as the others were going. 

But still they were not in sufficient force, for the Hoze was somedistance away, and the number of kegs kept increasing on the turf at thetop of the cliff. 

About half the cargo was landed when Shackle whispered an order to Ram, who at once stooped to pick up a keg. 

"No, no; run without, and see that they store them all up well. "

Ram was used to the business, and he went off at a trot, breasted thehill, dived down into the hollow, and then passing men going and coming, made for the Hoze, entered by the side door, made his way along a stonepassage, and then down into a huge vault with groined roof lit by acouple of lanthorns hanging from hooks. 

Here for the next three hours he worked hard, helping to stack thelittle brandy kegs at first, and afterwards the small tightly packedbales and chests which were brought more quickly now--a dozen ofswarthy, dirty-looking men, with earrings and short loose canvasstrousers which looked like petticoats, helping to bring up the cargo, and showed by their presence that all had been landed from the lugger--that which was now being brought up consisting of the accumulation onthe ledges and at the top of the cliff. 

"Much more?" Ram kept asking as he toiled away, wet now withperspiration. 

"Ay, ay, lad, it's a long cargo, " he kept hearing; and the lanthorns hadto be shifted twice as the stacks of kegs and bales increased, till justas the boy began to think the loads would never end, he realised thatthe French sailors had not been up lately, and one of their own mensuddenly said--

"Last!"

Ram drew a breath full of relief as the men came out silently, and hestopped behind with one lanthorn only alight to lock the door of thegreat vault, and then stood in the stone passage, thinking how quiet andstill the house seemed. 

He went out, closing the door after him, and stood in the garden. 

"Wonder whether Miss Celia heard us, " he said; "never thought of itbefore; they must have tied up old Grip. "

He glanced up at the windows as he went out, then they seemed todisappear in the mist as he made for the track and went downwards, tohear low voices, and directly after he encountered his father. 

"Got 'em all right, boy?"

"Yes, father, " said Ram, handing the key. "Lugger gone?"

"Hour and a half ago, lad; just got her empty as the tide turned. Bestrun we've had. "

He burst into a low fit of chuckling. 

"What are you laughing at, father?"

"I was thinking how artful revenue cutters are, boy. I don't believethat _White Hawk's_ more than half a mile away. "

"But then see what a fog it was, father?"

"Tchah! To me it's just the same as a moonshiny night, boy. There, come on home and get to bed. Must be up early; lots to do to-day. "

Seeing that it could not be long before morning, Ram asked himself whatwas the use of his going to bed; but he said nothing, only hurried tokeep pace with his father; and soon after, feeling fagged out, he wasfast asleep, and dreaming that whenever he piled the kegs up they kepton rolling down about him, and that the midshipman from the _White Hawk_stood looking on, and laughing at him for being clumsy, and then heawoke fancying he was called. 

It was quite right, for Farmer Shackle was shouting--

"Now you, Ramillies, are you going to sleep there all day?"

CHAPTER SIX. 

Ram had thrown himself down, dressed as he was, so that an interviewwith a bucket of water at the back door, and a good rub with the jacktowel, were sufficient to brighten him up for the breakfast waiting, andthe boy was not long before he was partaking heartily of the bowl ofbread and milk his mother placed before him, his father muttering andgrumbling the while to himself. 

"I'm sure you needn't be so cross this morning, master, " said MrsShackle reproachfully. 

"If you had as much to fret you as I do, wife, you'd be cross. "

"Why, you told me this morning that you carried your crop of sea haywithout a drop of water on it. "

Farmer Shackle shut one eye, tightened up his mouth, and looked with hisother eye at his wife, which was his idea of laughing. 

"Well, then, " she said, "what makes you so cross?"

"Cross! Enough to make any man cross. I shall be ruined--such a set ofcareless people about me. Those cows left out on the cliff field alllast night, and Tally must have gone over, for I can't see heranywhere. "

"Oh, poor Tally! My kindest cow, " cried Mrs Shackle. 

"Yes, I shall set that down to you Ramillies. That's a flogging for youif she isn't found. "

"No, no, master; don't be so hard. The poor boy was out all nightlooking after signals and--"

Bang! Down came the farmer's fist on the table making the plates andbasins jump. 

"Hay, woman, hay!" he roared. "Mind what you're talking about!"

"Don't do that, Blenheim!" cried Mrs Shackle. "You quite frightenedme. "

"Yes, I'll frighten the whole lot of you. Ten golden pounds gone overthe cliff through that boy's neglect. "

"Well, never mind, dear. You made ever so much more than that lastnight, I'll be bound!"

"Will you hold your tongue?" roared the farmer. "There, make haste andfinish that food, boy. Take Jemmy Dadd and the boat and find her. Skin's worth a few shillings. I must have that. "

"Did you look over the cliff, father?" asked Ram. 

"I looked over? Of course, but how could I see in that fog?"

Ram was soon out and away, to hunt up Jemmy Dadd, whom he found at lastwith his eyes half-closed, yawning prodigiously. They went down to theboat, launched her, and rowed out along under the tremendous cliffs, andwere about to give up in despair, convinced that the unfortunate cow hadbeen swept right out to sea, when Ram exclaimed--

"Look yonder, Jem?"

"What for?" grumbled the man; "I'm half asleep, now. "

"Never mind that! Look at the cutter. "

"Shan't! I've seen un times enough. "

"Yes, yes; but look on her deck. "

"What for?" said Jemmy, who was steadily pulling homeward. 

"Oh, what an obstinate chap you are, Jemmy! Look there; Tally's ondeck. "

"Ck!" ejaculated the man, this being meant for a derisive laugh. "Whydon't you say she's having a ride in the Saxham coach. "

"I tell you she is. They've got her there, and the sailors are tryingto milk her. "

"Then I wish 'em luck, " said Jemmy. "There's only one man as can milkTally, and that's me. "

"Turn the boat's head, and let's go for her. "

"Ck!" ejaculated Jemmy again. "What a one you are to joke, Ram Shackle;but it won't do this mornin'. I'm burst up with sleep. "

"Open your stupid eyes, and look for once. I tell you they've got Tallyon the deck of the cutter. "

"And I tell you, you young Ram Shackle, I'm too sleepy to see funanywhere. Won't do, my lad--won't do. "

Ram jumped up, stepped over the thwart, seized the man's head, andscrewed it round toward the cutter, where the scene previously describedwas plain in the sunshine. 

"Well!" ejaculated Jemmy, "so she be. "

"Why couldn't you believe me before, when I told you?"

"Thought you was gammoning me, my lad!"

"There, row away!" cried Ram; and as soon as they were well withinhearing he answered the hail, and next shouted--

"I've come after our cow. "

"Very undignified proceeding, Mr Raystoke, " said the lieutenant, busilywalking up and down as the boat with Ram in it was being rowedalongside. "It all comes of being appointed to a wretched, littlecobble boat like this, and sent on smuggling duty. If I--if we had beenaboard a frigate, or even a sloop-of-war, we shouldn't have had such anaffair as this. Why, confound that boy's impudence, he has jumped onboard. Go and speak to him; order him off; pitch him overboard;anything. How dare he!"

Archy drew himself up, laid one hand upon his dirk, and strutted up toRam, looking "as big as a small ossifer, " as Dirty Dick said afterwards;and gave him a smart slap on the shoulder as he was going after the cow. 

"Here, you sir!" cried Archy, as the boy faced round. "What do you meanby coming aboard one of His Majesty's ships like that?"

"Eh?"

"Touch your hat, sir, when an officer speaks to you. "

"Touch my hat to you like I do to Sir Risdon?"

"Like you do to any gentleman, sir. "

"Oh, very well, " said Ram giving one of his fair brown curls a tug, andshowing his teeth. 

"That's better. Now then, what do you want?"

"Our Tally. "

"Your what?"

"Our cow, Tally. "

"How do I know it's yours?"

"Why, it is. She must have walked over the cliff in the fog. Was yourcutter close under so as she fell on deck?"

"Of course not, bumpkin, " said Archy impatiently, as the men burst intoa guffaw, and then looked horribly serious as if they had not smiled. "We saw her swimming and fetched her on board. "

"Thank ye, " said Ram. "I say, how am I to get her home? Can you lendus a rope?"

"Who are you, boy?" said the lieutenant, marching up. 

Ram faced round, stared at the officer's rather shabby uniform, and gavehis curl another tug before pulling his red cap over his brow. 

"Ram Shackle, sir. "

"Is--is that your name, sir, " said the lieutenant pompously, "or are youtrying to get a laugh at my expense?"

Ram stared. 

"Do you hear what I say, sir?"

"Yes, but I dunno what you mean. "

"Here, my man, what's that boy's name?" cried the lieutenant to JemmyDadd in the boat. 

"Ram Shackle, " said Jemmy gruffly. "Christen Rammylees!"

"And is this your cow?"

"No, sir!"

"Then, you young rascal, how dare you come and claim it, " cried thelieutenant wrathfully. 

"Because it's ours. My father's; I didn't mean it was my own. "

"Can you give me some proof that it is yours?" said the lieutenant. 

"Eh!" exclaimed Ram, staring. 

"I say, show me that the cow is yours, and you shall have her. "

"Oh, " cried Ram, and he ran to the side, unfastened the rope used as ahalter for the patient beast, ran right forward, and began to call, "Tally, Tally! Coosh-cow, coosh-cow!"

The effect was magical, the cow turned sharply round, stretched out hernose so as to make her windpipe straight, and uttered a low soft lowing, as she walked straight forward to where Ram stood, thrust her nose underhis arm, and stood swinging her tail to and fro. 

"Mr Raystoke!"

"Ay, ay, sir!" said Archy, going aft and saluting. 

"It seems to be their cow; let them take it ashore. "

"Ay, ay, sir!"

"Stop. Bring the boy here, " said the lieutenant. 

Archy marched forward. 

"Come here, boy, " he said importantly; and Ram followed him to where thelittle fat officer stood near the helm, frowning. 

"Now, sir, " said the lieutenant, "I want you to answer me a fewquestions. What is your name--no, no, stop, you told me before. Wheredo you live?"

"Yonder, at the farm. "

"Oh! At the farm. Look here, boy, did you ever hear of smugglers?"

"What?"

"Did you ever hear of smugglers?"

"Yes, lots o' times, " said Ram glibly. "They're chaps that goes acrossto France and foreign countries, and brings shipfuls o' things overhere. "

"Yes, that's right. Ever seen any about here?"

"Well, " said Ram, taking off his red cap, and scratching his curly head, "I dessay I have. Father says you never know who may be a smuggler:they're all like any one else. "

"Humph! Know where they land their cargoes?"

"Oh, yes; I've heard tell as they land 'em all along the cliff here. "

"Bah! Impossible, " shouted the lieutenant. 

"Is it, sir?" said Ram vacantly. "My father said it was true. "

"Seen any smugglers' craft about during the last few days?"

"No, sir; not one, " cried the boy with perfect truth. 

"That will do, boy. Mr Raystoke let him take his cow and go. "

"Ay, ay, sir!"

"Then get the gig alongside, and we'll explore round more of the coastclose in. "

"Ay, ay, sir! Now, boy, this way. "

Ram looked vacantly about him, but there was a very keen twinkle abouthis eyes, as he followed Archy forward to where the cow stood blinkingher eyes, and swinging her tail amongst the men. 

"I say, " he said. 

"Did you speak to me, sir?" cried Archy, facing round, and frowning. 

"Yes. Is that little sword sharp?"

"Of course. "

"Pull it out, and let's have a look. "

Archy frowned. 

"Take your cow and go, " he said. "She is a miserable thing without adrop of milk in her. "

"What?" cried Ram, with his face becoming animated. Then he shouted tothe man in the boat, "Hi! Jemmy, he says Tally's got no milk in her. "

"How do he know?" cried Jem scornfully. 

"Why, I tried ever so long, " said Dick, who could not refrain fromjoining in. 

"Ck!" laughed Jemmy. 

"Why, she's our best cow, " cried Ram. "I say skipper. "

"Here, you mustn't speak to an officer like that, " whispered Archy. 

"What does the boy want?" said the plump little lieutenant, marchingforward. 

"On'y want our cow. "

"Then take her, sir, and go!"

"Have a drop of milk?"

"No, " said the lieutenant, turning his back. "Perhaps Mr Raystoke heremight like a little. Can you milk?"

"I can't, " said Ram, shaking his head. "He can. Here, Jemmy, take holdof the painter and come aboard. "

"Stop!" cried the lieutenant, "you must not speak like that. You mustask leave, sir. "

"Ask who?" said Ram, vacantly. 

"Touch your cap, and ask the lieutenant to let you. "

"Why, I have touched it twice. Want me to pull my hair off? I say, skipper, if you'll let him come aboard--oh! He is aboard now, "--forJemmy was already making the boat fast--"Here, give me a clean pail. "

The little commander of the cutter tried to look important, and Archymore so, but they forgot everything disciplinarian the next moment, inthe interest of the proceedings, as Jemmy Dadd took the bucket handed tohim, turned another up beside the side of the cow, and as he was sittingdown, Dirty Dick dug his elbows into his messmates' ribs right and left, whispered "Look out! And over he goes. " Then he drew in a long breath, ready for a roar of laughter when the bucket went flying, and stoodstaring waiting to explode. 

But, to Dick's great disappointment, Tally uttered a soft low, and beganto swing her tail gently round, so as to give Jemmy a pat on the back. At regular intervals there was a whishing noise, then another whishingnoise half a tone lower, then _whish_--_whosh_--_whish_--_whosh_, twostreams of rich new milk began to pour into the bucket, whose bottom wassoon covered, and a white froth began to appear on the top. 

"I say!" cried Dick eagerly, "shall I lash her legs?"

"What for?" growled Jemmy. 

"'Cause she'll kick it over directly. "

"Not she. You wouldn't kick it over, would you, Tally, old cow?"

The cow waved her tail and whisked it about the man's neck as themilking went on, to the delight of the men, who began to see biscuit andmilk in prospect, while the two officers, who were none the less eagerfor a draught as a change from their miserable ordinary fare, veiledtheir expectations under a severe aspect of importance. 

"Here you are, " said Jemmy, drawing back at last--while Dick seemed tobe watching, in a state of agony, lest a kick should upset the softwhite contents of the bucket--"More'n a gallon this time. How much arewe to leave aboard?"

"All of it, " said Ram generously; "they deserve it for saving the cow. I say, you, " he continued, turning to Archy, "what do you say to hernow?"

"Thank you, " replied Archy. "Here, Dick, take that bucket aft, and you, my lads, open the side there, and help them to get the cow overboard. "

"Thank ye, sir, " said Ram, smiling. "I say, Jemmy, she'd stand in theboat, wouldn't she? Or would she put her feet through?"

"Let's try, " was the laconic reply, and taking hold of the rope that hadbeen used as a halter, the man stepped down into the boat, the cow, after a little coaxing, following, without putting her feet through, andshowing great activity for so clumsy-looking a beast. Ram followed, andtook one of the oars, settled down behind Jemmy, and the next minute, with the whole crew of the cutter standing grinning at the side, theybegan to row shoreward. 

"How about the tide, Jemmy?" said Ram, when they had been rowing a fewminutes, with the cow standing placidly in the boat. 

"Too high, can't do it, " said the man. 

"Let's row to the ledge then, and land there till the tide goes down. "

"Right, " said Jemmy, and they bore off a little to the east, madestraight for the shelf of rock, which was just awash; and as they rowed, they saw the lieutenant and the midshipman enter the light gig, four mendropped their oars in the water, and with the drops flashing from theblades, the gig came swiftly after them. 

"Why, they're coming here too, Jemmy, " said Ram, as they reached theledge, and leaped on to the ammonite-studded stone, over which the waterglided and then ran back. 

"Well, let 'em, " said Jemmy, following suit with the painter, the cowstanding contentedly with her eyes half-closed. "Don't matter to us, lad, so long as they didn't come last night. "

They made fast the hawser to an iron stanchion, one of several dottedabout and pretty well hidden by the water, climbed up on the rock, andsat down in the warm sunshine to wait for the turn of the tide, whileafter a pull in one direction, the gig's course was altered, and theysaw its course changed again. 

"I liked that chap, " said Ram, as he gazed across a few hundred yards ofsmooth water, at where Archy sat in his uniform, steering. 

"What are they up to?" said Jemmy, shading his eyes. Then quiteexcitedly, "Say, lad, lookye yonder, " he whispered. 

"I was looking, " cried Ram excitedly; "they've picked up a brandy keg. "

There was no denying the fact; and as the dripping little barrel wasplaced by one of the men in the fore part of the gig, the others gaveway, and the light vessel came rapidly now toward the ledge. 

Archy was shading his eyes just then, and pointing out something to thelieutenant a little to the left of where Ram and his companion wereseated, and the boy's eyes, trained by his nefarious habits, gazedsharply in search of danger or criminating evidence, in the directionthe midshipman pointed. 

A chill of horror ran through him, for there, with the wash of the tidehalf covering and then leaving them bare, were two more brandy kegs, which had been missed the previous night during the fog. 

"Ah!" ejaculated Ram, as in imagination he saw the well-filled vault, and the crew of the cutter being marched up to make a seizure, andarrest his father perhaps. 

If he could but get away and give the alarm!

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

"Get away, and give the alarm?"

How could we?

There was no rope and pulley up on the cliff now, and the boat wasoccupied by the cow; while, even if it had been empty, it would havemeant a six mile row to reach a landing-place at that time of the tide, and an eight miles' walk back. 

And here was the cutter's gig close to them, and the lieutenant ready toask him the meaning of the smuggled spirits being there. 

For there was no mistaking the fact that the kegs were full of smuggledspirit. The one the king's men had dragged dripping from the sea, borecertain unmistakable markings, and it was evidently brother to those onthe rock. 

Ram and Jemmy had no time for thinking; the gig was run quickly upalongside of the ledge, and Dick tossed in his oar, sprang out, sendingthe clear water splashing with his bare feet, as he crossed up to thekegs, and, taking one under each arm, went more slowly and cautiouslyback to the boat, where his messmates took them carefully, with many achuckle and grin, to deposit them beside the others. 

"Now, my lad, run her alongside of the cow--I mean of the other boat, "cried the lieutenant. 

This was quickly done, and the little officer turned sharply to whereRam and Jemmy Dadd were seated on the rock, looking on as stolidly as ifnothing whatever was coming. 

"Hi! You, sir; come here!" cried the lieutenant. 

"Me, or him?" replied Ram coolly. 

"You, sir. "

Ram got up, whistled softly, and went down to the boat. 

"Want some more milk?" he said, with a grin. 

"Silence, sir! Do you see those?"

"What, them tubs?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Not till you got 'em. Wish I had!"

"I dare say you do, sir. Now, then: how did they come there?"

"Why, your chaps put 'em there. I see 'em just now. "

"No, no; I mean in the sea and on that rock. "

"Come there?" said Ram, with a vacant look. 

"Yes, sir! How did they come there? Now, no trifling; out with it atonce. "

"Been a wreck, p'r'aps, and they're washed up. "

"Bah!" cried the lieutenant. 

"Ah, you may say `Bah!' but they might. Why, there was a big ship'sboat and a jib-boom washed up here one day; warn't there, Jem?"

"Yes, " growled the rough-looking fellow, half-fisherman halffarm-labourer. "And don't you 'member the big tub o' sugar, as was allsoaked with water, till she was like treacle?"

"Ay, and the--"

"That will do--that will do!" cried the lieutenant. 

"Washed up, eh? What's in those kegs?"

"I know, " cried Ram, showing his teeth, and looking at Archy. "Full o'hoysters! Give us one!"

"Come, sir; this won't do for me. You know as well as I do what's inthose kegs. Where are the rest?"

"Rest?" said Ram, looking round. "Are there any more of 'em?"

"Yes, I'll be bound there are. Now, then, out with it, if you want tosave your skin. "

"Skin? That's what father said this morning about the cow; but shewasn't drowned. "

"Look here, boy. All this sham innocency won't do for me. Now, then, if you will tell me where the other kegs are, you shall have a reward;if you don't, you'll go to prison as sure as you're there. Jump ashore, two of you, and arrest them before they run. "

Ram turned, and stared at Jemmy Dadd with an ill-used countenance. 

"What does he mean, Jemmy?"

The man shook his head. 

"Do you know where the other little barrels are?"

"Wish I did, " grumbled Jemmy. "Say, master, what would you give a manif he showed you where they were?"

"Ten guineas; perhaps twenty, " said the lieutenant eagerly. 

"Ten guineas! Twenty pounds!" said Jemmy, taking off his red worstedcap, and rubbing his head. "My! Was they your'n? Did you lose 'em?"

"No, " roared the lieutenant; "it's plain enough, and you know. A cargohas been run here on this ledge. Now, then; it's no use to try and hideit. You know where it is; so will you gain a reward by giving evidence, or will you go to prison?"

Jemmy shook his head, and gave Ram a puzzled look. 

"We came after our cow, sir, please, " said the latter, looking up at thesailor, who stood with a hand upon his arm, while Jemmy did the same. 

"Here, boy!" cried the lieutenant. "You know what a lot of money tenguineas would be?"

"Yes, " said Ram grinning. 

"Why, you could buy yourself a watch and chain, and be doing your dutyto the king as well. Come, did you see a French boat down here lastnight?"

"No, " said Ram. "It was so foggy. "

"You are playing with me, sir. Now then, will you answer?"

"I did answer, " said Ram meekly. "Didn't I, Jemmy?"

"Jump ashore, you two, " said the lieutenant, "and have a good search allamong those rocks. The cargo's there for certain. You two others, " hecontinued, "draw cutlasses, and keep guard over the prisoners. "

His orders were obeyed, and the two men stood by guarding Ram, Jemmy, and the cow, who blinked her eyes and smelt at the sea water from timeto time, raised her head and uttered a soft low, which was answered fromthe green top of the cliff two hundred feet above them, where anothercow stood gazing down. 

The lieutenant and Archy stood up in the boat watching and directing asDick and his companion searched about in all directions along the lowerledge, and then managed to climb up to the one twenty feet above, wherethe next minute Dick gave a shout. 

"Hah!" cried the lieutenant joyfully. "He has found them. "

Ram shut one of his eyes at Jemmy, who made a rumbling noise, but hisface did not change. 

"What is it, my lad?"

"Cave, " cried Dick. 

"What's in it?"

"Lobster-pots and old sail. All wore out. "

"Nothing else?"

"No, sir. "

"You go and look. "

The second man disappeared, but returned directly. 

"It's on'y a bit of a hole, sir, and there's nothin' else. "

The search was continued and ended, for the ledge was shut in by themighty wall of rock towering above their heads, and the lieutenant wassoon convinced that it was impossible for any one to climb that withouttackle from above. 

"Come back aboard, " he said. "You two stop and guard those prisoners. "

The sailors stepped back into the boat and resumed their oars, to rowsteadily east for about half a mile, past several shallow caves, butthey could not see one likely to become a hiding-place for smuggledgoods, and the rock rose higher and higher above their heads, precludingall ascent. 

The boat was rowed quickly back past where the prisoners sat contentedlyenough; save the cow, which kept making the great rock wall echo withher lowings, while three more of her kind now stood on high, gazing downat her plight. 

The lieutenant now had himself rowed west for about the same distance, but in this direction they did not pass a crack in the great rock wall, let alone a cave, and once more the gig was rowed back. 

"Get back into your boat, " said the little officer sharply. 

"Thank ye, sir, " cried Ram. "Come along, Jemmy. Find your littlebarrels?"

"Come aboard, my lads, " continued the lieutenant, without replying tothe question. "Make fast her painter to the ring-bolt here. "

This was done, a fresh order given, and, with the rough boat and cow intow, the gig began to make slowly for the cutter. 

Ram bent his head down in the boat. 

"Hist, Jemmy!" he whispered. 

"Hallo!"

"Shall we jump over and swim ashore?"

"Nay; what's the good?--they'd come arter us, and there's no gettingaway. "

"I say, " shouted Ram, "what are you going to do?"

Archy turned to the lieutenant. 

"Take no notice. A day or two aboard will make him speak. "

"The cow wants turning out to grass, " shouted Ram; but no heed beingpaid to his words, "Oh, very well, " he said, "I don't care. She'll die, and you'll have to pay for her. I wish my father knew. "

He need not have troubled himself to wish, for Farmer Shackle was lyingdown, hidden behind some stones on the top of the cliff, watching whatwas going on, with his brow rugged. He had heard enough of theconversation, after being attracted to the place by the action of hiscows, to know that the kegs had been discovered, and he smiled as hemade out that his boy and man were quite staunch, and would not say aword. 

"Won't get anything out o' them, " he muttered, as he watched thereturning boats. "Shall I tell old Graeme? No; that would only scarehim. They'll land a party, and come and search; but they won't dare togo to the Hoze, so I'll leave the stuff there and chance it. "

Having made up his mind to this, he lay behind the stones watching tillhe had seen Ram, Jemmy, and the cow on board the cutter and the boatsmade fast; after which, as he could see that the lieutenant was busywith his glass, he waited his opportunity, got a cow between him and thesea, and then with raised stick began to drive the cattle from theneighbourhood of the precipice, his action seeming perfectly natural, and raising no suspicion in the officer's breast. 

Farmer Shackle was quite right, for it was not long before a boat, well-filled with men, under the command of the midshipman and themaster, put off from the cutter, and began to row west to the littlecove, through whose narrow entrance a boat could pass to lie on thesurface of a cup-shaped depression, at whose head a limpid stream ofwater gurgled over the cleanly-washed shingle below the great chalkcliffs. 

Shackle saw them go, and, guessing their destination, chuckled; for intheir ignorance the search party were going to make a journey of twelveor fourteen miles round each way, when any one accustomed to the placewould have made the trip in less than two. 

"Well, let 'em go, " said Shackle; "but if they do find out, I'd betterhave my two boats out at sea, " and he thought of his luggers lying inthe little cup-like cove. "Nay there's no hurry; people won't be tooeager to tell 'em whose boats they are, and I might want to get away. "

He remained thinking about his son for a few minutes and then hiscountenance lightened. 

"Tchah!" he said; "they won't eat him, and they can't do anything butkeep him. They've found three kegs--that's all. Wish I'd been behindthe man who forgot 'em! He wouldn't forget that in a hurry. "

Farmer Shackle went home, and was saluted by the question--

"Found my Tally?"

"Yes, wife. "

"Drowned?"

"No; all right. "

That was sufficient for Mrs Shackle, who had some butter to make. 

Meanwhile the boat containing Archy Raystoke and Gurr the master, withher crew, was rowed steadily along under the cliffs, the deep waterbeing close up. It was a hot day and hard work, but the men pulled awaycheerfully, for a run ashore was a change. 

The opening into the cove was reached, and the boat run ashore, and oneman being left as keeper, the little well-armed party of a dozen menwere marched off along the narrow road toward the Hoze. 

Archy was in the highest of spirits, and meant to search everywhere inthe neighbourhood of the ledge, so as to cover himself with glory in theeyes of his superior officer. Old Gurr the master, who had been turnedover to the cutter for two reasons, that he was a good officer and a manwith a bad temper, found no pleasure in the walk whatever. 

Now he grumbled about his corns, and said he never saw such a road;worse than an old sea beach. Then he limped with the pain of an oldwound; and lastly, he forgot all about his troubles in the solace hefound in a huge quid of tobacco, with whose juice he plentifullybesprinkled the leaves of the brambles that were spread on either side. 

The men tramped on, exciting the interest of the people of the littlevillages that were passed--clusters of white rough stone houses by theroadside, whose occupants looked innocence itself, but there was hardlyone among them who could not have told tales about busy work on darknights, carrying kegs and bales, or packages of tobacco from the cliff, to some hiding-place in barn or cave. 

Old Gurr knew that, and he winked solemnly at the young midshipman. 

"Nice chickens, Mr Raystoke, " he said. 

"Where, Gurr?" cried Archy, who was growing fast, and wanted material tohelp nature. "Let's get some eggs to take back. "

"Eggs!" grumbled the weather-beaten officer; "I didn't mean fowls, Imeant people. "

"Oh!"

"Eggs, indeed! Their eggs is kegs o' brandy. Right Nantes; Hollandsgin. I know them. They're all in the game. Keep on, my lads. Steptogether like the sogers do. This here road's not the cutter's deck. "

The last order was not needed, for the men marched on cheerfully andwell, till they had passed on the inner side of the high cliff where Ramhad displayed his lanthorns, and following the rough road, came at lastto the scattered cottages occupied by Shackle's men, and those who hadonce been servants at the Hoze, before it had sunk down in the world, consequent upon its master's having espoused the wrong side, and itsservants were reduced to one old woman. 

As they reached the tiny hamlet, a short conference was held betweenArchy and the master, the latter, in a surly way, giving the lad a fewhints as to his proceedings, every suggestion, though, being full ofcommon sense. 

"We've no right to go searching their places, Mr Raystoke, but I shallmake a mistake. They won't complain. They daren't. "

"Why?"

"Hands are too dirty; if not with this job, with some other. "

So they halted the men, posted one at each end of the little place, soas to command a good view of any one attempting to carry off contrabandgoods, and went from house to house, the people readily submitting tothe intrusion and search, which in each case was without result. 

Every one of the cottages being tried, the men were marched down hillafter Archy, and stood for a few moments gazing out over the cliff, towhere the cutter lay at anchor, with the farmer's boat trailing outastern, and the air so clear that he could even see the cow tethered toa belaying pin, just in front of the mast. 

Five minutes after they came upon Fisherman-farmer Shackle himself, leaning over his gate and smoking a pipe, as he apparently contemplateda pig, and wondered whether he ought to make it fatter than it was. 

"Mornin', gentlemen, " he said, as Archy and the master came up, andhalted their men. 

"Good morning, " said Archy shortly. "Stand aside, please; we mustsearch all your places. "

"Search my places, squire--capt'n, I mean? He aren't here. "

"Who is not here? Are not you the master?"

"Ay, my lad, but I mean him you're searching for. Hi! Missus!"

"Yes, " came from within, and Mrs Shackle appeared wiping her hands. 

"Ain't seen a deserter, missus, have you? Capt'n here has lost one ofhis men. "

"If you'll let me speak, I'll explain, " said Archy sharply. "A cargo ofcontraband goods was landed on the rocks below the cliff last night, and--"

"You don't say so, master!" said Shackle earnestly. 

"I do say so, " cried Archy; "and you are suspected of having themconcealed here. "

"Me!" cried Shackle, bursting into a roar of laughter. "Me, MrOrficer? Do you know what I am?"

"No. "

"Why, I'm a farmer. Hi, missus, hear him! Young gent here thinks I'm asmuggler. That is a good un, and no mistake. "

Archy was taken aback for the moment, but he caught the eye of themaster, who was too old over the business to be easily hoodwinked. 

"The young gentleman's made quite a mistake, " said Mrs Shackledemurely. "P'r'aps he'd like a mug of our mead before he goes, and hismen a drop of home-brewed. "

"Ay, to be sure, " cried Shackle. "Put out the bread and cheese, missus, and I'll go and draw a drink or two. You'll take something too, won'tyou, master?"

"Yes; don't mind, " said Gurr, "but I'd rather take a tot o' right Nantesor Hollands. "

"Ay, so would I, " said Shackle, with a laugh, as his wife began tobustle about and get knives and plates; "but you've come to the wrongplace, master. I have heared o' people getting a drop from 'em, afterthey've used their horses and carts, but that's never been my luck; hasit, missus?"

"No, never, " said Mrs Shackle; and to herself, --"That's quite true. "

"You are very hospitable, " said Archy shortly; "but I've got my duty todo, sir. It's an unpleasant one, that we must search your place forcontraband goods. "

"Sarch? Oh, I give you my word, squire, there's nothing here. "

"We must see about that. "

"Well, this here arn't werry pleasant, Mr Orficer, seeing as I'm areg'lar loyal servant of the king. But theer, I don't mind if my missusdon't object. You won't mind, old gal, so long as they don't rip openthe beds and chuck the furniture all over the place?"

"I should like to see any of them doing it, that's all, " cried MrsShackle, ruffling up like a great Dorking hen who saw a hawk. 

"Nothing about the place shall be injured, madam, " said Archy politely;"but we must search. "

"Oh, very well then, " said Mrs Shackle; "but I must say it's veryrude. "

"Pray, forgive us, " said Archy, raising his hat; "we are His Majesty'sservants, and we do it in the king's name. "

Mrs Shackle responded with her best curtsey, and a smile came back inher face as the farmer said, --

"It's all right, missus; they're obliged to do it. Where will you beginfirst--what are you sarching for?"

"Brandy, " said Archy. 

"Oh, then, down in the cellar's the place, " said Shackle, laughing, andtaking three mugs from where his wife had placed them. "If it had beenfor silks and laces, I should have said go upstairs. "

He led the way to a door at the top of some stone steps. 

"One moment, " said Archy, and, giving orders to the men to separate, surround the premises, and search the outbuildings, then stationing twomore at the doors, and taking one, Gurr, to search upstairs, he followedthe farmer into a fairly spacious stone cellar, where there was a ciderbarrel in company with two of ale, and little kegs of elder wine andmead. 

"Sarch away, squire, " said Shackle bluffly, as he placed the mugs on thefloor and turned the wooden spigots. 

"That's elder wine in the little barrel. Say, you haven't seen anythingof a boy of mine in your travels? My lad and one of the men have goneafter a stray cow. I'm fear'd she's gone over the cliff. "

"They're all on board the cutter. "

"What? Well, that is good news. Full up here. Done sarching, sir?"

"Yes, " replied Archy, who began to feel more and more ashamed of beingsuspicious of so frank and bluffly hospitable a man. 

"Come along then. Your lads will be as pleased as can be with a mug ofmy home-brewed. "

As he led the way to the door the midshipman gave another glance round, seeing nothing in the slightest degree suspicious, and, a few minutesafter, the whole party was being refreshed, both officers quiteconvinced that there was nothing contraband on the premises. 

"What other houses are there near here?" asked Gurr at last. 

"Only one. The Hoze. "

"The Hoze?"

"Yes; Sir Risdon Graeme's. Yonder among the trees. Going up there?"

"Yes, of course, " said Archy shortly. 

"Yes, of course, " said the farmer, in assent. "But I'd be a bit easywith him, sir. Don't hurt his feelings. Gentleman, you see. "

"Don't be alarmed, " said the midshipman quietly. "I hope we shall notbe rude to any one. "

He moved towards the door, after saluting Mrs Shackle, the farmerleading the way, and pointing out the nearest path up the steep slope. 

"'Bout my cow, " he said. 

"I have no doubt that as soon as the lieutenant in command is satisfiedthat you had nothing to do with the smuggling, your people will be setat liberty. "

"And the cow?"

"And the cow of course. "

"Thank ye, sir; that's good news. I'll go and tell the missus. Straight on, sir; you can't miss it. "

"Ah, my fine fellow, " he continued, as he walked back, "if it hadn'tbeen for your gang with you, how easily I could have turned the key andkept you down in that cellar, where I wish I had your skipper too. "

"Oh, Blenheim!" said his wife, in an excited whisper, "how could youhelp them to go up to the Hoze? They'll find out everything now. "

"P'r'aps not, missus. I sent 'em, because if I hadn't they'd have foundthe way. We may get off yet, and if we do--well, it won't be the firsttime; so, here's to luck. "

As he spoke he opened a corner cupboard, took out a bottle of spiritswhich had never paid duty, poured out and drank a glass. 

"Thank you, " said a gruff voice. "I think, if you don't mind, farmer, I'll have a little taste of that. I came back to tell you that yourcider is rather harsh and hard, not to say sour, and I'm a manaccustomed to rum. "

As he spoke, Gurr the master stepped into the room, took the bottle fromthe farmer's hand, helped himself to a glass, and poured out and smeltthe spirit. 

"I say, farmer, " he said, as he tasted, "this is the right sort or thewrong sort, according to which side you are. "

"Only a little drop given me by a friend. "

"French friend, for any money, " said the master, drinking the glass. "Yes, that's right Nantes. I thought so from the first, farmer, and Iknow now I was right. "

He went off again, and Shackle stood shaking his fist after him. 

"And we'd got off so well, " he muttered. "I knew that rascal suspectedus. "

"Say me, Blenheim, " retorted Mrs Shackle. "I've begged you hundreds oftimes not to meddle with the business, but you would, and I'm your wifeand obliged to obey. Isn't Ram a long time bringing home that cow?"

"Yes, " said Shackle drily. "Very. "

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

Archy was some little distance ahead of his men, and he had just steppedinto the patch of woodland which surrounded the Hoze, when he heard apleasant little voice singing a snatch of a Jacobite song. 

He stopped short to listen, it sounded so bird-like and sweet, andhalf-laughingly he sang the last line over aloud, thinking the while howdisloyal he was. 

Hardly had he finished, when there was a burst of barking, a rush, and adog came hurrying toward him, followed by a voice crying--

"Grip, Grip, come here!"

The dog seemed to pay no heed to the call, and at a turn of the track, Archy saw him coming open-mouthed. 

It was not a pleasant sight, and the youth felt disposed to take to hisheels, and run for protection to his men. 

But there were drawbacks to such a proceeding. 

If he ran it would look cowardly, and he knew for certain that the dogwould come after him, and take him at a disadvantage; so, making avirtue of necessity, he whipped out his dirk and ran hard at the dog, who checked his pace, hesitated, stopped, barked more furiously thanever, and then turned round, and was chased by the midshipman, who drewup on finding himself face to face with Sir Risdon's daughter, out forher daily walk. 

The girl turned white, and was in the act of turning to run away, whenArchy's words arrested her. 

"No, no, " he cried, "don't run away. "

She stopped, and looked from his face to his dirk, and back. 

"Oh, I see, " he said, "that alarmed you. There, " he continued, sheathing the little weapon, "I only drew it because your dog looked sofierce. Does he bite?"

"Sometimes, I'm afraid. But were you coming to see my father? Who areyou?" she added uneasily, as she glanced at the lad's uniform. 

"I am Archibald Raystoke, of His Majesty's cutter _White Hawk_. "

"And you want to see my father?" cried the girl, beginning to tremble. 

"Well, yes, I ought to see him. The fact is, we have landed to searchfor a quantity of smuggled things, and to make a capture of thesmugglers if we can. "

Celia looked at him wildly, and her face grew more and more white. 

"Will you show me the way to the house? The Hoze you call it, do younot?"

Celia gave a quick, almost imperceptible nod, as she recalled how shehad lain in her clothes, and listened to the busy coming and going offootsteps, for the greater part of the night. 

As all this came to her mind, she felt at first as if she must run towarn her father. Then a giddy feeling of dread came over her, and shestood staring blankly at the frank-looking boy before her. 

"I know the great vault is full of smuggled things, " she said toherself, "and that they will think my father put them there. What shallI do?"

"Poor little lassie!" said Archy to himself, as he smiled complacently;"she has never seen an officer in uniform before, and I frightened herwith my drawn sword. "

At that moment, Gurr came up with the men, and Celia seemed as if turnedto stone. 

"This young lady lives at the house, Mr Gurr, " said Archy aloud, "andshe will show us the way. "

Poor Celia felt as if she could neither move nor speak. It seemedhorrible to her that she should have the task of guiding the king's men, perhaps to arrest her father. But just then she was brought to herselfby the behaviour of the dog, who, on seeing his mistress talking in afriendly way to the stranger who had chased him, had condescended to bequiet, but now that a fresh party of the enemy was approaching, set uphis bristles, and began to bark and growl furiously. 

"Down, Grip! Quiet!" she cried, and feeling bound to act, she went on, with the midshipman keeping close up, and putting in an apologetic wordabout giving her so much trouble. 

Celia could hardly keep down a hysterical cry, as she caught sight ofher father and mother, the latter with her hand upon the former's arm. They had been taking their customary walk in the neglected garden, andSir Risdon was about to lead his pale, careworn lady up the steps, whenthe snarling and subdued barking of Grip made him turn his head, and hestopped short with his lips almost white. 

"What is it?" whispered Lady Graeme, as she saw the uniforms and weaponsof the men. 

"The end!" said the unhappy man, as he looked wildly at his wife. "Theresult of my weakness. They are on the scent of the smuggled goods, andI am to be called to account for their possession. Better that we hadstarved!"

Lady Graeme caught his hand, and pressed it hard. 

"Be firm, " she whispered; "you will betray yourself. "

"Well, " he replied bitterly, "why not? Better so than being the slaveof that wretched man. I feel that I am worse than he. I do knowbetter, he does not. "

Recalling that he was in the presence of a gentleman, Archy raised hishat, advanced and said, apologetically, who and what they were. Thathis was a very unpleasant duty, but that as a gentleman, Sir Risdonwould see that the king's officers had no alternative but to carry outtheir duty. 

"Of course not, sir, " said Sir Risdon. "I understand, sir, you wish tosearch. Very well, I shall raise no objection. Proceed. "

"Shall we close the men all round the house?" said the master, coming upafter halting the men. 

"Wait a minute, " replied Archy. "Really, I hardly think it is necessaryfor us to commit so serious an act of rudeness towards a gentleman. Perhaps Sir Risdon Graeme will be good enough to assure me. "

"No, sir, " said the baronet sternly; "I shall make no obstacle. Youhave your duty to do; pray proceed. "

The midshipman hesitated, and looked from one to the other, seeing LadyGraeme standing pale, handsome, and statuesque by her husband's side, while on the other side was Celia, holding her father's hand, andresting her forehead against his arm. 

"I won't do it, I can't, " thought Archy. "Why didn't he say out at oncehe had no knowledge of the affair, and send us about our business?"

At that moment, he felt his sleeve plucked, and turning angrily round, he saw the elderly master, who had been standing hat in hand, greatlyimpressed by Lady Graeme's dignity. 

"We're on the wrong tack, Mr Raystoke, sir, " he whispered. 

"Think so, Gurr?" said Archy joyfully. 

"Oh, yes! These are not the sort o' folk to do that kind o' thing. Apologise, and I'll give the order to march. It goes through me like aknife. "

Archy drew a long breath, and was about to retire his men, when he heardsomething which made him bound forward, for Celia, unable to bear thehorror and alarm any longer had suddenly swooned away. 

The midshipman was too late, for Sir Risdon had bent down, raised hischild, and was about to carry her into the house. 

He turned fiercely on the young officer. 

"Well, sir, " he said sternly, "you have your duty to do; pray go on, andthen relieve my wife and child of the presence of your men. "

"I beg your pardon, Sir Risdon, " said Archy quickly. "No one couldregret this more than I do. You see I am only a young officer, quite aboy, and was sent on this unpleasant duty. "

"Go on, sir, go on!"

"Oh, no!" cried the lad; "I am unwilling to search the place. I'm sureif our lieutenant knew he would not wish it for a moment. "

The baronet gazed at the boy wildly, as he clasped his child to hisbreast. 

"You--you are not going to search?" he said hesitatingly. 

"No, of course not. Pray forgive me. I'll lead my men back to the boatat once. "

He raised his hat to Lady Graeme, an example followed by the masterclumsily, as he backed away to the men, whom he faced round, the orderwas given, and they began to march back. 

As they disappeared among the trees, Sir Risdon stooped down and kissedhis child's forehead passionately. 

"Wife, " he said, in a deep, husky voice, "I never felt the misery anddegradation of my position so cruelly before. Take her up to her room. "

"What are you going to do, Risdon?" exclaimed the lady. 

"Follow that poor lad, and let him know the truth. I will not let himfail in his duty, to rescue that old scoundrel down below. "

"No, no! You must not. It would be too cruel, " whispered Lady Graemewildly. "Think of the consequences. "

"I do, " said Sir Risdon sternly. "I should have behaved like what Ihave a right to be called--a gentleman. "

"And make our fortunes ten times worse. You would be torn from us. What are poverty and disgrace to that?"

"You are cruel, " said Sir Risdon bitterly. "I must, woman; I tell you Imust. If this poor child should ever know into what a pit I haveallowed myself to be led, how can I ever look her in the face again?"

"It would kill her for you to be taken away, to be punished, perhaps, for that which you could hardly help. "

"No, she would soon forget. "

"And I should soon forget?" said Lady Graeme reproachfully. 

Sir Risdon turned to her wildly, as she laid her head upon his breast. 

"If you were taken from us, it would kill me too, " she said tenderly;and then in silence, they bore their insensible child into theforbidding-looking house. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

"Think we've done right, my lad?" said Gurr, after they had half waydescended the slope. 

"Yes, of course. How could we search the house of a gentleman likethat?"

"Oh, easy enough. "

"It was impossible. "

"But suppose, after all, he has got all the stuff hid away. Some men'svery artful, as you'll find out some day. Oughtn't we to go back?"

He paused as he said these words, and then laid his hand firmly onArchy's shoulder. 

"I didn't tell you, " he said, "what I saw when I went back to the farm. "

"No! What?" cried the midshipman eagerly. 

"That old chap having a glass of real smuggled spirits. "

"How do you know it was?"

"Because I tasted it. No mistake about that, I can tell you. Then hewas very eager to get me to go up yonder, and that looks bad. He knowsall about it. "

"Nonsense! If he knew that the smuggled goods were up there he wouldn'tsend us to find them. "

"How do you know? That may have been his artfulness, to keep us fromsearching. If he'd as good as said don't go up there, and tried to stopus, we should have gone at once. "

"But we can't go back and search, Gurr. Suppose we did go and ransackedthe place, and hurt everybody's feelings, and then found nothing, whatshould we look like then?"

"Silly, " said the master laconically, and for a time he was silent, marching on behind the men. "All comes of being sent on such dooty, " heburst out with. "It isn't right to send gentlemen and officers to dosuch dirty work. I've been ashamed of myself ever since I've been onthe cutter. Hallo! Here's the farmer again. "

For they had suddenly come upon Shackle driving an old grey horse beforehim as if going on some farming business, and he started apparently froma fit of musing as he came abreast. 

"Ah, gentlemen, " he said; "going back?"

"Yes, " said Gurr smartly. 

"Found the stuff?"

"No. "

"I say. "

"Well?"

"Are you sure there was anything landed there last night?"

"Of course we are. "

"Oh, I didn't know. Good day, gentlemen, good day. "

He went on after his horse chuckling to himself, while the search partymade for the track to get back to the cove and row back. 

But before they were half way there, Archy who had been thinking deeply, suddenly said to Gurr--

"I say, though, isn't he right?"

"What about, my lad?"

"Are we sure that a cargo was landed last night?"

"Didn't you and the skipper find three kegs?"

"Yes, but they might have been there a month ago. "

"Why, of course, my lad. Here, let's go and tell the skipper so. How Ido hate being sent upon a wild-goose chase like this!"

The rest of the journey to the cove was performed almost in silence;they then embarked, heartily tired with their walk, and ready enough totake the rest of the burden of their journey on their hands and arms byrowing steadily and well, the tide being in their favour. 

"Yes, I do hate these jobs, " said the master after a long silence. "Seethat the people was nodding and winking to one another as we went bytheir cottages?"

"Yes, I did see something of the kind once or twice, " replied Archy. 

"Laughing at us, and knowing we should find out nothing, while they knewall the time. "

The first thing plainly visible as the boat approached the cutter wasthe head of Tally gazing contemplatively at them over the side, as ifanxious to know what news there was from home, and directly after Ramand Jemmy looked over in a quiet stolid way, as if not troubled in theleast by the fact that they were prisoners. 

"Well, Mr Raystoke, " cried the lieutenant, as the young midshipmansprang over the side; "found the cargo and left two men in charge, eh?"

"No, sir. "

"Tut--tut--tut! What is the use of having you for my first officer. You ought to have searched everywhere, and found it. "

"We did search everywhere, sir, nearly, but didn't find it. "

"Oh! What's that? Nearly? Then where didn't you search?"

Archy told him and his reasons. 

"Humph! Ha! Well, I don't know: Government has no bowels ofcompassion, Mr Raystoke. I'm afraid you ought to have searched theGloves. "

"Hoze, sir, Hoze. "

"Oh well, gloves, hose, gloves, all the same; only one's for downstairs, the other up. Stupid name for a place. "

"You think, then, I haven't done my duty, sir. "

"Yes, Mr Raystoke, as an officer I do; but as a gentleman I'm afraid Ithink I should have done just the same. "

"I'm very sorry, sir. I wanted to do what is right. "

"And you let your amiability step in the way, sir. That cargo must berun to earth. "

"But is it quite certain, sir, that there was a cargo run?"

"My good fellow, " cried the little lieutenant impatiently, "if you founda skin lying on the beach, wouldn't you feel sure that it had once had asheep in it?"

"Yes, sir, if it was a sheepskin. "

"Bah! Don't try to chop logic here; go below and get something to eat, while I make up my mind what I shall do. "

Archy went into the cabin, not at all satisfied with the result of hisrun ashore, and he did not feel much better after his meal, when he wenton deck just in time to find the lieutenant laying down the law to Ramand Jemmy Dadd. 

"There, " he was saying, "take your cow and go ashore. I'm not going tokeep you prisoners, but the eye of the law is upon you, and thissmuggling will be brought home to you both. Be off!"

"Shan't Jemmy milk the cow again before we go?" said Ram, with a grin, that might have been friendly or mocking. 

"No!" thundered the lieutenant. "Here, Mr Gurr, see these smugglingscoundrels off the deck. "

This was soon done, the cow being easily got into the boat, and just asit was growing dark Ram stood up to push from the side. 

"I say, " he cried again, addressing Archy, "is that thing sharp?"

The midshipman did not condescend to answer, but stood gazingthoughtfully over the side, till the boat gradually seemed to die awayin the faint mist of the coming night. 

"Well, Raystoke, what are you thinking?" said a voice behind him, and hestarted round. 

"I was just thinking of coming to you, sir. "

"Eh, what for?"

"It seems to me, sir, that if that cargo was run, and is hidden anywherenear, they'll be moving it to-night. "

"Of course. Raystoke, you'll be a great man some day. I shouldn't havethought of that. Well, what do you propose?"

"To go ashore, and watch. "

"Of course. My dear boy, if you can help me to capture a few of thesewretched people, I shall get promoted to a better ship, and you shallcome with me. I won't rest till I am post-captain, and as soon as youcan pass, you shall be my lieutenant. There, select your crew and beoff at once. "

"No, sir; that will not do. They'll be on the watch, and if they see aboat's crew land, they'll do nothing to-night. "

"Then what do you propose?"

"Don't laugh at me, sir, and call me stupid; but I've been thinking thatif I could be set ashore, dressed as one of the boys, I might go aboutunnoticed. And if they were moving the cargo, I could see where theytook it, and then you could land the men. "

"Oh, you'll be an admiral before I shall, boy. That's it; but will youdo it?"

"If you'll let me, sir. "

"Let you? Here, Mr Gurr, help Mr Raystoke, and--stop though; I don'tthink I can let you go alone, my lad. "

"If I don't go alone, sir, it's of no use. "

"You are right. Then we'll risk it; but if the smugglers kill you, don't come and blame me. Have the boat ready, Mr Gurr. Here, Raystoke, come down into the cabin at once. "

CHAPTER TEN. 

Half an hour after, a dirty-looking sailor lad slipped down into theboat, with his worsted cap pulled well down over his eyes, and anuncomfortable feeling about his chest, as he sat back in thestern-sheets by Gurr the master. 

"Lay your backs well into it, my lads, " said the lieutenant, "and tryand land him without being seen. "

"Ay, ay, sir!" came from the men, the boat began to surge through thestill water, and the boy tried to shift the lion's head which formed thetop of his dirk handle. 

This he had placed inside the breast of his woollen shirt, ready for useif wanted, but it promised to hurt him more than any enemy, and hewished he had left it on board. 

"No talking, lads, " said the master, "and don't splash. "

The oars had been muffled, and they glided along through the faint mist, in a ghostly way, well in the shadow of the cliffs, Gurr keeping up awhispered conversation with the lad by his side. 

"It's no use to ask you 'bout where you are going first, sir, " whisperedthe master, "because I suppose it will all be chance. But you'll go upto the farm, eh?"

"Yes, I shall go there. "

"And up to that big house?"

Archy was silent. 

"Ah, well; it's your plan, and you must do what you think's best, onlytake care of yourself, and if they're after you, don't make for the sea, that's where they'll think you would go. Make inland for the woods, andhide there. "

Archy nodded, and no more was said during the dark journey. They wereso close to the huge wall of rocks that it seemed as if they were alivewith strange marine creatures, which kept on writhing and whisperingtogether, and making gasping and sucking noises, as the tide heaved andsank among the loose rocks and seaweed, while Archy could not divesthimself of the idea that they were watched by people keeping pace withthem higher up on the top of the cliff. 

"Wonder whether those two have landed the cow by this time?" whisperedGurr, breaking in upon one of Archy's reveries, in which he saw himselffollowing a band of smugglers laden with contraband goods. 

"I don't know, " he replied. "We must take care they do not see us. "

"Not likely on a dark night like this. Won't be so foggy, though, as'twas last. "

Nothing was seen or heard of the late prisoners' boat, and for very goodreasons; and at last they found themselves abreast of the opening intothe cove, where they lay upon their oars for a time listening. 

All was still. Not a sound to be heard on either of the luggers lyingat their buoys, and no light was visible at the cottages at the head ofthe little bay. 

"I might venture now, " whispered Archy. "Have me rowed close in to theshingle beach on the right, not close ashore, but so that I can wade in. I shall drop over the side where it's about two feet deep. Let themback in and we can try the depth with the boat-hook. "

The order was whispered, the boat glided in through the broad opening, was turned quickly, and then the men backed water till told to stop, Archy, who had the boat-hook over the side, suddenly finding it touchthe shingly bottom at the depth of about a foot. 

"Good-bye, " he whispered, and, gliding over the side, he softly wadedashore and stood on the beach. 

It looked light in front, where the limestone rocks had given place tochalk, but to right, left, and seaward, all was black as night, andstepping cautiously along, the lad approached the cottages, listeningattentively, but not hearing a sound save the gurgling of water as ittrickled under the stones on its way to the sea. 

As he reached the track leading past the cottages he had a narrow escapefrom falling over a boat that was drawn up on the stones, but he savedhimself with a jerk; and, feeling hot with the sudden start, he turnedand crouched down, but there was not a sound to indicate that he hadbeen heard, and drawing a long breath he stepped on to reach the hardearth where his feet were not among the water-worn pebbles, and in a fewminutes he was on the road he had traversed twice that day, and walkingfast toward the farm. 

Once or twice he hesitated, for the way lay so low down in the valley, with the hills towering up to such a height on either side, that thenight seemed as dark as during the fog of the previous night; but he gotalong over the ground pretty well in spite of its seeming more hilly andrough, till at the end of about an hour and a half he felt that he mustbe approaching the farm, and he advanced more cautiously, listening forfootsteps and voices from time to time. 

There was a good broad green marge to the lane about here, and hestepped on to it, the turf deadening his footsteps. 

"But I don't recollect seeing this grass in the morning, " he thought;and then he stopped short, for it suddenly occurred to him that he hadnot come upon the cluster of houses where the people smiled and noddedat one another as they passed. 

"I can't have trailed off into another road, can I?" he said to himself, as he felt quite startled and turned hot. 

He looked round, but it was too dark to make out anything, and he wasabout to start on again, comforting himself with the idea that he mustbe right, when he heard at a distance the _pat-pat_ of feet on hardground, and drew back close up to the side to stoop down among somebrambles, which told him at once after their fashion what they were. 

"If I only dared ask whoever this is, " thought Archy, "I should do. "

His thoughts took another direction directly, for, apparently abouttwenty yards away, he heard some one sneeze, and then mutterimpatiently, followed by another sneeze. 

And all the while the regular _pat-pat_ of footsteps came from hisright, but not as he had come, for the sound was as if some one wasapproaching by a road which came at right angles to the one he was in. 

Archy crouched there, breathless and listening, wondering who the mancould be who was perfectly silent now, but he had not moved away unlessthe turf had silenced his footprints. 

"How lucky it was I stopped!" thought the midshipman. "I should havewalked right on to him and been caught. "

The steps came nearer, and at last it seemed as if they were going topass on, when a gruff voice from close by said, --

"Well, lad?"

There was a sudden stoppage, and an exclamation, and--

"Made me jump, master. "

"Don't talk foolery, " said the first voice in impatient tones, and toArchy it was unmistakable. He had heard both voices before. "What haveyou made out?"

"Nothing. "

"No boat landed?"

"Nor no sign o' one, master. Both lads swear as no one has passed alongthe lane. "

"Wouldn't take the upper lane, would they?"

"Not likely. "

"Upper lane!" thought Archy. Had he taken the upper lane in thedarkness, and so missed the men on the watch?

"Didn't hear the sailors say nothing on the cutter, did you?"

"Not a word. "

The middy's heart seemed to give a throb. He did know that voice then. It was that of the man who had been detained with the boy, and thisother, he was sure, was the voice of the farmer. 

"Going to keep on watching?"

"Of course. They'll be up to some game to trap us safe. Ought to getthat stuff away. "

"No, I wouldn't, master; it's safe enough now. "

"You're a fool, " came back in a savage growl. "Anybody but you and thatmole-eyed boy would have seen the kegs before them sailors. "

"Did see 'em--when it was too late, " grumbled the other. 

"Well, go back; and take off them boots, and hang 'em round your neck. I could hear you a mile away. "

"Right. "

"Go and tell 'em to keep a sharp look-out in the cove, and then to runthe moment a boat comes in sight. "

"No boat won't come in sight to-night. Dark. "

"Then the moment you hear one. "

"They won't come to-night, master. "

"Go and do as I tell you, " said the other savagely. 

"It's the farmer and his man, " thought the listener; "and there issomething wrong. "

He wondered what he had better do. Should he give notice to them on thecutter?

The answer came at once. How could he? He had made no plans for that. 

"Off you go, " was said roughly, and the rustling sound seemed toindicate that the man had gone back toward the cove. 

Archy listened patiently for the next movement of the farmer, but hecould detect nothing, and he was feeling sure that the man was stillwatching and listening, when he heard a sneeze at a distance followed bya muttering sound, and knew that he must have moved off. 

Without a moment's hesitation the lad followed, keeping along the grassymarge of the road, and listening intently to make out at last the dullsound of steps, which told that the man who made them was walkingbarefoot. 

As far as he could judge now, Archy was in the proper road, and as hewalked along he tried to understand what was going on, coming at last tothe conclusion at which he had at first jumped, that something would bedone that night if the farmer and his people were certain that theywould not be disturbed. 

As he thought he walked cautiously on, wondering what he had better do, and seeing at last a bright light in front high up a slope, and anotheraway to his right much higher. 

A little consideration told him that the first was at the farm; theother high up, facing toward the sea, must be up at the Hoze. 

Trusting more to chance than plan, the midshipman went on and on, following Farmer Shackle; the task becoming easy now, for as he nearedthe lights the man grew more careless, so that it was easy to trace hismovements, which were evidently homeward, till a few minutes later Archysaw him pass the glowing window, swing open a door from which came aburst of light, pass in, and the door was closed. 

Archy stood outside with a vague belief that before long the man wouldcome out, and perhaps go to the spot where the cargo was hidden. 

As he waited he could not help turning his eyes in the direction of thelong, solitary house in the patch of woodland, and found himselfwondering whether he should ever go up there again. 

After waiting about a quarter of an hour outside the farm, with his backagainst one of the roughly piled-up stone walls of the district, Archybegan to think it was very dull, and his expectations of a discovery oran adventure grew less and less. All was very quiet at the farm, soquiet that he determined at last to go and peer in at the window to seeif the farmer was likely to come out again, because if this were not sohe was wasting his time. 

"But they are not likely to do anything without him, " he thought. 

Advancing cautiously, he entered the garden, and was just going up tothe window, when the door was thrown open, and he dropped down behind abush as the farmer strode out. 

"He must see me, " thought Archy. "What a position for an officer to bein!"

"Eh?" exclaimed Shackle, turning sharply round, as if to answer hiswife. "Oh yes. Ought to have been here by now. "

This gave the midshipman a moment's breathing time; and he had drawnhimself up behind the bush by the time the farmer had closed the door, the sudden change from darkness to light preventing Shackle from seeingthe spy upon his proceedings. 

Just as he was passing he stopped short, uttering an ejaculation; andfeeling that he was seen, the midshipman was about to leap up, jump overthe low wall, and run, when he heard steps. 

He lay still, hoping that this might have drawn forth the exclamation, but for the next few moments he was in agony. 

Then came relief. 

"That you, Ramillies?"

"Yes, father. "

"Well?"

"I think it's all right. Carts are coming, and all the lads are downthe roads. "

"All?"

"No. Two of 'em's down by the cove, but they won't send anybody fromthe cutter to-night. "

"Not so sure of it, my boy, --not so sure. Can't be too careful. 'Tain't as if we were obliged to move 'em to-night. Landing a cargo'sone thing; getting it away another. Well, we'll try. You're surethey're keeping good watch at the cove?"

"Yes, father. "

"What sort of an officer did he seem on the cutter?"

"Little, fat, sleepy chap. "

"And the others?"

"Don't seem to be no others, only that cocky-hoopy middy, who cameashore with the men. I should like to ketch him ashore some day. "

One of Archy's legs gave a twitch at the first remark about him, and thetwitch occurred in his right arm at the second. 

"Don't chatter. Not very sharp sort of officer, eh?"

"No, father. Sort of chap who'd go to sleep all night. "

Archy began wondering. He had thought the boy a dull, stupid-lookingbumpkin, and he was finding out how observing he had been. 

"Well, we'll risk it, boy. Come along. "

Archy's heart gave a bound. 

Here was news! He had been growing dull and disheartened, thinking thathis expedition was foolish and impossible, and here at once he hadlearned what he wanted. He knew that now all he had to do was to takeadvantage of every wall and tree, even to creep along the ground ifnecessary, and he would be able to follow the smugglers to the placewhere they had hidden the run cargo, watch them bring it out, and thentrack them to the fresh hiding-place. 

He would thus learn everything, and be able at daybreak to make his wayto the cliff, signal for a boat, and a grand capture would be made. 

His heart beat high as he thought of the lieutenant's delight, and ofthe joy there would be amongst the men, for this would mean prize-money, and perhaps the means of deluding the vessel that had brought the cargointo a trap, so that it could be captured, and more prize-money as wellas honour be the result. 

It did not take him long to think all this; and then he rose cautiouslyand dropped down again, for the door was re-opened, and the light beamedout so that the watcher felt that he must be seen. 

"That my Rammy?" cried Mrs Shackle. 

"Yes, " growled the farmer; "keep that door shut and your mouth too. "

"But do be careful, master. I don't want him took prisoner again. "

"It's all right, mother. "

"Come along, boy. "

Archy heard the departing steps, and began to suffer a fresh agony ofsuspense. He could not stir, for the farmer's wife stood at the opendoor, and the slightest movement would have caused a discovery; and allthe time he could hear the footsteps growing more and more faint. 

"Oh!" he said to himself; "and it's so dark I shan't be able to tellwhich way they have gone. "

What should he do? Start up and run?

If he did the woman was certain to raise an alarm; and, knowing that, hecould do nothing but wait till she went in, when he might chance to pickup the clue again. 

His heart beat so loudly that he felt as if it must be heard, but MrsShackle was too intent upon listening to the departing footsteps, whichgrew more faint till they died out entirely, and as they passed away themidshipman's heart sank. 

"Had all my trouble for nothing, " he thought. "So near success, and yetto fail!"

"Ah, deary deary me!" said a voice from close at hand, "I'm very sickand tired of it all. I wish he'd be content with his cows and sheep. "

Mrs Shackle drew back as she said this, the door closed, and Archysprang up, darted out of the gateway, and hurried along the path as fastas the darkness would allow, stopping from time to time to listen. 

For a long time he could hear nothing. He was descending the slopetoward the road leading to the cove, as far as he could tell, for itseemed to him likely that the farmer and his son had gone in thatdirection; but as he went on and on, and was unable to detect a sound, he felt that he must be wrong, and stopped short, listening intently. 

"Bother the woman!" he thought; "it's all through her. They'll go andget all the cargo from the hiding-place, and take it somewhere, and Ishall know nothing. "

He bit his lip with disappointment, and gave an angry stamp on thegrass. 

"I'll go back, and try some other way. "

Easy to determine, but hard to carry out in the darkness, and in a placewhich seemed quite changed at night. There should be a lane or trackleading down to the cliff he knew, but where it was he could not say; infact, at that moment, in his confusion, he could hardly tell for certainthat he was on the road leading right away to the cove. 

"I may just as well be moving, " he said at last despondently. "Oh, if Icould only have followed them up!"

His heart gave a bound just then, for plainly on the night air came adull sound, as of footsteps on grass. Then there was a whisper, anddirectly after he knew that a number of people were coming quicklytoward him. 

A moment or two later he heard a rattling noise, which he recognised asthat made by a horse shaking his harness, and once more Archy's heartbeat high. 

There had not been time for them--if those people coming were thesmugglers--to fetch the cargo, and they must be coming in his direction. 

"What shall I do?" thought the watcher; "lie down and let them pass, orgo on?"

He decided on the latter course, and finding that he was in a lanebounded by stone walls, he went on, pausing from time to time to makesure that he was being followed. 

This proved to be the case, the people getting nearer and nearer, and itwas a curious experience to hear the whispering of voices and tramplingof feet coming out of the darkness. 

"Walking on the side turf, " said Archy to himself, as he kept on, tofind after a few minutes that the stone wall on his left had ceased, buthe could feel that the road went on, and heard the people coming. 

A minute or two later he realised that he was going up hill; then theslope grew steeper, and he paused again to listen. 

He was quite right. They were coming on steadily, and he knew thatthere must be twenty or thirty people; but he could hear no horses now. 

"They've stopped at the foot of this steep place, " he thought, as hewent on and on, the people still advancing fast, and all at once, as hewent on, a sudden thought ran through him like a stab. For he hadguessed at least the direction in which he was going in the blackdarkness; he was once more ascending the slope toward the patch ofwoodland high up the hill, and the place of deposit of the smuggledgoods must be the Hoze. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

A feeling of misery that he could not have explained came over ArchyRaystoke as he grasped the position, and he wished that he had neverundertaken the task he had in hand. 

For it seemed so shocking that the noble-looking lady and gentleman hehad seen that day should be in league with a gang of smugglers, and havelent their out-of-the-way house to be a depository for the contrabandgoods. 

"Oh, it's impossible, " he said to himself. "They could not. Thescoundrels have hidden the things somewhere up in the wood by the house, thinking that nobody would come in there to search. "

"The artful rascal!" said Archy to himself, feeling better now that hehad put this interpretation upon the proceedings; and, knowing his waybetter now, and thinking of the dog the while, he hurried on, and hadnearly reached the house, meaning to hide somewhere among the abundantshrubs which surrounded it till the smugglers had passed, when all doubtas to the party being those he was tracking was chased away by hishearing a voice just before him say, --

"All right, father. Here they come. "

Archy stopped short, as he felt his position. The farmer and his sonhad come up here, and were waiting for the men to act as carriers. 

"What shall I do?" he asked himself, for he was between two parties, anda step might mean discovery. In fact, if the last speaker had taken astep forward, he must have detected the spy's presence. 

There was no time for thought Archy stood for a moment or two as ifparalysed; then, as he heard the farmer's gruff voice, he dropped down, and began to crawl among the bushes. 

"Been a long time coming; here, go in and get the lanthorns now. "

At that moment Archy was brought up by a wall, over which he passed hishands, to find that he was directly after touching iron bars close tothe ground. 

It was some building, and then, as he crouched there, he was consciousof a peculiar odour, which told him not only that this was a cellar, butone in which brandy was stored. 

Again he felt a strange sensation of misery. He had accidentally hitupon the place where the cargo had been hidden, and it must be in thecellar of the Hoze, and not in the wood. 

He wished he had not made the discovery now, and felt ready to retreat, for it would be horrible to have to tell the lieutenant, giving him suchinformation as would lead to the arrest of the tall, careworn man whohad impressed him so strangely that day. 

All at once he was conscious of a gleam of light, following a faintnoise, and right before him he saw the fluttering blue flame of abrimstone match, which blue began to turn yellow and illumine the faceof the boy who had been a prisoner, and two great stacks of kegs andbales, reaching nearly from floor to ceiling of a low vault. 

The light shone out through the grated window, by which he was on handsand knees, and feeling that he would be at once recognised if his facewas seen, he crept on under the wall a few yards, and lay flatlistening, as he wished that there was time for him to get down to thecliff, and signal for help, to capture the smugglers and their store. 

An impossibility, he knew, for the cargo might be all gone long beforehe could reach the cutter, even if a boat were waiting; beside which, hefelt that he did not want to tell all he had seen, for if he did, whatwould follow with respect to those he had spoken with that day?

"Now, my lads, in with you, " cried a familiar voice. "Load up carefullywhen you get down to the carts, and we shall get all snug beforedaylight. "

A murmur of acquiescence followed, and they began to tramp very close towhere the midshipman lay, expecting every moment to be seen. 

He crouched down as low as he could, not daring to raise even his head, and wondering whether the bright hilt of his dirk would show, and hethrust it farther into his breast. Then he wondered whether he couldback softly away; but that was impossible, for the light came frombehind him, through the grated window, while escape forward wasimpossible, as he was close to a door through which shadowy forms werepassing in. 

There was nothing for it but to lie still, and trust to his not beingseen, when the next minutes were made agreeable by a host ofrecollections regarding the treatment received by those who betrayedsmugglers, of the desperate fights there had been, how many had beenkilled, and a shudder ran through the lad as he recalled the story of aman who had played the spy, somewhere about the south coast, beingthrown from a cliff, and literally smashed. 

"They'll see me, I know they'll see me, " thought Archy; "but I'm aking's officer, young as I am, and I'll show them that I can fight formy life like a man. "

As this thought struck him, his hand went involuntarily to his side toget a good grip of and draw his dirk. 

The movement betrayed him, for, before he could quite realise that hisdirk was hidden in his breast, he was seized by two great muscularhands, dragged into a standing position, and he could dimly see a facepeering into his, as a voice, which he recognised as the farmer's, growled savagely--

"Who's this?"

Before he could struggle or answer, the man went on fiercely--

"Why, you lazy, shuffling, young villain! Sit there and skulk, whilethe others do the work, would you? Come on!"

Before the midshipman could recover from his surprise, he felt himselfrun forward by the two hands which had been dropped on his shoulders, thrust through the door, the farmer whispering savagely, "Work, or I'llbreak your neck;" and giving him a fierce push and a kick, which drovehim along a passage, where on his left was the open doorway into thedimly lit cellar. 

So great was the impetus given, that but for a desperate effort to keephis feet, and a bound or two, the lad would have gone down upon hisface. 

As it was, the actual first leap took him level with the door of thecellar, the second right on to a flight of steps beyond in the darkness, and as he stood panting there, he realised the meaning of the oldsmuggler's mistake; for he had forgotten that he was roughly dressed asa sailor boy, and had a red worsted tasselled cap, well drawn-down overhis besmirched face. 

As Archy stood there in the darkness, at the foot of the stair which heknew must lead up into the house, he looked back to see a man come outof the cellar, his figure just dimly seen by the light from within andbelow, and over the man's shoulders were swung a couple of kegs. 

Archy held his breath, and felt that in all probability the farmer hadcontented himself with driving him in to work, for he made no furthermovement, and the coming out of this man, and another who followeddirectly, completely reassured him. It was evident, too, that they didnot know of his presence, and with his heart beating with hopes ofescape, as he more and more understood that he had been taken for one ofthe boys of the gang, he backed softly up the steps, more and more intothe darkness, till further progress was stayed by a door. 

Here he stopped, panting, and holding his hand upon his throbbing heart. Then feeling that he would be seen directly if a lanthorn were broughtinto the passage, he pressed the lock, it yielded, and he stepped softlyup on to a stone floor. 

Here all was blacker than before, but it was a haven of refuge, and hepassed in and softly closed the door behind him, to stand listening. 

All was still as death, and he began to ask himself what he should donext. He dared not stay where he was, for if the smugglers were so muchat home at the Hoze that they could come like this by night, the farmeror some one else might at any moment come up those steps with a light, and then discovery was certain. 

But what to do? A closet--a room--a staircase--an open window leadingin another direction to that where the men were busy! If he could findany of these he might be safe, and he was about to try and search forsome means of concealment or escape when a cold shudder of superstitiousdread ran through him, and he began to recall all he had read of hauntedhouses, for from somewhere in the darkness in front of him, he heard alow, piteous cry. 

Archy was as courageous as most boys of his age, as he was proving byhis adventurous acts; but this sound, heard by a lad living in ageneration wanting in our modern enlightenment, paralysed him. Hisblood seemed to run cold, his lips parted, his throat felt dry, and apeculiar shiver ran over his skin, accompanied by a sensation as if tinyfingers, cold as ice, were parting and turning his hair. 

Again the sigh came, to be followed by a cold current of air, whichswept across the boy's face, and then there was a low rustling sound, which hovered in front of him, and went up and up and up, and thenslowly died away. 

Archy's first impulse, as he recovered himself a little in the silencewhich followed, was to turn, open the door, and flee. But he hesitated. It would be right into the hands of the enemy. Besides, the terriblychilling sounds he had heard had ceased, and he felt less cowardly. 

"Perhaps, " he said to himself, "it was fancy, or nothing to be afraidof. "

A heavy step on the other side of the door alarmed him more, andstretching out his hands, he stepped forward, went cautiously on and on, and at the end of a few yards touched what felt like panelling. Thenext moment he realised that he had reached a door, which was yielding, and he passed into a room, to scent the cool night air, and hear subduedsounds without and below. 

He was in a room over the cellar, he was sure, and the window was wideopen. He crept to it, guided by the cold air which came in, and hadjust reached it when he heard rapid footsteps, and some one panted, --

"Where's the skipper?"

"Here. What is it?" whispered Shackle, who seemed close to where themidshipman stood. 

"Jemmy Dadd--came from the cove. Boat's crew landed. "

"Run down and tell them all to come back, " said Shackle hoarsely. 

"I did, and they're coming. I met first man. "

"Right! Get all back in quick!"

As he finished speaking, Archy could hear the dull, soft steps of ladenmen returning, and more and more kept coming, and it was soon evidentthat they were quickly and silently replacing the kegs they had beencarrying down hill to where tumbrils were waiting for a load. 

The midshipman stood a little way back from the window, seeing nothing, but drinking all this in, and in imagination grasping the whole scenewhich went on for the next quarter of an hour or so, by which time thelast load seemed to have been brought back. 

As he listened, he wondered what boat's crew it could be that hadlanded, as no arrangement had been made for any help to be sent till heeither signalled from the cliff or went down to the cove at twelve thenext day, where a boat would be about half a mile out, with two men inher fishing. 

He could not understand it; all he could tell for certain was that thesmugglers had been alarmed, and that they would not remove the cargothat night, for all at once he heard the sharp snap of a great lockbeneath his feet; this was followed by the closing of a door, anddirectly after there was the shuffling of feet, and Shackle's voice washeard in a hoarse whisper, --

"Got the lanthorn, boy?"

"Yes, father. "

"Off you go then--all. Scatter!"

"You won't try again to-night?"

"Try? No, " said the farmer savagely. "Wish I had some of them here!"

There were retiring steps then, and Archy leaned forward towards thewindow, to utter a faint cry of pain, for his head had come in contactwith something, and as he put up his hand he found that the window wasprotected by thick iron bars. 

He stood listening till not a sound could be heard, and then he drewback from the window, thinking about his next course, gazing out intothe darkness the while, and wishing he could have stepped out, leapeddown, and fled at once. 

"Made our plans badly, " he thought to himself. "I can't signal even ifI could find my way to the cliff, and I ought to be able to get backhere at once to seize all this store, and--"

More unpleasant thoughts came back now about how hard it seemed to haveto betray these people. 

"Can't help it, " he said to himself. "I am a king's officer, and I'vegot to do my duty. "

Then to keep these thoughts from troubling him, he began to think againabout the cutter. 

They never expected that he would get valuable information so soon. Hehad been wonderfully fortunate, but what was to be his next course?Certainly to get back to the ship as soon as possible, but that was notpossible till morning, and he was miles away from the cove. 

What should he do? Two hours would be plenty for the work, and as heguessed it was not much past twelve now. How was he to pass all thoseweary hours? If he could find some barn or even a haystack he would nothave cared, but it seemed to him that he would have to pass theremainder of the night in walking, and watching so that he did notencounter any of the smuggler gang on his way back and so raise theirsuspicions. 

Better be off at once. Perhaps, after all, he thought as by aninspiration, the lieutenant had altered his plans, and was sending mento look after and protect him. 

"Let's see, " said Archy to himself. "I must go out of this door, andkeep turning a little to the right till I feel the door at the top ofthe stairs. "

Suppose any one should hear him, take him for a thief, and fire at him?

Suppose that door at the end of the passage had been locked by thesmugglers?

It seemed so probable, that a nervous feeling attacked the lad. Hewould be a prisoner, and discovered by the inmates in the morning. 

He would soon put that to the proof, he told himself; and he was aboutto step cautiously back toward the door when another thought sent ashudder through him. 

Suppose as soon as he got into the hall, or whatever place it was, heshould hear that sigh again and the rustling sound?

He shrank back as he recalled how it had affected him. 

"Oh, what a coward I am!" he said softly; and he took a step forward, where very faintly, as if far distant, he heard the rustling soundagain. It came nearer and nearer, then there was a low sigh, the doorwas pushed open, for the rustling came quite plainly now, accompanied bya faint breathing. 

The door closed with a soft dull sound as Archy stood as if turned intostone, his hair again feeling as if moved by hands, and he would havespoken, but no words would come. 

At last, as he stood there in front of the window, terrified too much tostir, he suddenly heard a faint sound as of catching breath, and a voicesaid in a hurried, frightened whisper, --

"Who's there? Is that you, Ram?"

Archy tried to speak but could not. Before he could draw a breath ofrelief, feeling as he did that this was nothing of which he need feelsuch fear, the voice said again, --

"You are trying to frighten me. I can see you plainly there by thewindow. How dare you come in here like this, sir? Go back home withyour horrid men. "

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

"You are making a mistake, " said Archy softly. 

"Oh!"

There was a cry and a quick rustling toward the door. 

"Don't--don't cry out; I did not come to frighten you. "

"Who are you?"

"I am from the cutter lying off the coast. You saw me and spoke to meto-day when the dog came at me. "

There was a low wailing sound which troubled the midshipman, and he saidquickly, --

"Can you not believe me? I did not come to frighten you; you frightenedme. "

"Then, why are you here? How dare you break into our house. Oh, Iknow! I know!"

"Don't cry, " he said. "I was obliged to come. It was by accident Icame into this room. I was trying to find out about the smugglers. "

"And--and--you have not found out anything?" came in quick, frightenedtones. 

Archy was silent. 

"Why don't you speak, sir?"

"What am I to say? I am on duty. Yes, I have found out all I wanted toknow. "

"Ah!" came again out of the darkness, in a low wailing tone. 

"I wish you would believe me, that I am in as great trouble about it asyou are. "

"But your men. They are close here, then, and they frightened thesepeople away. "

"I suppose so. I don't know, " said Archy. 

"Don't they know that you are here?"

"No. "

"But you will go and tell all you have found out?"

"Yes, " said Archy, slowly as he strained his eyes to try and make outthe speaker. 

"That my father, Sir Risdon Graeme, has smuggled goods here?"

"What else can I do?" replied Archy sadly. 

There was a sound of breath being drawn sharply through the teeth, andthen the voice seemed changed as the next words came, --

"Do you know what this means?"

Archy was silent. 

"They will put him in prison, and--and--"

There was a low burst of sobbing, and the young midshipman felt his ownbreast swell. 

Suddenly the sobbing ceased, and the girl said slowly, --

"You shall not tell. It is not my father's doing. He could not helpit. He hates the smugglers. You shall not tell. Pray, pray, say youwill not!"

Archy was silent. 

"Do you not hear me?" came in imperious tones. 

"Yes, I hear you, " he replied; "but it is my duty, and--"

"Yes--yes--speak!"

"I must. "

"Oh!"

The interjection came as if it were the outcome of sudden passion. There was a quick, rustling sound, and before the boy could realise whatwas to come, the door was closed, the lock shot into its socket, and heheard the grinding sound of bolts, top and bottom. 

Then, as Archy stood in the dark, literally aghast with astonishment, heheard the faint rustling once more, and again all was silent. 

"Well!" he exclaimed; "and I felt sorry for her as one might for one'ssister at home, and hung back from getting her people into trouble. Ofall the fierce little tartars! Oh, it's beyond anything! Why, she haslocked me up!"

He laughed, but it was a curious kind of laugh, full of vexation, injured _amour propre_, as the French call our love of our own dignity, of which Archibald Raystoke, in the full flush of his young belief inhis importance as a British officer, had a pretty good stock. 

"I never did!" he exclaimed, after standing listening for a few minutesto see if the girl would repent and return. "It all comes of dressingup in this stupid way, like a rough fisher-lad. If I had been inuniform, she would not have dared. "

Cold water came on this idea directly, as he recalled the fact that thedarkness was intense, and Celia could not have seen him. 

"And I meant to save them from trouble if I could, out of respect forthem all, and did not believe that such people could stoop to be mixedup with rogues and smugglers. But, all right! I've got my duty to do, and I'll do it. I'll soon show them that I am not going to be playedwith. Looked such a nice, lady-like girl, and all the time she's afemale smuggler, and must have been sitting up to let them in, and lockup after the rascals had done. "

Rather hard measure, by the way, to deal out to the anxious girl, whocould not rest while Shackle's gang were busy about the place, and hadcome stealthily down to open the little corner room window, and watchfrom time to time until they had gone. 

"Well, " said Archy, as there was no further sound heard, "I'm not goingto put up with this. I'll soon rattle some one up;" and he went sharplyto the door, felt for the handle, tried it, and was about to shake itand bang at the panels, when discretion got the better of valour. 

For it suddenly occurred to him that he was not only a prisoner, but aprisoner in the power of a very reckless set of people, who would stopat nothing. They had a valuable cargo hidden in the cellar beneathwhere he stood, and themselves to save, and naturally they would nothesitate to deal hardly with him, when quite a young, apparently gentlegirl treated him as she had done. 

"No, " he thought to himself, "I don't believe they would kill me, butthey would knock me about. "

On the whole, he decided that it would not be pleasant to be knockedabout. The kick he had received was a foretaste of what he mightexpect, and after a little consideration he came to the conclusion thathis duty was to escape, and get back to the cutter as quickly as hecould. 

To do this he must scheme, lie hid till morning, then make for thenearest point, and signal for help, unless a boat's crew were alreadysearching for him. 

How to escape?

The door was, he well knew, fast. The window was barred, but he went toit, and tried the bars one by one, to find them all solidly fitted intothe stone sill. 

Perhaps there was another way out, and to prove that he went softlyround to feel the oak panelling which covered the walls, to come upon adoor directly. His hopes began to rise, but they fell directly, for hefound it was a closet. 

Next moment, as he felt his way about, his hand touched an old-fashionedmarble mantelpiece. 

Fireplace--chimney! Yes, if other ways failed, he could escape up thechimney. 

No, that was too bad. He could not do that. And if he did, it wouldonly be to reach the roof of the house, and perhaps find no way down. 

He went on, and found a closet to match the first on the other side ofthe fireplace. Then all round the room. Panels everywhere, but nomeans of escape, and he went again to stand at the window, to bemoan hisstupidity for allowing a weak girl to make a prisoner of him in soabsurd a way. 

Sympathy and pity for the dwellers in the Hoze were completely gone now, and he set his teeth fast, and mentally called himself a weak idiot forever thinking about such people. For the first few minutes he had feltsomething uncommonly like alarm, and had dwelt upon the consequences tohimself if the smugglers found the spy upon their proceedings; but thatdread had passed away in the idea that he had to do his duty, and beforehe could do that he must escape. 

A chair or two. Then an easy-chair. A narrow table against the wall intwo places. An awkwardly-shaped high-backed chair with elbows andcushions. A thick carpet in the centre. Nothing else in the room, asfar as he could make out in the darkness, and if those wretched bars hadonly been away, how soon he could have escaped!

He went and tried to force his head through, recalling as he did thatwhere a person's head would go the rest of the body would pass. Butthere was no chance for his body there, the head would not go first. 

He returned, after listening intently, unable to hear a sound, and puthis ear to the key-hole of the door to listen there; but all was still, and the faint hope that the girl might be near and open to an appeal forhis liberty died away. 

Again he felt all about the room, to satisfy himself afresh that therewas no way out, and he paused by the chimney, half disposed to essaythat means of escape, but he shook his head. 

"A fellow who was shut up in prison for life might do it, " he said, "butnot in a case like this. "

Then, utterly wearied out, with his long and arduous twenty-four hours'task, beginning with his watch on the cutter's deck, he felt his way tothe big chair opposite to the window to rest his legs, and try and thinkout some plan. 

"Nobody can think well when he's tired, " he said; and he began to runover in his mind the whole of the incidents since he landed a few hoursearlier. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

"Sure you've looked round everywhere, boy?"

"Yes, father, quite. "

"Nothing left nowhere? Sure none of the lads chucked anything aside thepath when they ran up?"

"Yes, father. I looked well both sides. "

"Humph! Worse lads than you if you knew where to find 'em. "

"Thank ye, father. "

"I'm going home to breakfast. "

"Shall I come too, father?"

"No. Stop here till Sir Risdon comes down, and tell him I'm very sorry;that we should have cleared out last night, only a born fool saw JerryNandy's lobster-boat coming into the cove, and came running to say itwas a party from the cutter. "

"Yes, father. "

"Tell him not to be uneasy; 'tis all right, and I'll have everythingclear away to-night. "

The dull sound of departing steps, and a low whistling sound coming downthrough the skylight window into the cabin where Archy Raystoke lay withhis heavy eyelids pressed down by sleep. 

"What a queer dream!" he thought to himself. "No; it couldn't be adream. He must be awake. But how queer for Mr Gurr to be talking likethat to Andrew Teal, the boy who helped the cook! And why did Andy callMr Gurr father?"

There was an interval of thinking over this knotty question, duringwhich the low whistling went on. 

"If Mr Brough goes on deck and catches that boy whistling, there'll besomeone to pay and no pitch hot, " thought Archy nautically. "But whatdid Mr Gurr mean about going home to breakfast? And I'm hungry too. Time I was up, I suppose. "

He gave himself a twist, and was about to turn out of his sleepingplace, and then opened his eyes widely, and stared about him, too muchovercome still by his heavy sleep to quite comprehend why it was that hewas in a gloomy, oak-panelled, poorly furnished room, staring at aniron-barred open window. 

No: he was not dreaming, for he was looking out on the sea, over which afaint mist hung like wreaths of smoke. It was just before sunrise too, for there were flecks of orange high up in the sky. 

What did it mean?

The answer came like a flash. He recollected it all now, even to hissitting down in the chair, wearied out. 

He had been fast asleep, and those words had awakened him. 

What did they say?--false alarm--tell Sir Risdon they would clear allaway to-night--see if anything had been left about--lobster-boat!

Then no boat had come from the cutter last night, and the lieutenantwould wait for him to signal, and here he was a prisoner, with theinformation--locked up--the very news the lieutenant would give anythingto know. 

He jumped up from the chair feeling horribly stiff, and looked steadilyround for a way to escape before it was too late. Once out of that roomhe could ran, and by daylight the smugglers dare not hunt him down. 

"Oh, those bars!" he mentally exclaimed, and he was advancing towardthem, when just as he drew near, there was a rustling noise under thewindow, a couple of hands seized the bars, there was a scratching ofboot-toes against stone work, and Ram's face appeared to gaze into theroom by intention, but into the astonished countenance of the youngmidshipman instead. 

Ram was the first to recover from his surprise. 

"Hullo!" he said, "who are you? I was wondering why that window wasopen. "

"Here, quick! Go round and open the door. I was shut in last night bymistake. "

"Oh!" said Ram looking puzzled. "I saw you last night, and wonderedwhose boy you was. It was you father kicked for shirking, and--My!--well: I hardly knowed you. "

"Nonsense! Come round and open the door. I've been shut in all night. "

"Won't do, " said Ram grinning. "Think I don't know you, Mr Orficer?Where's your fine clothes and your sword? Here, what made you dress uplike that?"

"You're mistaken, " said Archy gruffly, as he made a feeble struggle tokeep up the character he had assumed. 

"Won't do, " said Ram quickly. "I know you. Been playing the spy, that's what you've been doing. Who locked you in?"

"Will you come round and open the door?" said Archy in an angry whisper. 

"Oh, of course, " replied the boy grinning; and he dropped down, rushedthrough the bushes, and disappeared from view. 

Archy stepped back to the door listening, but there was not a sound. 

"He has gone to give the alarm, " thought the prisoner, and he lookedexcitedly round for a way of escape. 

Nothing but the chimney presented itself. The door was too strong toattack, and he remembered the three fastenings. 

Should he try the chimney?

And be stuck there, and dragged out like a rabbit by the hind legs fromhis hole!

"No; I've degraded myself enough, " he said angrily, "and there are sureto be bars across. Hah!"

A happy inspiration had come, and placing one hand upon his breast, hethrust in the other, gave a tug, and drew out his little curved dirk, glanced at the edge, ran to the window and began to cut at one of thebars. 

Labour in vain. He divided the paint, and produced a few squeaks andgrating sounds, as he realised that the attempt was madness. 

Turning sharply, he looked about the room; then, after glancing ruefullyat the bright little weapon, halfway up the blade of a rich deep blue, in which was figured a pattern in gold, he yielded to necessity, andbegan to chop at the top bar of the grate, so as to nick the edges ofhis weapon and make it saw-like. 

The result was not very satisfactory, but sufficiently so to make himessay the bar of the window once more, producing a grating, ear-assailing sound, as he found that now he did make a littleimpression, --so little though, that the probability was, if he kept onworking well for twenty-four hours, he would not get through. 

But at the end of five minutes he stopped, and thrust back the dirk intoits sheath. 

He fancied he had heard steps outside the room door, and he ran to itand listened, in the faint hope that the boy might have come to open itand set him free. 

It was a very faint hope, and one he felt not likely to be realised, andhe returned once more to the window, with the intention of resuming histask, when he heard the bushes pressed aside by some one coming, anddirectly after the bars were seized as before. Ram sprang up, found aresting-place for his toes, and looked in, grinning at him. 

"Hullo!" he cried, in a whisper, as if he did not wish to be heard;"here you are still. "

"Yes. Come round and open the door. "

"What'll yer give me?"

"Anything I can, " cried Archy eagerly. 

"Well, you give me that little sword o' your'n. "

"No; I can't part with that. "

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed the boy jeeringly. 

"But I'll--yes, I'll give you a guinea, if you will let me out. "

"Guinea?" said the boy. "Think I'd do it for a guinea?"

"Well, then, two. Be quick, there's a good fellow. I want to get awayat once. "

"Not you, " said the boy jeeringly. "It would be a pity. I say, do youknow what you look like?"

"A fisher-boy. "

"Not you. Only a sham. Why, your clothes don't fit you, and your cap'sput on all skew-rew. Don't look a bit like a fisher-lad, and neverwill. "

"Never mind about that; let me out of this place. "

"What for?" cried Ram. 

"Because I want my liberty. "

"Not you. Looks comf'table enough as you are. I say, do you know whatyou are like now?"

"I told you, a fisher-boy!" cried Archy impatiently, but trying not tooffend his visitor, who possessed the power of conferring freedom, byspeaking sharply. 

"Not you. Look like a wild beast in a cage. Like a monkey. "

"You insolent--"

Archy checked himself, and the boy laughed. 

"It was your turn yesterday, it's mine to-day. What a game! Youlaughed and fleered at me when I was on the cutter's deck. I can laughand fleer at you now. I say, you do look a rum 'un. Just like a bigmonkey in a show. "

"Look here, sir!" said Archy, losing his temper. "Gentlemen don't fightwith low, common fellows like you, but if you do not come round and letme out, next time we meet I'll have a bit of rope's-end ready for you. "

Ram showed his white teeth, as he burst out with a long, low fit oflaughter. 

"You rope's-end me!" he said. "Why, I could tie you up in a knot, andheave you off the cliff any day. What a game! Bit of a middy, fed onsalt tack and weevilly biscuit, talk of giving me rope's-end! Dressedup with a dirty face and a bit o' canvas! Go back aboard, and put onyour uniform. Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"Once more; will you come and let me out?"

"No. I'm going to keep you here till the gentlefolks get up, and thenI'll bring 'em round to see the monkey in his cage, just like they do inthe shows, when you pay a penny. See you for nothing, middy. I say, where's your sword? Why don't you draw it, and come out and fight?I'll fight you with a stick. "

"You insolent young scoundrel!" cried Archy, darting his hand throughbetween the bars, overcome now by his rage, and catching Ram by thecollar. 

To his astonishment the boy did not flinch, but thrust his own armsthrough, placing them about the middy's waist, clenching his handsbehind, and uttering a sharp whistle. 

It was a trap, and the midshipman understood it now. The boy had beenbaiting him to rouse him to attack, and he was doubly a prisoner now, held fast against the bars, so that he could not even wrench round hishead as he heard the door behind him opened, while as he opened hismouth to cry for help, a great rough hand was placed over his eyes, pressing his head back, a handkerchief was jammed between his teeth, andas he heard a deep growling voice say, "Hold him tight!" a rope wasdrawn about his chest, pinioning his arms to his sides, and anothersecured his ankles. 

"Now a handkerchief, " said the gruff voice. "Fold it wide. Be ready!"

The midshipman gave his head a jerk, but the effort was vain, for thehand over his eyes gave place to a broad handkerchief, which was tightlytied behind, and then a fierce voice whispered in his ear, --

"Keep still, or you'll get your weasand slit. D'ye hear?"

But in spite of the threat the lad, frenzied now by rage and excitement, struggled so hard that a fresh rope was wound round him, and he waslifted up by two men, and carried away. 

By this time there was a strange singing in his ears, a feeling as ifthe blood was flooding his eyes, a peculiar, hot, suffocating feeling inhis breast, and then he seemed to go off into a painful, feverish sleep, for he knew no more. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

Angry, but trembling with dread, Celia had hurried up to her own room, to try and think what was best to be done. She had secured the door ofthe room below to gain time, feeling as she did that, as the youngmidshipman knew of the storing of the smuggled goods, he would, themoment he was free, go back to the cutter, bring help, there wouldperhaps be a desperate fight, with men killed, and her father would bedragged away to prison. 

Her first thought was to go to her father, but she shrank from doingthis as her mother would probably be asleep, and in her delicate statethe alarm might seriously affect her. 

Having grown learned in the ways of the smugglers, from their having onseveral occasions made use of the great vault without askingpermission--at times when Sir Risdon was away from home--Celia had satup to watch that night to see if the men would fetch away the kegs andbales; hence her presence during the scene, and when she had awakened tothe fact that the midshipman had played spy and was ready to denounceher father, she felt that all was over. 

Three times over, after listening at the head of the stairs for soundsfrom below where her prisoner was confined, Celia had crept on tiptoe toher father's door, only to shrink away again not daring to speak. 

For what would he say to her? She thought. She had no right to bedownstairs watching the acts of the smugglers, and she dreaded to make aconfession of her knowledge of these nocturnal proceedings. 

At last, bewildered, anxious, and worn-out, she knelt down by her bed, to consider with her head in her hands, ready for kindly nature to bringher comfort, for when she started up again the sun was streamingbrightly in at her window. 

She pressed her hands to her temples, and tried to think about thebusiness of the past night, and by degrees she collected her thoughts, and recalled that the smugglers had come to take up their kegs and balesfrom the temporary store to carry them further inland, that she haddiscovered the young midshipman watching, and to save her father she hadshut their enemy in the lower corner room. 

Celia stood with her cheeks burning, trembling and anxious, and afterbathing her face and arranging her hair, she went out into the broadpassage and listened at her father's door. 

It was too soon for him to be stirring yet, and determining at last togo and declare his innocency, and make an appeal to the frank-lookinglad, she crept timidly down the grand old flight of stairs, trying tothink out what she would say. 

There were two flights to descend, and the first took a long time; butshe worked out a nice little speech, in which she would tell thecutter's officer that her father had once been rich, but he had espousedthe young Pretender's cause, and the result had been that he had becomeso impoverished that there had been a time when they had had hardlyenough to keep them and the old maid-servant who still clung to theirfallen fortunes. 

By the time she was at the bottom of the second flight she was ready andquite hopeful, and, with the tears standing in her eyes, she felt surethat the frank, gentlemanly lad would be merciful, forgive her, and saveher father from a terrible disgrace. 

She had, then, her speech all ready, but when she spoke everything wascondensed in the one exclamation--

"Oh!"

For as she reached the hall where her coming and going had so startledthe midshipman in the darkness, she found that the door was wide openand the window shut. 

She looked about bewildered, but there was no sign of the room havingbeen occupied. 

"Did I dream it all?" she said in an awe-stricken whisper. "No: the mencame to take away the brandy and silk, and I saw them here. "

She pressed her hands to her temples, for the surprise had confused her, and in addition her head ached and throbbed. 

"Could I have dreamed it?" she asked herself again. "No, I remember themen coming to fetch away the things and then I found him watching. "

She stood gazing before her, with her puzzled feeling increasing, till athought struck her. 

She saw the men come to fetch the kegs. If she really did see that, thekegs would be gone. 

The proof was easy. If the brandy and silk were gone, the door of thevault would be open. If the things were not fetched away, it would belocked up; and if she tapped on the door with her knuckles, there wouldbe a dull sound instead of a hollow, echoing noise. 

She ran quickly down, and the door was locked. 

She tapped with her knuckles, and the sound indicated that the place wasfull, for all was dull and heavy and no reverberation in the place. 

"I must have dreamed it all, " she cried joyously. "I have thought somuch about it that I have fancied all this, and made myself ill. Why, of course he could not have got in there to watch or the men would haveseen him come. "

It is very easy to place faith in that which you wish to believe. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

Lieutenant brough was out for a long walk. That is to say, he had hisglass tucked under his arm, and was trotting up and down his cleanlyholystoned deck, pausing from time to time to raise his glass to hiseye, and watch the top of the cliff, ending by gazing in the directionof the cove. 

The men said he had been putting them through their facings thatmorning, and he had been finding more fault in two hours than in theprevious week, for he was getting fidgety. He had not enjoyed hisbreakfast, and it was getting on toward the time for his mid-day meal. 

Suddenly he stopped short by the master, who had also been using aglass, and was evidently waiting to be spoken to. 

"Seemed in good spirits last night, Mr Gurr, eh?"

"Mr Raystoke, sir? Oh yes. "

"I mean liked his job?"

"Yes, sir; determined on it. "

"Humph! Time we had some news of him, eh?"

"Yes, sir; but he may turn up on the cliff at any moment. "

"Yes. Men quite ready?"

"Yes, sir. "

"That's right. Of course, well-armed?"

"Yes, sir; you did tell me. Soon as the signal comes, we shall pushoff. Awkward bit o' country, sir; six miles' row before you can find aplace to land. "

"Very awkward, but they have to find a place to land their spirits, MrGurr, and if we don't soon have something to show we shall be called toaccount. "

"Very unlucky, sir. Seems to me like going eel-fishing with your barehand. "

"Worse. You might catch one by accident. "

"So shall we yet, sir. These fellows are very cunning, but we shall betoo many for them one of these days. "

"Dear me! Dear me!" said the little lieutenant after a few more turnsup and down. "I don't like this at all I don't think I ought to havelet a boy like that go alone. You don't think, Mr Gurr, that theywould dare to injure him if he was so unlucky as to be caught?"

"Well, sir, " said the master, hesitating, "smugglers are smugglers. "

"Mr Gurr, " said the little lieutenant, raising himself up on his toes, so as to be as high as possible, "will you have the goodness to talksense?"

"Certainly, sir. "

"Smugglers are smugglers, indeed. What did you suppose I thought theywere? Oysters?"

"Beg pardon, sir; didn't mean any harm. "

"Getting very late!" said the little officer after another sweep of thetop of the cliff, especially above where the French lugger landed thegoods. "I shall be obliged to send you on shore, Mr Gurr. You must goand find him. I'm getting very anxious about Mr Raystoke. "

"Start at once, sir?"

"No, wait another half-hour. Very ill-advised thing to do. I cannotthink what you were doing, Mr Gurr, to advise me to do such a thing. "

"Me, sir?" said the master, looking astonished. 

"Yes. A great pity. I ought not to have listened to you; but in myanxiety to leave no stone unturned to capture some of these scoundrels, I was ready to do anything. "

"Very true, sir. "

"Now, my good fellow, what do you mean by that?"

"It was only an observation, sir. "

"Then I must request that you will not make it again. `Very true?' Ofcourse, what I say is very true. Do you think I should say a thing thatwas false?"

"Beg pardon, sir. 'Fraid I picked up some awk'ard expressions aboardthe old frigate. "

"Awk-ward, Mr Gurr, awkward. "

"Yes, sir; of course. "

"You do not understand the drift of my remarks. "

"'Fraid not, sir, " said the master, smiling; "understand drift of thetide much better. "

"Mr Gurr!"

"Yes, sir. "

"I was trying to teach you to pronounce the king's English correctly, and you turn it off with a ribald remark. "

"Beg pardon, sir. 'Nother o' my frigate bad habits. "

"It is a great privilege, Mr Gurr, to be one of those who speak theEnglish tongue, so do not abuse it. Say awk-ward in future, notawk'ard. "

"Certainly, sir, I'll try, " said the master; and then to himself, "Starboard, larboard, for'ard, back'ard, awk'ard. Why, what does hemean?"

By this time the little lieutenant was scanning the cliffs again, andthe master took off his hat and wiped his forehead. 

"Talk about thistles and stinging nettles, " he muttered, "why there's nobearing him to-day, and all on account of a scamp of a middy such asthere's a hundred times too many on in the R'yal Navy. Dunno though;bit cocky and nose in air when he's in full uniform, and don't knowwhich is head and which is his heels, but he aren't such a very bad sorto' boy. Well, what's the matter with you?"

Dirty Dick screwed up his mouth as if to speak, but only stared. 

"Don't turn yourself into a figurehead of an old wreck sir. What do youwant?"

"Leave to go ashore, sir. "

"Well, you're going soon as the skipper orders. "

"I mean all alone by myself, sir. "

"What for? There aren't a public-house for ten miles. "

"Didn't mean that. "

"Then what did you mean? Speak out, and don't do the double shuffle allover my clean deck. "

"No, sir. "

"Hopping about like a cat on hot bricks. Now, then, why do you want togo ashore?"

"Try and find Mr Raystoke, sir. Beginning to feel scarred about him. "

"What's that?" said the lieutenant, who had come back from abaftunheard. "Scared about whom?"

"Beg pardon, didn't mean nowt, sir, " said the sailor touching hisforelock. 

"Yes, you did, sir. Now look here, " cried the lieutenant, shaking hisglass at the man, "don't you try to deceive me. You meant that you weregetting uneasy about Mr Raystoke's prolonged absence. "

"Yes sir, that's it, " said Dick eagerly. 

"Then how dare you have the effrontery to tell me that you did not mean`nowt' as you have the confounded north country insolence to call it?For two pins, sir, --women's pins, sir, not belaying pins, --I'd have youput ashore, with orders not to show your dirty face again till you hadfound Mr Raystoke. "

Dirty Dick passed his hand over his face carefully, and then looked atthe palm to see if any of the swarthy tan had come off. 

"Do you hear me, sir?" cried the lieutenant. 

"Yes, sir, " said the man humbly. "Shall I go at once sir?"

"No. Wait. Keep a sharp look-out on the cliff to see if Mr Raystokeis making signals for a boat. I daresay he has been there all the time, only you took up my attention with your chatter. "

He swung round, walked aft and began sweeping the shore again with hisglass, while the master and Dick exchanged glances which meant a greatdeal. 

"He is in a wax, " said Dick to himself, as he walked to the side, andstood shading his eyes with his hands, looking carefully for the signalswhich did not come. 

Two hours more passed away, during which it was a dead calm, and the sunbeat down so hotly that the seams began to send out little black beadsof pitch, and drops formed under some of the ropes ready to come off onthe first hand which touched them. 

At last the little lieutenant could bear the anxiety no longer. 

"Pipe away the men to that boat there, " he said; and as the crew sprangin. "Now, Mr Gurr, " he said, "I'm only going to say one thing to youin the way of instructions. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Will you have the goodness to wait till I have done speaking, Mr Gurr, and not compel me to say all I wish over again?"

"Beg pardon, sir, " said the master deprecatingly. 

"I say, sir, I have only one order to give you. Get ashore as soon asyou can, and find and bring back Mr Raystoke. "

"Yes, sir, " cried the master, and he walked over the side, glad to getinto the boat and push off, muttering the while, "and I always thoughthim such a quiet, amiable little chap. He's a Tartar; that's what heis. Making all this fuss about a boy who, as like as not, is having agame with us. Don't see me getting out o' temper with everybody, andspitting and swearing like a mad Tom-cat. Hang the boy! He's on'y amiddy. --Now, my lads, --now, my lads, put your backs into it, will you?"

The boat was already surging through the water faster than it had evergone before, but the men bent lower and the longer, and the blades ofthe oars made the water flash and foam as they dipped and rose with thegreatest of regularity. 

For the lieutenant's anxiety about the young officer of the _White Hawk_was growing more and more contagious, and the men gave a cheer as theyspan the boat along, every smart sailor on board thinking about thefrank, straightforward lad who had so bravely gone on the riskyexpedition. 

"Look ye here, Jemmy, " said one of the men to his nearest mate, "talkabout 'tacking the enemy, if wrong's happened to our young gentleman, all I can say is, as I hopes it's orders to land every night to burnwillages and sack everything we can. "

"And so says all of us, " came in a chorus from the rest of the crew. 

"Steady! My lads, steady!" cried the master--"keep stroke;" and then hebegan to make plans as to his first proceedings on getting ashore. 

He wasn't long in making these plans, and when the cove was reached, thetwo fishing luggers and another boat or two lying there were carefullyoverhauled, Gurr gazing at the men on board like a fierce dog, andliterally worrying the different fishermen as cleverly as across-examining counsel would a witness ashore. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

Always the same answer. 

No, they hadn't seen no sailor lad in a red cap, only their own boys, and they were all at home. Had he lost one?

Yes; a boy had come ashore and not returned. 

The different men questioned chuckled, and one oracular-looking oldfellow spat, wiped his lips on the back of his hand, stared out to sea, and said gruffly, --

"Runned away. "

"Ay, " said another, "that's it. You won't see him again. "

"Won't I?" muttered Gurr between his teeth. "I'll let some of you seeabout that, my fine fellows. "

He led his men on, stopping at each cluster of cottages and shabbylittle farm to ask suspiciously, as if he felt certain the person hequestioned was hiding the truth. 

But he always came out again to his men with an anxious look in hiseyes, and generally ranged up alongside of Dick. 

"No, my lad, " he would say, "they haven't seen 'im there;" and then withhis head bent down, but his eyes eagerly searching the road from side toside, he went on towards Shackle's farm. 

"Say, Mester Gurr, " said Dick, after one of these searches, "he wouldn'trun away?"

"What! Mr Raystoke, sir? Don't be a fool. "

"No, sir, " replied Dick humbly, and the men tramped on with a couple ofopen-mouthed, barefooted boys following them to stare at their cutlassesand pistols. 

"Say, Mester Gurr, " ventured Dick, after a pause, "none of 'em wouldn'tha' done that, would they?"

Dick had followed the master's look, as he shaded his eyes and staredover the green slope which led up to the cliffs. 

"What?"

"Chucked him off yonder. "

Gurr glanced round to see if the men were looking, and then said ratherhuskily but kindly, --

"In ord'nary, Dick, my lad, no; but when smugglers finds themselves upin corners where they can't get away, they turns and fights like rats, and when they fights they bites. "

"Ah!" ejaculated Dick sadly. 

"You're only a common sailor, Dick, and I'm your officer, but though Ispeak sharp unto you, I respect you, Dick, for you like that lad. "

"Say, Mester Gurr, sir, which thankful I am to you for speaking so; butyou don't really think as he has come to harm?"

"I hope not, Dick; I hope not; but smugglers don't stand at anythingsometimes. "

Dick sighed, and then all at once he spat in his fist, rubbed his handstogether and clenched them, a hard, fierce aspect coming into his roughdark face, which seemed to promise severe retaliation if anything hadhappened to the young officer. 

There was nowhere else to search as far as Gurr could see, save thelittle farm in the hollow, and the black-looking stone house up on thehill among the trees. 

Gurr, who looked wonderfully bull-dog like in aspect, made straight forthe farm, where the first person he encountered was Mrs Shackle, who, innocent enough, poor woman, came to the door to bob a curtsey to theking's men, while Jemmy Dadd, who was slowly loading a tumbril in whoseshafts was the sleepy grey horse, stuck his fork down into the heap ofmanure from the cow-sheds, rested his hands on the top and his chin uponhis hands, to stare and grin at the sailors he recognised. 

"Morning, marm, " said Gurr; "sorry to trouble you, but--"

"Oh, sir, " interrupted Mrs Shackle, "surely you are not going to tumbleover my house again! I do assure you there's nothing here but what youmay see. "

"If you'd let me finish, you'd know, " said Gurr gruffly. "One of ourboys is missing. Seen him up here? Boy 'bout seventeen with a redcap. "

"No, sir; indeed I've not. "

"Don't know as he has been seen about here, do you?" said Gurr, lookingat her searchingly. 

"No, sir. "

"Haven't heard any one talking about him, eh? Come ashore yesterday. "

Mrs Shackle shook her head. 

"Thank ye!--No, Dick, " continued the master, turning back to where themen were waiting, and unconsciously brushing against the bush behindwhich the middy had hidden himself, "that woman knows nothing. If sheknew evil had come to the poor lad, her face would tell tales likeprint. Hi! You, sir, " he said, going towards where Jemmy stoodgrinning. 

"Mornin', " said Jemmy; "come arter some more milk?"

"No, " growled Gurr. 

"Don't want to take the cow away agen, do 'ee?"

"Look here, my lad, one of our boys is missing. Came ashore yesterday, lad of seventeen in a red cap. "

"Oh!" said Jemmy with a vacant look. "Don't mean him as come with you, do you?"

"I said a lad 'bout seventeen, in a red cap like yours, " said Gurr veryshortly. 

"Aren't seen no lads with no red caps up here, " said the man with avacant look. "Have he runned away?"

"Are you sure you haven't seen him, my lad?" growled Gurr; "because, look here, it may be a serious thing for some of you, if he is notfound. "

The man shook his head, and stared as if he didn't half understand thedrift of what was said. 

Gurr turned angrily away, and to find himself facing Dick. 

"Well, seen anything suspicious?"

"No, sir, " said Dick, "on'y my fingers is a itchin'. "

"Scratch them then. "

"Nay, you don't understand, " grumbled Dick. "I mean to have a turn atthat chap, Master Gurr, sir. I feel as if I had him for 'bout quarterhour I could knock something out of him. "

"Nonsense! Come along. Now, my lads, forward!"

Jemmy Dadd's countenance changed from its vacant aspect to one full ofcunning, as the party from the cutter moved off, but it became dull andsemi-idiotic again, for Gurr turned sharply round. 

"Here, my lad, where's your master?"

"Eh?"

"I say, where's your master?"

"Aren't in; mebbe he's out in the fields. "

Gurr turned away impatiently again, and signing to his men to follow, they all began to tramp up the steep track leading toward the Hoze, withthe rabbits scuttling away among the furze, and showing their whitecottony tails for a moment as they darted down into their holes. 

Dick followed last, shaking his head, and looking very muchdissatisfied, or kept on looking back at Jemmy, who stood like a statue, resting his chin upon the shaft of his pitchfork, watching him go away. 

"I dunno, " muttered Dick, "and a man can't be sure. There was nowt tosee and nowt to hear, and of course one couldn't smell it, but seems tome as that ugly-looking fisherman chap knows where our Mr Raystoke is. Yah, I hates half-bred uns! If a man's a labourer, let him be alabourer; and if he's a fisherman, let him be a fisherman. Man can't betwo things, and it looks queer. "

An argument which did not have much force when self-applied, for Dicksuddenly recollected that he was very skilful with the scissors, andknew that he was the regular barber of the crew, and as this came to hismind he took off his cap and gave his head a vicious scratch. 

"Never mind the rabbits, lads, " cried Gurr angrily; "we want to find MrRaystoke. "

The men closed up together, and mastered their desire to go hunting, tomake a change from the salt beef and pork fare, and soon after they camesuddenly upon Sir Risdon and his lady, the latter, who looked weak andill, leaning on her husband's arm. 

Gurr saluted, and stated his business, while the baronet, who had turnedsallower and more careworn than his lot drew a breath full of relief. 

"One of your ship boys?" he said. 

"A lad, looking like a common sailor, and wearing a red cap. "

"No, " said Sir Risdon. "I have seen no one answering to the descriptionhere. "

"Beg pardon, sir, but can you, as a gentleman, assure me that he is nothere?"

"Certainly, " said Sir Risdon. "You have seen no one?" he continued, turning to Lady Graeme. 

The lady shook her head. 

"That's enough, sir; but may I ask you, if you do see or hear anythingof such a lad, you will send a messenger off to the cutter?"

"It is hardly right to enlist me in the search for one of yourdeserters, " said Sir Risdon coldly. 

"Yes, sir, but he is not a deserter; and the fact is, we are afraid thelad has run alongside o' the smugglers, and come to grief. "

"Surely!" cried Sir Risdon excitedly. "No, no, --you must be mistaken. A boyish prank. No one about here would injure a boy. "

"Humph!" ejaculated Gurr, looking at the baronet searchingly. "Glad youthink so well of 'em, sir. But I suppose you'll grant that the peopleabout here would not be above a bit of smuggling?"

Sir Risdon was silent. 

"And would run a cargo of brandy or silk?"

"I suppose there is a good deal of smuggling on the coast, " said SirRisdon coldly, as he thought of his vault. 

"Yes sir, there is, and it will go hard with the people who are caughthaving any dealings with the smugglers. "

Lady Graeme looked ghastly. 

"What would you say, sir, if I were to order my men, in the king's name, to search your place?"

Sir Risdon dared not trust himself to speak, but darted an agonisedglance at his wife. 

"However, sir, I'm not on that sort of business now, " continued Gurrsternly. "Want to find that boy. Good day. Now, my lads. "

The men marched off, and Sir Risdon stood watching them. 

"Ah, Risdon, " and Lady Graeme, "how could you let yourself be draggedinto these dreadful deeds!"

"Don't blame me, " he said sadly. "I loathe the whole business, but whenI saw my wife and child suffering almost from want of the verynecessaries of life, and the temptation came in the shape of presentsfrom that man, I could not resist--I was too weak. I listened to hisinsidious persuasion, and tried to make myself believe that I wasguiltless, as I owned no fealty to King George. But I am justlypunished, and never again will I allow myself to be made an accessory tothese lawless deeds. "

"But tell me, " she whispered, "have they any of their goods secretedthere now?"

"I do not know. "

"You do not know?"

"No. The only way in which I could allow myself to act was to keepmyself in complete ignorance of the going and coming of these people. Imight suspect, but I would never satisfy myself by watching; and I cansay now honestly, I do not know whether they have still goods lyingthere or have taken them away. "

"But Celia--keep it from her. "

"Of course. "

"And about the missing boy. Surely, Risdon, they would not--"

Lady Graeme did not finish, but gave her husband a piercing look. 

"Don't ask me, " he said sadly. "Many of the men engaged in thesmuggling are desperate wretches, and if they feared betrayal they wouldnot scruple, I'm afraid, to strike down any one in the way of theirescape. "

Lady Graeme shuddered, and they went together into the house, just asCelia came across the wood at the back, in company with the dog. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

Gurr continued his search till it was quite dark, and then tramped hismen back to the cove, where the boat-keeper was summoned, and the boatwith her crew, saving Dick, were sent back to the cutter, one of the menbearing a message from Gurr to say that he was going to stay ashore tillhe had found Mr Raystoke, and asking the lieutenant to send the boatback for him if he did not approve. 

It was a very dark row back to the cutter, but her lights shone outclearly over the smooth sea, forming good beacons for the men to followtill the boat was run alongside. 

"Got them, Mr Gurr?" came from the deck. 

"No sir, and Mr Gurr's stopping at one of the fishermen's cottagesashore to keep on the search. "

"Tut, tut!" ejaculated the lieutenant as he turned away and began topace the deck. 

"Beg'n' pardon, sir, Mr Gurr said--"

"Well, well, well, what did Mr Gurr say? Pity he did not do more andnot say so much. "

"Said as his dooty, sir, and would you send the boat for him if you didnot think he'd done right. "

"No, sir! His Majesty's boats are wanted for other purposes thanrunning to and fro to fetch him aboard. Let him stay where he is tillhe finds Mr Raystoke and brings him back aboard. "

"Dear, dear, " muttered the lieutenant as he walked to and fro. "Tothink of the boy being missing like this. --Now you, sirs, in with thatboat. --Where can he be? Not the lad to go off on any prank. --There, gobelow and get something to eat, my lads. --All comes of being sent into amiserable little boat like this to hunt smugglers. "

"Ahoy!" came from forward. 

"What's that?" cried the lieutenant, and an answer came from out of theblackness ahead. 

"What boat's that?" shouted the man on the watch. "Mine, " came in a lowgrowl. "What is it?"

"Want to see the skipper. "

There was a little bustle forward, in the midst of which a boat came upalongside, and the man in it was allowed to come on board. 

He was a big, broad-shouldered, heavy fellow, with rough black beard anddark eyes, which glowered at those around as a lanthorn was held up byone of the men. "Where's the skipper?" he growled. "Bring the manaft, " cried the lieutenant. "This way. "

"All right, mate; I can find my way; I aren't a baby, " said the man ashe took three or four strides, lifting up his big fisherman's boots, andsetting them heavily down upon the deck as if they were somethingseparate from him which he had brought on board. 

"Now, my man, brought news of him?" cried the lieutenant eagerly. "Eh?"

And the great fellow seemed to tower over the little commander. 

"I say, have you brought news of the boy?"

"What boy?"

"Haven't you come to tell me where he is?"

"Here, what yer talking about?" growled the man. "I aren't come 'boutno boys. "

"Then, pray, why have you come?"

"Send them away, " said the man in a hoarse whisper. 

He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, and the lieutenant was about togive an order but altered his mind, for he suspected the man's mission, not an unusual one in those days. 

"Come into my cabin, sir, " he said imperiously, and as he turned andstrutted off, making the most of his inches, the giant--for such he wasby comparison--stumbled after him, making the deck echo to the sound ofhis great boots. 

"Now, sir, " said the lieutenant haughtily, "what is your business?"

The man leaned forward, and there was a leer on his bearded face seen bythe dull swinging oil-lamp, as, half covering his mouth, he whisperedhoarsely behind his hands--

"Like Hollands gin, master?"

"What do you mean, sir?" cried the lieutenant. "Speak out, for I haveno time to lose. "

"Oh, I'll speak plainly enough, " growled the man; "on'y do you like it?"

"Do you mean that a foreign vessel is going to land a quantity ofHollands to-night?"

"Never said nothing o' the sort, Master Orficer. Why, if I was to comeand say a thing like that, and folks ashore knowed on it, there'd be ahaxiden. "

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Some un would run up agin me atop o' the cliff, and I should go over, and there'd be an end o' me. "

"You mean to say that if it was known that you informed, you would be inperil of your life?"

"No, I don't mean to say nothing o' the kind, master. I only says toyou that there's going to be a drop to be got in a place I knows, and ifyou care to say to a chap like me--never you mind who he is--show mewhere this drop of Hollands gin is to be got, and I'll give you--forhim, you know--fifty pounds, it would be done. "

"Look here, my lad, if you have got any valuable information to give, wouldn't it be better for you to speak out plainly?"

"Didn't come twenty mile in my boat and get here in the dark, for you toteach me how to ketch fish, Master Orficer. "

"Twenty miles!" said the lieutenant sharply; "where are you from?"

"Out o' my boat as is made fast 'longside. Is it fifty pound or aren'tit?"

"Fifty pound is a great deal of money, my man. Your information may notbe worth fifty pence. Suppose the boat does not come?"

"Why, o' course, you wouldn't pay. "

"Oh, now I understand you. If we take the boat with the spirits I am togive you fifty pounds?"

"Me? Think I'm goin' to be fool enough to risk gettin' my neck brokefor fifty pound? Nay, not me. You'll give it to me to give to him. "

"And where is he?"

"Never you mind, master. "

"Oh, well, there then; I'll give you the fifty pounds if I take theboat. Dutch?"

"P'raps. Shake hands on it. "

"Is that necessary?" said the lieutenant, glancing with distaste at thegreat outstretched palm. 

"Ay, shake hands on it, and you being a gentleman, you'll say, 'pon yourhonour. "

"Oh, very well. There, upon my honour, we'll pay you if we take theboat. "

"Oh you'll take her, fast enough, " said the man with a hoarse chuckle. "Yah! There's no fight in them. They'll chatter and jabber a bit, andtheir skipper'll swear he'll do all sorts o' things, but you stick tothe boat as soon as your lads are on board. "

"Trust me for that, " said the lieutenant. "Now, then, when is the cargoto be run?"

"T'night. "

"And where?"

"Never you mind wheer. Get up your anchor, and make sail; I'll take thehelm. "

"What, do you think I am going to let a strange man pilot my vessel?"

"Yah!" growled the man; "shan't you be there, and if I come any games, you've got pistols, aren't you? But just as you like. "

"Come on deck, " said the lieutenant. "But one minute. I have lost aboy--gone ashore. Have you seen one?"

"Not I; lots o' boys about, soon get another!"

The man went clumping on deck, and stepped over the side into his boat. 

"What are you going to do?" said the lieutenant sharply. 

"Make her fast astarn. "

"Well, you need not have got into her, you could have led her round. "

"This here's my way, " said the man; and as the order was given to slipthe anchor, with a small buoy left to mark its place, the informersecured his boat to one of the ringbolts astern, and then drew close in;and mounted over the bulwark to stand beside the man at the helm. 

"What do you propose doing?" said the lieutenant. 

"Tellin' o' you what I wants done, and then you tells your lads. "

The lieutenant nodded, and in obedience to the suggestion of the man thestay-sail was hoisted; then up went the mainsail and jib, and the littlecutter careened over to the soft land breeze as soon as she got a littleway out from under the cliffs, which soon became invisible. 

"Why, you aren't dowsed your lanthorns, " whispered the man. "I'd havethem down, and next time you have time just have down all your canvas, and get it tanned brown. Going about with lanthorns and white canvas isshowing everybody where you are. "

After a time, as they glided on, catching a glimpse of a twinkling lightor two on the shore, the man grew a little more communicative, and beganto whisper bits of information and advice to the lieutenant. 

"Tells me, " he said, "that she's choke full o' Hollands gin and lace. "

"Indeed!" said the lieutenant eagerly. 

"Ay, so that chap says. And there's plenty o' time, but after a bit I'dsarve out pistols and cutlasses to the lads; you won't have to use 'em, but it'll keep those Dutchies from showing fight. "

"That will all be done, my man. "

"Going to get out four or five mile, master, and then we can head round, and get clear o' the long race and the skerries. After that I shall runin, and we'll creep along under the land. Good deep water forfive-and-twenty miles there close under the cliff. "

"Then you are making for Clayblack Bay?"

"Ah, you'll see, " said the man surlily. "As long as you get to whereyou can overhaul the boat when she comes in, you won't mind where it is, Mister Orficer. There's no rocks to get on, unless you run ashore, and'tarn't so dark as you need do that, eh?"

"I can take care of that, " said the lieutenant sharply; and the cutter, now well out in the north-east wind then blowing, leaned over, andskimmed rapidly towards the dark sea. 

The reef that stretched out from a point, and formed the race where thetide struck against the submerged rocks, and then rushed out at rightangles to the shore, had been passed, and the cutter was steered onagain through the clear dark night, slowly drawing nearer the dark shoreline, till she was well in under the cliffs; with the result that thespeed was considerably checked, but she was able to glide along at ashort distance from the land, and without doubt invisible to any vesselat sea. 

"There, " said the great rough fellow, after three hours' sailing; "we'regetting pretty close now. Bay opens just beyond that rock. "

"Where I'll lie close in, and wait for her, " said the lieutenant. 

The man laughed softly. 

"Thought I--I mean him--was to get fifty pounds, if you took the boat?"

"Yes. "

"Well, you must take her. Know what would happen if you went round thatpoint into the bay?"

"Know what would happen?"

"I'll tell yer. Soon as you got round into the bay, some o' them ashorewould see yer. Then up would go lights somewhere yonder on the hills, and the boat would go back. "

"Of course. I ought to have known better. Wait here then?"

"Well, I should, if I wanted to take her, " said the man coldly. "And Ishould have both my boats ready for my men to jump in, and cut her offas soon as she gets close in to the beach. She'll come on just as thetide's turning, so as to have no fear of being left aground. "

"You seem to know a good deal about it, my lad?" said the littlelieutenant. 

"Good job for you, " was the reply, as the sails were lowered, and thecutter lay close in under the cliff waiting. The boats were down, themen armed, and the guns loaded, ready in case the smuggler vessel shouldattempt to escape. 

Then followed a long and patient watch, in the most utter silence; for, in the stillness of such a calm night a voice travels far, and thelieutenant knew that a strange sound would be sufficient to alarm thosefor whom he was waiting, and send the boat away again to sea. He mightovertake her, but would more probably lose her in the darkness, and seeher at daybreak perhaps well within reach of a port where he dare notfollow. 

It was darker now, for clouds had come like a veil over the brightstars, but the night was singularly clear and transparent, as soon aftereight bells the informer crept silently up to where the lieutenant wastrying to make out the approach of the expected vessel. 

The little officer started as the man touched his elbow, so silently hadhe approached, and on looking down, he dimly made out that the man haddivested himself of his heavy boots. 

"Do be quiet, master, " whispered the great fellow. "Can't 'ford to losefifty pounds for fear o' getting one's feet cold. See anything?"

"No, " whispered the lieutenant, after sweeping his glass round. 

"Tide serves, and she can't be long now. But two o' your chaps keepwhispering for'ard, and it comes back off the cliff. No, no--don'tshout at 'em. We daren't have a sound. "

"No, " replied the lieutenant; and he went softly forward toward where agroup of men were leaning over the bulwarks, peering into the darknessand listening to the tide as it gurgled in and out of the rocks, littlemore than a hundred yards away. 

"Strict silence, my lads, and the moment you get the word, over intoyour boats and lay ready. Are those rowlocks muffled?"

"Ay, ay, sir!" said the boatswain, who was to be in command of one ofthe boats. 

"No bloodshed, my lads. Knock any man down who resists. Five minutesafter you leave the side here ought to make the smuggler ours. Hush!Keep your cheering till you've taken the boat. "

A low murmur ran round the side of the cutter, and every eye wasstrained as the little officer whispered, --

"A crown for the first man who sights her. "

After a while, the lieutenant mentally said, --

"I wish Mr Raystoke was here, he and Gurr could go in the other boat. I wonder where the lad can be!"

He went cautiously aft along the starboard side of his vessel, lookinghard at the frowning mass of darkness under which they lay, and thinkinghow dangerous their position would have been had the wind blown from theopposite quarter. But now they were in complete shelter, with thelittle cutter rising and falling softly on the gentle swell and driftingslowly with the tide, so that the _White Hawk's_ head was pointingseaward. 

He glanced over the side to see that the boats were in readiness, andthen went aft without a sound, till all at once he kicked againstsomething in the darkness beneath the larboard bulwark, to which he hadcrossed, and nearly fell headlong. 

"What's--here? Who was--Oh, it's those confounded boots. Hush, there;silence!"

He said the last words hastily, for the crew made noise enough tostartle any one within range, and the sound: were being followed by thehurried whisper of those who came running aft. 

"Back to your places, every one, " he said; and then the men drew off, becoming invisible almost directly, for the darkness was now intense, the lanthorns carefully hidden below, and once more all was still, andthe little office rested his glass on the bulwark and carefully sweptthe sea. 

"Stupid idiot!" he said to himself. "Lucky for him he isn't one of thecrew. No, not a sign of anything. "

But knowing that seeing was limited enough, he put his hand to his earand stood leaning over the side, listening for a full ten minutes, before, with an impatient ejaculation, he turned to speak to theinformer, who was not aft but probably forward among the men. 

He walked forward. 

"Where's that man?" he whispered to the first sailor he encountered, who, like the rest, was eagerly watching seaward. 

"Went aft, sir. "

The little officer went aft, but the fisherman was not there, and hepassed back along the starboard side, going right forward among thecrew. 

"Where is the fisherman?" he said. 

"Went aft, sir, " came from every one he encountered; and, feelingannoyed at the trouble it gave him, Mr Brough went aft again, to noticenow that there was no man at the helm. 

He walked forward again. 

"Here!" he cried in an angry whisper, "who was at the helm?"

"I, your honour, " said a voice. 

"Then why are you here, sir?"

"That fisherman chap told me you said I was to go forward, sir, as he'dtake a spell now, ready for running her round the head into the bay. "

"Where is that man?"

There was no reply, and more quickly than he had moved for months, thelieutenant trotted aft, and looked over the stern for the fisherman'sboat. 

It was gone. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

Lieutenant brough went into a fit of passion. Not a noisy, sea-goingfit of passion, full of loud words, such as are not found indictionaries, but a rising and falling, swelling and collapsing, silentfit of passion, as moment by moment he realised more and more that hehad been victimised, and that he had been sent forward to quiet the menso as to give the big rough fellow an opportunity to creep over into hisboat and cut the painter by which it was made fast, and let it glideaway on the tide till it was safe to thrust an oar over astern, and, using it like a fish does its tail, paddle softly away close under therocks to some hole, or perhaps round into the bay. 

For a moment the lieutenant thought of manning the boats and sending inpursuit, but he knew that such an act would be madness; and, acceptinghis position, he suddenly gave the order for four men to go into eachboat, and begin to tow the cutter, while a few of the crew put out thesweeps to get her a little farther from the cliff to catch the breeze. 

Half an hour later the boats were ordered in, sail was being set, andthe cutter was again moving swiftly through the water. 

But the wind was dead ahead now, and though the _White Hawk_ could useher wings well even in such a breeze, and sail very close, it was fardifferent work getting back to coming away. 

The men were not forbidden to talk, and they were not long in graspingthe situation, while their commanding officer went up and down the deck, fuming and taking himself to task more seriously than any captain haddone since he first went to sea. 

"Only to think of me, after what I have learned of their shifts andtricks, letting myself be taken in by such a transparent dodge. Oh, it's maddening!"

He looked up at the sails, and longed to clap on more, but it wasuseless. The little craft was doing her best, and the water surgedunder her bow as she took a long stretch seaward, before tacking for theland. 

"There's not a doubt of it, " muttered the lieutenant. "I know it--I'msure of it. I deserve to lose my rank. How could I have been such ablind, idiotic baby!"

He was obliged to confess, though, that the trick, if such it proved tobe, had been well planned and executed, and the stipulation of the manthat he should be paid fifty pounds if the boat was captured hadcompletely thrown dust into his eyes. 

More than once, as the cutter rushed on through the darkness, he foundhimself wondering whether, after all, he was wrong, and that the man hadslipped away, so as to avoid being recognised when the smuggling vesselwas captured, for, if seen, he would be a marked man. 

"And, perhaps, in a few minutes, the smuggler would have been cominginto the little bay, I should have taken her, redeemed my reputation, been looked upon as a smart officer, my crew would have got a nice bitof prize money, and the fellow would have come stealthily some night forhis reward. --I've done wrong. Would there be time to go back?"

He was on the point of bidding the men "'bout ship, " when a firm beliefin his having been cheated came over him, and he kept on. 

Then there was another season of doubt--and then of assurance--anotherof doubt, till the poor little fellow grew half bewildered, and gazedaround, longing for the daylight and his old moorings, so that he mightsend a boat ashore, and carefully examine the ground, to see if he couldtrace any signs of landing having gone on. 

At last, just at daybreak, the cutter was about to make a dash, and runright down for her old berth, when one of the men shouted "Sail ho!"

He raised his glass, and there, hull down, were the three masts of alugger, a Frenchman without a doubt, and his suspicions had their justconfirmation. 

His immediate thought was to give chase, but the swift sailing vesselwas well away with a favourable wind, and she would most probably getacross the Channel before he could overtake her, and even if he were solucky as to catch up to her, what then? She would not have a keg orbale on board which would give him an excuse for detaining her; andwrinkling up his brow, he went on more satisfied that he had beendeluded away, so as to give the _chasse maree_ an opportunity to come inand rapidly run her cargo. 

He saw it all now. No sooner had he passed round the race, than lightshad been shown, and the lugger was run in. He felt as certain as if hehad seen everything, and he ground his teeth with vexation. 

"Wait till I get my chance!" he muttered. "I'll sink the first smugglerI meet; and as to that blackavised scoundrel who came and cheated me ashe did--oh, if I could only see him hung!"

A couple of hours later, after seeing the lugger's masts and sailsslowly disappear, the cutter was once more at her old moorings, andleaving the boatswain in charge, the lieutenant had himself rowedashore, to land upon the ledge, and carefully search the rocks for somesight of a cargo having been landed. 

But the smugglers and their shore friends had been more careful thistime, and search where they would, the cutter's men could find no tracesof anything of the kind, and the lieutenant had himself rowed back tothe cutter, keeping the boat alongside, ready to send along shore to thecove to seek for tidings of Gurr and Dick but altering his mind, he hadthe little vessel unmoored once more to run back the six miles along thecoast till the cutter was abreast of the cove, --the first place where itseemed possible for a boat to land, --and here he sent a crew ashore tobring his two men off. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

"How many horses has your father got?"

"Three. "

"What colour are they?"

"Black, white, and grey. "

"Turn round three times, and catch whom you may. "

That, as everyone knows, is the classical way of beginning the game ofBlind Man's Buff; and supposing that the blinded man _pro tem_, isproperly bandaged, and cannot get a squint of light up by the side ofhis nose, and also supposing that he confuses himself by turning roundthe proper number of times honestly, he will be in profound darkness, and in utter ignorance of the direction of door, window, or the salientobjects in the room. 

Take another case. Suppose a lad to have eaten a hearty supper of someparticularly hard pastry. The probabilities are that he will eitherhave the peculiar form of dream known as nightmare, or some time in thenight he will get out of bed, and go wandering about his room in thedarkness, to awake at last, cold, confused, and asking himself where heis, without the slightest ability to give a reasonable answer to hisquestion. 

It has fallen to the lot of some people to be lost in a fog--words, these, which can only be appreciated by those who have passed through asimilar experience. 

The writer has gone through these experiences more than once, and fullyrealised the peculiar sensation of helplessness, confusion, and brainnumbing which follows. Dark as pitch is mostly a figure of speech, forthe obscurity is generally relieved by something in the form of dulllight which does enable a person to see his hand before him; but theblackness around, when Archibald Raystoke began to come back to hissenses, would have left pitch far behind as to depth of tint. 

His head ached, and there was a feeling in it suggestive of the contentshaving been turned into brain-fritters in a pan--fritters which hadbubbled and turned brown, and then been burned till they were quiteblack. 

He opened his eyes, and then put his hands up to feel if they were open. 

They were undoubtedly, and he hurt them in making the test, for he halffancied, and he had a confused notion, that a great handkerchief hadbeen tied over them. But though they were undoubtedly open he could notsee. In fact, when he closed them, strange as it may sound, he felt asif he could see better, for there were a number of little spots of lightsailing up and down and round and round, like the tiny sparks seen intinder before the fire which has consumed is quite extinct. 

He lay still, not thinking but trying to think, for his mind was in thecondition described by the little girl who, suffering from a cold, said, "Please, ma, one side of my nose won't go. "

Archy Raystoke's mind would not go, and for a long time he laymotionless. 

His memory began to work again in his back, for he gradually becameconscious of feeling something there, and after suffering theinconvenience for a long time, he thrust his hand under his spine anddrew out a piece of iron, sharp-edged and round like a hoop. 

He felt better after that, and fell to wondering why he had brought hislittle hoop to bed with him, and also how it was that his little hoop, which he used to trundle, had become iron instead of wood. 

The exertion of moving the hoop made him wince, for his back was soreand his arms felt strained as if he had been beaten. 

His mind began "to go" a little more, and he had to turn back mentally;but he could not do that, so he made an effort to go forward, andwondered how soon it would be morning, and the window curtains at thefoot of the bed would show streaks of sunshine between. 

Time passed on and he still lay perfectly quiet, for he did not feel theslightest inclination to move after his late efforts, which had produceda sensation of the interior of his skull beginning to bubble up withfire or hot lead rolling about. But as that pain declined he felt cold, and after a great deal of hesitation he suddenly stretched out his handsto pull up the clothes. 

There were none. 

His natural inference had been, as he was lying there upon his back, that he must be in bed; but now he found that, though there were nobed-clothes, he was wearing his own, only upon feeling about with nolittle pain they did not seem like his clothes. 

That was as far as he could get then, but some time after there came agleam of light in his understanding, and he recalled the mists that hungabout the Channel. 

Of course he was in one of those thick mists, and he had gone to sleepon--on--what had he gone to sleep on?

The light died out, and it was a long time before, like a flash, camethe answer. 

The deck of the cutter!

He made a movement to start up in horror, for he knew that he must havegone to steep during his watch, and his pain and stiffness were like apunishment for doing so disgraceful a thing. 

"What will Mr Brough say if he knows?" he thought, and then he groaned, for the pain caused by the movement was unbearable. 

At last his mind began to clear, and he set himself to wonder with moreforce. This was not the deck, for he could feel that he was lying onwhat was like an old sail, and where his hand lay was not wood, but coldhard stone, with a big crack full of small scraps. 

The lad shook his head and then uttered a low moan, for the pain wasterrible. 

It died off though as he lay, still trying hard to think, failing--trying in a half dreamy way, and finally thrilling all over, for heremembered everything now--the smugglers--the scene in the darkness ofthe room where he was imprisoned--the coming of that boy who jeered athim till they engaged in a fierce struggle, with the result all plainlypictured, till he was stunned or had swooned away. 

These thoughts were almost enough to stun him again, and he lay therewith a hot sensation of rage against the treacherous young scoundrel whohad lured him on to that struggle, and held him so thoroughly fixedagainst the bars till he was secured and bound. Yes, and his eyes werebandaged. He could recall it now. 

"Oh, only wait till I get my chance!" he muttered, and he involuntarilyclenched his fists. 

He lay perfectly quiet again though, for he found that any exertionbrought on mental confusion as well as pain, and he wanted to thinkabout his position. 

It came by degrees more and more, and as he was able to think withgreater clearness, he found an explanation of the fancy he had felt, that he must be ill and sea-sick again, and that somebody had beengiving him brandy. 

Part was fevered imagination, part was reality, for there could be nodoubt about that faint odour of spirits. It was brandy, but brandy insmuggled kegs, and the scoundrels of smugglers had shut him up in thevault with their kegs. 

"Well, they have not killed me, " he said to himself with a little laugh. "They dared not try that, and all I have to do now is to escape, if MrBrough does not send the lads to fetch me out. "

He went through the whole time now since his landing; thought of what adisgraceful thing it was for a titled gentleman to mix himself up withsmuggling, and what a revelation he would have for the lieutenant andthe master who had been so easily deluded by Sir Risdon's bearing. 

Then he thought of Celia, and how bright and innocent she had seemed;putting away all thoughts of her, however, directly as his angry feelingincreased against Ram and this treacherous girl. 

He must have been for hours thinking, often in a drowsy, half-confusedway, but rousing up from time to time to feel his resentment growingagainst Ram, who seemed to him now to be the personification of thewhole smuggling gang. 

By degrees he grew conscious of a fresh pain, one that was certainly notproduced by his late struggles, or by stiffness from lying upon an oldsail stretched upon the damp floor of a vault. 

As he thought this last, he asked himself why he called it the dampfloor of a vault. For it was not damp, but perfectly dry, and below thescraps of stone in the seam there was fine dust. 

But the said pain was increasing, and there was no mistaking it. He washungry, decidedly hungry; and paradoxically, as he grew better he grewworse, the pain in the head being condensed in a more central region, where nature carries on a kind of factory of bone, muscle, flesh, blood, and generally health and strength. 

Suddenly Archy recalled that his legs had been bound, and he sat up tofind that they were free now, and if he liked he could rise and go tothe grated window and call for help. 

"If I do, they'll come down and stuff a handkerchief in my mouth again, "he thought, "and it is no use to do that. I may as well wait till Ihear our men's voices, and then I'll soon let them know where I am. "

He got on his feet, feeling stiff and uncomfortable, and then tried tomake out where the grated window was, but the darkness was absolute, andhe stretched out one foot and his hands, as he began to move cautiouslyalong, feeling his way till he kicked against a loose stone. 

This arrested him, and he tried in another direction for his foot tocome in contact with what seemed to be round, and proved to be a sparlying in company with some carefully folded and rope-bound sails. 

"The old rascal!" thought Archy, as he mentally pictured the stern, sadcountenance of Sir Risdon. 

"Why, he must have a lugger of his own, and keep his stores in here. "

A little feeling about convinced him that the window of the vault couldnot be behind the pile of boat-gear against which he had stumbled, andhe moved slowly of! Again, to stop at the end of a yard or two, feelingabout with one foot. 

"Why, I'm not shut up!" he cried joyously. "I'm out on the ledge. Theymust have laid me here to be fetched off by the boat. Suppose the tidehad risen while I was asleep!"

But the joyous feeling went off as he stared about him. It had beendark enough in a dense fog, but it did not feel dark and cold now, as ifthere was a dense fog. Everything seemed dry, and though he listenedattentively, he could not hear the washing of the waves among the rocks, nor smell the cool, moist, sea-weedy odour of the coast. Instead ofthat a most unmistakable smell of brandy came into his nostrils. 

And yet he seemed to be standing on that ledge close down to the water, for as he stooped down now he could trace with his hand one of the huge, curled-up shell-fish turned to the stone in which it was embedded, while, as he felt about, there was another and another larger still. 

He listened again. 

No; he was not on the seashore. He must be in the vault beneath SirRisdon's house, and though he had not noticed it, the floor must bepaved with a layer of stones similar to those found where the littlekegs had been left. 

He went cautiously on with outstretched hands through the intensedarkness, and his feet traced the flat curls of stone again and again, but he did not find any wall, and now, as he made up his mind to go backto where he had been when he first awoke, he found that he had not thefaintest idea as to which direction he ought to take. 

As he grew more able to move and act, the sense of confusion whichsuddenly arrested him was terrible--almost maddening. 

Where was he? What was here on all sides? It could not be the cellar, as he went in one direction or the other toward the walls, and he stoodat last resting, in the most utter bewilderment of mind and helplessnessof body possible to conceive, while a curious feeling of awe began tosteal over him. 

The smugglers had not dared to kill him or throw him into the sea, as hehad heard of them doing on more than one occasion, but as far as hecould make out they had cast him down into some terrible place to die. 

The idea was terrible, and unable to contain himself he took a step ortwo in one direction, then in another, and stopped short, not daring tostir for fear some awful chasm such as he had seen among the rocksshould be yawning at his feet, and he should fall headlong down. 

He stopped to wipe the cold perspiration away that was gathering on hisbrow, and then, trying to keep himself cool, he stood thinking, andfinally, in utter weariness, sat down. 

"I wish I wasn't such a coward, " said the young midshipman, half aloud. "It's like being a child to be frightened because it's dark. What'sthat!"

He started up. 

"_That_" was a gleam of light some distance off, shining on the ruggedwalls of a vast chamber or set of chambers. He could only dimly seethis, for the light was but feeble, and the bearer hidden behind therugged pillars which supported the roof; but it was evidently comingnearer, and as it approached he could see that he was in a vastcavernous, flat-ceiled place, which appeared to have been a quarry, fromwhich masses of stone had been hewn, the floor here and there beinglittered with refuse of all sorts and sizes. 

As the light came on, the midshipman made out that quite a store ofspars, ropes, and blocks lay at a short distance, and that more dimlyseen was a large stack of tubs, from which doubtless emanated the odourof brandy. 

Archy's first idea was to go and meet the bearers of the light, but onsecond thoughts he decided to stand upon his dignity and let them cometo him, and as the thought occurred to him that the visit might be of aninimical nature, his hand stole into his breast in search of his dirk. Vainly though: the weapon was gone. 

All this time, as if the bearers were coming very leisurely, the lightslowly approached, and as the midshipman more fully grasped the factthat he must be either in a stone quarry or a mine, he saw that thelight was an ordinary horn lanthorn, and from the shadows it cast hecould see that there were two people, one of whom was carrying somethingweighty on his shoulders. 

This soon resolved itself into four kegs, slung two and two, the bearerpanting under their weight, while his companion held the light low down, so that he could see where to plant his feet and avoid the corners ofthe huge square pillars which supported the roof. 

Neither of the pair seemed to pay any attention to him; in fact, themidshipman was doubtful whether he was seen as he stood back waitingtill they had passed him, and then hesitated as to whether he shouldmake for the entrance and escape. 

Through the black darkness, not knowing which way he should go, perhapsto fall down some shaft such as was sure to be in a place like this?No; he could not risk the journey without a light, and he stood waitingand trying to make out the shadowy figures, one of whom looked strangelyuncouth beneath his load, while the other was quite short. 

Archy had not long to wait before the pair halted by the stack of kegs, to which the four carried by the man were added, and this done theyturned and came toward him. 

At this moment, after excitedly watching them, the midshipman becameconvinced. 

The bearer of the lanthorn was his young enemy--the boy. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

Raystoke looked round him for a weapon, but the only thing visible was astone, and not feeling disposed to descend to such a barbarous means ofoffence or defence, he drew himself up, burning with indignation, butwaiting for the others to commence speaking. 

He had not long to wait. 

"Hullo, sailor!" cried Ram; "like some milk?"

"You rascal!" burst out Archy, taking a step toward the lad, but feelingdirectly a strong hand upon his arm to hold him back. 

"What's the matter?" growled the owner of the hand. 

"The matter will be that you two will be hung at the yardarm some finemorning. How dare you shut me up in this hole?"

"Hung for shutting you up here?" cried the boy. "We shall have to hanghim then, Jemmy, after all. "

"Ay, lad, " said the man. "When'll we do it; now?"

"Now!" cried the midshipman. "Do you think you are going to frighten mewith such talk? Show me the way out of this place directly. "

"Ram, lad, " said Jemmy Dadd, with a cackling laugh; "when yer ketches awild thing, and puts him in a cage, he begins to bang hisself agen thesides, and knocks his head agen the bars, and if he could talk he'd goon just like that 'ere. Then you keeps quiet, and don't give himnothing to eat, and after a day or two you can do what you like withhim. "

"Then we'd better take back the basket, Jemmy, eh?"

"Ay, lad, that's it. Leave him in the dark a bit to cool him down. "

"You scoundrels!" cried the lad in frenzy. "If you do not show me theway out, I'll shout for help, and when it does come, I'll take care yourpunishment shall be ten times worse. "

"Ah, do, " said Ram, laughing. "Won't bring the roof down, will it, Jemmy?"

"Nay, not it, lad. Come on. "

"Wait a bit, " said Ram. --"I say, didn't tell me whether you'd like abottle o' milk?"

Archy felt as if he would like to fly at the boy, the very mention ofthe milk exasperating him to such an extent. But at every movement hefelt himself more tightly held, and knowing from sad experience that itwas waste of energy to contend with the iron-muscled fellow who grippedhis arm, he smothered his anger. 

He did not speak, but as Ram held up the light, Archy's countenance toldtales of the passion struggling in his breast for exit, and the boygrinned. 

"I say, do have a bottle o' milk, " he said; "it's fresh and warm. Mother said it would do you good. "

"Nay, lad, don't give him none till he's grow'd civil, and don't talkabout hanging on us. "

"I brought you a bottle o' new milk and some hot bread, on'y it'sgetting cold now, and some butter and cold ham. Do have some. "

Archy ground his teeth: he felt as if he would give anything for somefood, and the very mention of the tasty viands made his mouth water, buthe only stamped his foot and tried to shake himself free. 

"I am a king's officer, " he shouted, "and order you to let me go!"

"Hear that, Jemmy? Hold him tight. "

"Ay! He's tight enough!" cried the man, throwing a sturdy arm about themiddy's waist, and holding him back as he tried to get at Ram. 

"No good to give orders here, " said the latter, grinning. "You're onlya king's officer when you're aboard your little bit of a cutter. "

"Will you let me out of this place?"

"If I let you go will you tell your skipper about what you've seen?"

"Yes, " cried Archy fiercely. 

"Then what a dumble head you must be to think we'll let you go. Won'tdo, little officer; will it, Jemmy?"

"Do! Better chuck him off the cliff. "

"What!" cried the midshipman fiercely. 

"Chuck you off the cliff. What do you mean by coming interfering herewith honest men getting their living? We never did nothing to you. "

"You scoundrel!" cried Archy, "how dare you say that? You know you arebreaking the laws by smuggling, and you are doing worse by kidnappingme. "

"Should have kep' away then, " growled the man. 

"Don't speak cross to him, Jemmy. He's very sorry he came now, and if Ilet him go he'll promise not to say a word about what he has seen; won'tyou now, mate?"

"No!" roared Archy. 

"Oh, well then, Jemmy's right. We shall have to tame you down. "

"Show me the way out of this. "

"Come along then, " said Ram with a sneering laugh. "But you'd betterpromise. "

"Show me the way out. "

"Won't you have some milk first?"

"Do you hear me?"

"And bread and butter, home-made?"

"Will you show me the way out. "

"Nor no ham? You must be hungry!"

"You scoundrel!" cried Archy, who was exasperated almost beyond bearing. "Show me the way out. "

"Oh, very well, this way, then. Hold him tight, Jemmy. "

"Ay, ay, lad!"

"This way, my grand officer without your fine clothes, " said Ramtauntingly, as he held down the lanthorn to show the rough stone floor. "Mind how you put your feet, and take care. Why don't you come?"

Archy made a start forward, but he was tightly held. 

"Why don't you come, youngster?" cried Ram mockingly, as he held thelanthorn more closely. "There, now then, mind how you come. "

_Whang_!

The dull sound was followed by a faint clatter, and all was blackdarkness again, for raging with hunger and annoyance as the boy was, tightly held, the light down just in front of him, without any warningArchy drew back slightly, delivered one quick, sharp kick full at thelanthorn, and it flew right away into the darkness. 

"Well!" ejaculated Ram in his first moment of surprise. Then he burstinto a roar of laughter which echoed from the roof. 

"You're a nice un, " growled Jemmy. 

"Let him go, and come on, " cried Ram. 

A sudden thought struck the middy. 

"No, you don't, " he muttered, as he wrenched himself round and clung tothe man. "If you are going from here, I go too. "

"Got the lanthorn, Ram, lad?" cried Jemmy. 

"No; and it's smashed now. Come away. "

"Let go, will you?" growled Jemmy. 

For answer the midshipman held on more tightly. 

"Do you hear? Come on!" cried Ram. 

"He won't let go. He's holding on legs, wings and teeth. Come andhelp. "

"Get out: you can manage him. Put him on his back. "

No sooner were the words uttered than, as he struggled there in theblack darkness, Archy felt himself twisted up off his feet. There was ashake, a wrench, and as he clung tightly to the man, his arms weredragged, as it felt to him, half out of their sockets, and he wasthrown, to come down fortunately on his hands and knees. 

For a few moments he felt half stunned by the shake, but recoveringhimself he leaped up and began to follow the retiring footsteps whichwere faintly heard. 

He knew the direction, and went on with outstretched hands to find theway, checked directly by their coming in contact with one of the greatpillars of stone. 

But he felt his way round this, got to the other side, listened, madeout which way the footsteps were going, followed on, and caught his feetagainst something which threw him forward on to a pile of broken stone. 

He got up again, and felt his way cautiously to the right, for thestones rose like a bank or barrier in his way, and he went many yardswithout finding a way through. 

Then feeling that he had taken the wrong turning, he retraced his stepsas quickly as he could, going on and on without avail and neverstopping. He was just in time to save himself from another fall as heheard a dull bang as if a heavy door were closed, followed by a curiousrattling sound, as of large pieces of slate falling down and bangingagainst wood. Then came a dull echoing, which died off in whispers, andall was perfectly still. 

"The cowards!" cried Archy, as he fully realised that his gaolers hadescaped from him. "How brutal to leave a fellow shut up in a hole likethis. 'Tis horrible; and enough to drive one mad. Ugh!" he now cried, "if I only could get out!"

He sat down upon the rough stones, feeling weak, and perspiringprofusely. It was many hours now since he had tasted food, and in hismisery and despair he felt that he should be starved to death before hisgaolers came again. 

"How dare they!" he cried passionately. "A king's officer too! Oh, ifI could only be once more along with the lads, and with a chance to goat them! I think I should be able to fight. "

Then as he sat on the stones he began to cool down and grow less fiercein his ideas. In other words, he came down from pistols and sharp-edgedcutlasses to fists, and felt such an intense longing to get at Ram, thathis fists involuntarily clenched and his fingers tingled. 

"Wait a bit, " he said fiercely, --"wait a bit. "

"Yes, I shall have to wait a bit, " he said sadly, as he rose from thestones. "Oh, how weak and hungry I am! It's as if I was going to beill. I wonder whether I could track where they went out. "

"Not now, " he said, --"not now;" and with some faint hope of finding theplace where he had been lying on the old sail, he began to move slowlyand laboriously along, his mind dragged over, as it were, to the wordsof the boy as he taunted him about milk and bread and butter with ham. It was agonising in his literally starving condition to think of suchthings, and he tried to keep his mind upon finding the way out, meaningto work desperately after he had lain down for a bit to rest. 

But it was impossible to control his thoughts, strive how he would. Hunger is an overmastering desire, and he crept on step by step withoutstretched hands, picturing in the darkness slices of ham, yellowbutter, brown crusted loaves, and pure sweet milk, till, as he draggedhis feet slowly along, half-fainting now with pain, weariness, anddespair, his foot suddenly kicked against something which rolled overand over away from him. 

"The lanthorn!" he exclaimed eagerly, and planning at once how he couldstrike a light with a stone and his knife, and perhaps contrive sometinder, he went down on his hands and knees, feeling about in alldirections till he touched the object which he had kicked, and uttered acry of joy and excitement. 

It was not the lanthorn, but a round cross-handled basket with lid, andhe trembled as he recalled Ram's words about what his mother had sent. 

Was there truth in them, or were they the utterances of a malicious mindwhich wished to torture one who was in its power?

Archy Raystoke hardly dared to think, and knelt there for a few minutes, with his trembling hands resting upon the basket, which he was afraid toopen lest it should not contain that which he looked for. 

"Out of my misery at all events, " he cried; and he tore off the lid. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

"They only want to keep me a prisoner, " said the midshipman half an hourafter, as he sat with his mouth full, steadily eating away as a boy ofseventeen can eat--"a prisoner till they've got all their stuff safeaway. They dare not hurt me. I'm not afraid of that, and it's a verystrange thing if I can't prove myself as clever as that cunning youngscoundrel who trapped me here. At all events, I'll try. They dare notstarve me: not they. Wait a bit, and I'll show them that I'm not sostupid as they think. Shut me up here, would they? Well, we'll see!"

He went on munching a little longer, then felt for the bottle, took outthe tight cork, had a good long draught of the milk it contained, recorked and put it away in the basket with the bread, butter, and hamhe had not consumed, shut down the lid, and laughed. 

There was nothing very cheerful about his prison to make him laugh, butthe reaction was so great--he felt so different after his hearty meal--that he was ready to look any difficulty in the face, and full of wonderat his despondency of a short time before. 

There's a good deal of magic in food to one who is fasting, and isblessed with health and a good appetite. 

"Now then, " he said, rising with the basket in his hand, "the firstthing is to find a place to stow you;" and he had no difficulty infinding ledge after ledge that would have held the basket, but he wantedone that would be easily found in the darkness. 

At last he felt his way to a great mass of rock, upon which, about levelwith his head, was a projection upon which the basket stood well enough, and trusting to being able to find it again by means of the great block, he turned his attention to the lanthorn. 

"If I only had that, " he said to himself. 

He stood thinking in the darkness, wondering which way he had bettertry. 

"Any way, " he said at last, "for I will have it; and then if I don'tfind my way out of this hole, I'm as stupid as that fellow thinks. "

Stretching out his hands to save himself from a blow against anyobstacle, he stalked off in as straight a direction as he could go, feeling his way with his feet, and always making sure of firm footholdbefore he moved the one that was safe, for his one great dread in thevast cavern was lest he should suddenly find himself on the brink ofsome yawning shaft. 

He knew little about the district, his ideas of the place beingprincipally confined to what he had seen of the coast-line from the sea, but rugged piles of stone had been pointed out to him here and there asbeing the refuse of the stone that had been ages before dug andregularly mined by shafts and galleries out of the bowels of the earth;and a little thinking convinced him that he must be shut up in one ofthose old quarries which had been seized upon by the smugglers as aplace to hide their stores. 

It was a shrewd guess, and he could not help thinking afterwards that itwas no wonder that so little success attended the efforts of the revenuecutter's crew to trace cargoes which had been landed when the smugglershad such lurking places as this. 

As he crept slowly on, step by step, these and similar thoughts camerapidly through the prisoner's brain, and as he slowly mounted whatseemed to be a pile of fragments, he began to wonder where his prisoncould be--whether it was close to the shore or some distance inland. 

He stopped to listen, hoping to hear the breaking of the waves among therocks, which would have proved what he wished to know at once; butthough he listened again and again, he could not distinguish a sound. The only noises he heard were those he made in stepping on one side ofsome piece of stone, which gave forth a musical clink as it struckanother. 

He was climbing up now what appeared to be a steep slope, over greatfragments of stone heavier than he would have been able to lift, and heseemed to creep up and up till he felt assured that the ceiling was justabove him, and raising his hand he touched the roof, his fingers tracingout again the great cast of one of the old-world shell-fish--one of thegreat nautiluses of the geologist. 

But fossils were unknown things in Archy Raystoke's day. He was huntingfor a lanthorn, not for specimens. 

As he stood on the highest part of this pile of stone, he hesitatedabout going farther, and bore off to his left, feeling that in allprobability the object of his search had not come so far. 

From time to time he paused to listen, and at last thought of trying tofind the extent of the place by shouting; but he was satisfied with hisfirst essay, his voice going echoing away apparently for a greatdistance, and the peculiar, dying, whispering sound was not pleasant toone alone in the darkness. 

After a while, however, as he felt that he was walking over smallfragments of stone, he picked up a piece and threw it, to try if he werenear the end of the cavern in this direction, for he was growing tiredand longed now to find his way to the sailcloth to lie down and rest. 

The piece he held was about a pound weight, and, drawing back his handas far as he could reach, he threw it with all his might, to start backin alarm, for it struck wood with a heavy thud, and dropped down almostat his feet. 

Unknown to himself he had gradually found his way to the pile of kegs, and these he touched the next moment, thinking that, as he stood facingthem, the place where he had first come to himself must lie off to hisleft; and so it proved after a long search, and he sank down so weariedout, that as he chose by preference to lie down, he was before manyminutes had elapsed in a deep and dreamless sleep, forgetful of thedarkness and any peril that might be ready to assail him next. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

Whether it was night or day when Archy awoke he could not tell, but hefelt rested and refreshed, and ready to try and do something to make hisescape. 

There was a way into his prison, and that way, he vowed, should by somemeans or other be his way out. 

The first thing to do was to find that lanthorn, of whose position heseemed to have some vague idea; but, after a little search, he foundthat all idea of locality had gone, and he had not the slightest idea ofthe direction to go next. 

"I must leave it to chance, " he said. "I shall find it when I'm nottrying;" and, wearying of the search, he set himself now to try and makehis way to the place where his visitors had come into the old quarry. 

Here, again, he was utterly at fault, for the cavern was so big andirregular, and he was still so haunted by the thought that he might beat any moment on the brink of some deep hole, half full of water, thathe dared not search so energetically as he would have liked. 

He had many narrow escapes from falls and blows against projectingmasses of stone, and he found himself, after hours of wandering, sotired and faint, that he would gladly have found the basket and theresting-place; but the more he searched the more convinced he grew ofthe ease with which he could lose himself entirely in the darkness, andwhen he did come upon any spot again which he recognised by touch as onethat he had felt before, it seemed to him that he stumbled upon it quiteby accident, and the moment he left it he was as helpless as before. 

Wearied out at length, he determined to go in a straight line from wherehe was to the extremity of the vault; then to curve back, and from thispoint strike out to the left in search of his resting-place and thebasket. 

It took him just about an hour, and when he had done all this he couldfind no traces of his food, but he heard a noise close behind him whichnailed him to the spot, and he stood motionless, listening. 

According to his idea, he was at the end of the cave farthest from wherehis gaolers approached, but unless there were two entrances he was quitewrong, for he had wandered close up to the place whence Ram and Jemmyhad come, and, the noise continuing, he stooped down to let whoever itwas pass him, while he made for the entrance and slipped out. 

Directly after there was the soft glow of a lanthorn, which suddenlycame into view round a corner, high up by the ceiling, and the bearerbegan to descend a rough slope. 

Archy saw no more, for he dropped down and hid behind a stone, watchingthe glare of light, and then, as it passed him going on toward the otherend of the cave, he crept from behind the stone and made for the roughslope, which was thoroughly printed on his mind, so that he could almostpicture every rock and inequality that might be in his way. 

The door would be open, he thought; and, if he could, he would have aclever revenge, for he determined to turn the tables on his enemies, shut them in, and he hoped to make them prisoners till he could signalfor help from the cutter, and get a boat's crew ashore. 

As he crept on quietly he glanced over his shoulder once, saw the lightdisappearing behind the great square, squat pillars, and then with afeeling of triumph that thrilled through him, he went cautiously up therest of the slope, his arms outstretched, his breath held, and inmomentary expectation of hearing an exclamation from the other end ofthe cave. 

"They'll think I'm somewhere about, " he said to himself, as he crept on, expecting to pass through an opening into daylight the next moment; butit did not turn out as he anticipated, for he stopped short with hisnose against some one's throat, his arms on each side of a sturdy body, and the arms belonging to that body gripped him tight. 

"Steady, Ram, lad!" came in a gruff whisper. "Light out?"

Archy's heart beat heavily, and he felt that, to escape, he ought to tryand imitate the boy's voice, and say "Yes. "

But he could not only stand panting, and the next instant hisopportunity, if opportunity it was, had gone. For Ram's real voice camefrom right at the other end, echoing along the roof. 

"Look out, Jemmy. He aren't here. "

"No, he aren't there, lad, " said the smuggler with a laugh. "Bring yourlanthorn, I've ketched a rat or some'at. Come and see. "

Archy made a violent struggle to escape, but the man's arms were tightround his waist, he was lifted off the slope, and as he fully realisedthat, in a wrestling match, no matter how active and strong seventeenmay be, it is no match for big, well-set seven-and-thirty. 

"No good, youngster, " growled the smuggler, as he carried the midshipmandown the slope, and held him at the bottom. "Very good idea, but yousee we didn't mean you to get out like that. "

Feeling that he was exhausting himself for nothing, Archy ceased hisstruggling, and was held there motionless, as Ram came up with thelanthorn to begin grinning. 

"Bring him along, Jemmy, " he said. "His dinner's ready. "

"Shall I carry him, lad?"

"Look here, " cried Archy haughtily. "You two are, I suppose, quiteignorant of the consequences of keeping me here?"

"What's he talking about, Jemmy?" said Ram. 

"Dunno, lad: something 'bout consequences. "

"As soon as it is known that you have seized and kept me here, you willboth be arrested, and have to suffer a long term of imprisonment, evenif you get no worse off. "

"But suppose no one knows you are here?" said Ram. 

"But it will be known, so I give you both fair warning. "

"Thank ye, " said Ram mockingly. 

"And thank ye for me too, my lad. "

"So now, take my advice, open that door, and set me free. If you dothis, I'll promise to intercede for you two, and I daresay I can saveyou from punishment. "

"Well, that's handsome; isn't it, Jemmy?" said Ram mockingly. 

"Do you hear me?" cried Archy. 

"Oh, I can, quite plain, " said Jemmy. 

"So can I, " said Ram; "but your dinner's ready, Mr Orficer; so come andhave it. "

"Enough of this, " cried Archy, wrenching himself free. "Open that door, and let me go. "

"Better carry him, Jemmy. "

"If you dare!" cried the angry prisoner, beginning the struggle, butJemmy Dadd's muscles were like steel, and he whipped the youngmidshipman off his feet, and carried him, kicking and struggling withall his might, right along the cave, Ram going first with the lanthorn;and in spite of its feeble, poor, dulled light, the prisoner was able toget a better idea of the shape and size of the place than he had hadbefore. 

The captive ceased struggling, and keenly watched the various pillarsand heaps they passed, noting too how the cavern seemed to extend in awide passage right on before them, and seemingly endless gloom. 

"There you are, " said Jemmy, as he set his burden down; "quite at home. Is he going to ask us to dinner, Ram, lad, and send for his skipper tojyne us?"

Archy paid no heed to the man's jeering words, for he was thinking ofthe place, and trying to fix it all in his memory, for use when thesetwo had gone. 

He knew that he must have been over the parts he had seen again andagain in the darkness, but beyond the memory of the great pillars he hadmarked, the place had made no impression; but now he had seen the wayout, and the way further in, and throwing himself down, he withoutapparent reason took up a long narrow piece of stone, handled it for amoment or two, and set it down carelessly, but not with so muchindifference that he did not contrive that it should act as a roughpointer, ready to indicate the direction of the door. 

Feeling that it was useless to say more to his gaolers, especially afterhis attempt to escape, he half lay on the old sail; while, as if thedarkness were the same to him as the light, the smuggler saidlaconically, "Going back!" turned on his heel, and disappeared in theblack gloom. 

"Brought you some bacon and some fried eggs, this time, " said Ram, looking at him attentively, but Archy made no reply. 

"No use to rile, " continued the boy, "and you can't get out, so take iteasy. Father'll let you go some day. "

"Where is the cutter?" said Archy sharply. 

"I d'know. Gone. "

"Gone?"

"Yes, she went off somewhere. To look for you, pr'aps, " said the boygrinning, "or else they think you're drownded. "

"Look here, " said the midshipman suddenly, "you behaved verytreacherously to me, but I'll forgive you if you'll let me go. "

"Look here, " replied the boy, "you behaved very treacherously to us, dressing up, and spying on us; but I've got you, and won't let you go. "

"I was doing my duty, sir. "

"And I'm doing my dooty--what father telled me. "

"How much will you take to let me go?"

"How much will you give?" said Ram, grinning, and the midshipman's heartmade a bound. 

"You shall have five pounds, if you'll let me go now, at once. "

"There's as much as you'll eat till I come agen, " said Ram abruptly;"and if I don't forget you as I did my rabbits once, and they werestarved to death, I'll bring you some more. --I say!"

Archy looked at him fiercely. 

"Don't try to drink what's in them tubs. It's awful strong, and mightkill you. "

"Stop a moment; leave me a light. "

"What do you want with a light? You kicked the last over, and thoughtyou'd get out in the dark. You may have the one you kicked. "

"But it is so dark here, " said Archy, as the boy picked up the emptybasket. 

"Course it is when there's no light, " said the boy coolly; and swingingthe lanthorn as he rose, he continued, "You'll find the road to yourmouth, I daresay. I did not bring you a knife, because you're such asavage one. "

"Where is my dirk?"

"What d'yer mean? Your little sword?"

"Yes. "

"Father's got it all right; said it was a dangerous thing for a boy!"

Ram gave his prisoner a nod, and went off whistling, the prisonerfollowing at a distance, and getting pretty close up to the beginning ofthe slope as the lanthorn disappeared round a corner. Then, as helistened, it seemed to him that the boy climbed up somewhere, talkingthe while to his companion, their voices sounding hollow and rumbling, then there was a pause, the dull thud of a closing door, the drawing ofbolts, and soon the rattling of heavy stones, and once more all wassilent. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

A strange depressing sensation came over the young prisoner as he stoodthere once more alone, but he turned sharply round with his teeth set, thought for a few moments about his course back, and then, feeling moredetermined and firm, walked slowly on, and to his great delight foundthat it was possible to become educated to do without sight, for, eachtime that he thought he was near a pillar, he stretched out his hand tofind that he touched it, and with very little difficulty he walkedstraight up to the old sail, felt about, and there was the basket offood, which he attacked at once, and soon after fell asleep. 

Four more visits were paid him by Ram, but whether they were atintervals of days or half days, the prisoner could not tell, for anyquestions he asked were laughingly evaded, and all attempts atpersuasion and bribery proved useless. 

He did learn that the cutter had just returned and gone away again. Andit seemed to him that he was forgotten, but he never thoroughly lostheart, and during this time he had accustomed himself to the darkness, and educated his feet wonderfully in the topography of the place. 

Of one thing he had fully satisfied himself, and that was thehopelessness of getting out by the way his visitors came in. They weretoo cautious ever to leave the door unguarded; hence the prisoner feltthat if he knocked down and stunned the frank, good-tempered boy whoseemed disposed to be the best of friends in every way but that ofhelping him to escape, he would be no nearer freedom than before. 

He had gone up the slope twice, and the last time crept near enough tosee that Ram was climbing up a well-like shaft by means of ruggedprojections in the wall, that as he got about twenty feet up he handedthe lanthorn to the man, climbed out through a square opening, and thena trap-door was shut down, locked, and bolted, and what sounded to be anumber of heavy pieces of stone were drawn over. 

As far as he could judge, after venturing up and nearly having a severefall in the darkness, escape was impossible that way, so he returnedafter each trial to think, and come to the conclusion that if the placehad been used for the purpose of digging out stone, of which there couldbe no doubt, there must be some other way by which the great pieces hadbeen dragged up to daylight. 

With a lanthorn or torch he might easily have satisfied himself uponthis point. To achieve it without was a terribly risky task. 

Still he determined to try, and after a hasty meal, directly his gaolershad paid their last visit, he started off in the opposite direction tothat which led to the trap-door, and proceeding cautiously, taking theprecaution to keep on throwing pieces of stone before him, to satisfyhimself that there was no well or pit in his way, he went on and on. 

Now he threw a piece of stone to his left hand, to his right, and aftergoing many yards at what was but a snail's pace, he discovered that theplace had suddenly contracted, and after creeping a little farther, theplace was more contracted still, and ascended. So narrowed was it nowthat a couple of steps in either direction enabled him to touch a wall, while about twenty short paces farther on the ascent grew much morestraight, and there was no fear of a pit or shaft in the way, for hefound that roughly square blocks of stone were laid like a flight ofsteps, up which he clambered, and then sunk down, overcome by thefeeling of joy which had flooded his brain. 

He must have come up quite fifty feet after ascending the slope alongwhich he had walked, and here he was at the top of the flight of clumsystairs on a kind of platform of rugged stones, and straight before himthere was a chink so narrow that he could not have thrust a hand throughit, but wide enough to allow the passage of a gleam of light; there wasa familiar odour, too, of salt air and seaweed, and as he placed his earto the chink he could hear, as if far below, the wash of water. 

"Why, this must be at the side of the cliff, " he said joyously; and ifhe could enlarge that crack there would be a way out to the face of therocks, where it would go hard with him indeed if he could not climb upto the grassy fields above, or down to the shore below. 

"Why didn't I try this before?" he cried. "Oh, how foolish! Not getout, eh? I'll soon show them that;" and he began to feel aboutcarefully all over the face of the stones before him, to satisfy himselfbefore long that there had been a large roughly square opening here, which had been filled in with some pieces of stone, between which hecould feel that there was mortar. 

"Now, then, what I want is a good marlinspike or an iron bar. Oh, if Ihad my dirk here I could move them with that. "

But he had neither bar, marlinspike, nor dirk, nothing but his hands anda small pocket-knife, so a depressing feeling of vexation humbled himfor a time. 

He soon cast that off though, for it was impossible to feel low spiritedin the face of such a discovery, and before commencing the task he hadin hand he knelt down with his face close to the chink to drink in thedelicious sea air. 

"I wonder how long I shall be a prisoner, " he said aloud; and helaughed, for he could see no difficulties now. Still they began toappear soon after, and the first one he mentally saw was the coming ofRam with his food. He must know the place thoroughly, as he had shownby the care with which he threaded his way among the loose stones andpillars, and if he came with his lanthorn and missed him, he might walkup there and find him at work. 

"I'll be careful, " he said to himself; and taking out his knife forcinghimself to believe that it was about twelve o'clock each day that thelad came, and if so, as it was about six hours, as near as he couldguess, since the basket was brought, he had about a couple of hours moredaylight, then the long night and all the morning, before his gaolerwould come again. 

He bitterly regretted now not having tried to time Ram's visits, forgetting that it would have been impossible to do so without light, and, unable to restrain his impatience to the extent of waiting till hecame again, and watching for night from then, he went to work to try andloosen a stone by the side of the crevice, and toiled away till at theend of what seemed to be two hours, the light through the crevice paled, grew dull, then dark, and for the first time for many days he knew thatit was night. 

Cheered by his calculation being so far right, he worked and scraped outthe mortar, satisfied even with getting away the tiniest scraps, feelingas he did that if he could only dislodge one stone he could bring upfrom below plenty of great and splinter-shaped pieces with which hecould hammer, and take out the rest, or enough for his body to passthrough. 

So light-hearted did he feel, as guiding the point of his knife by hisfingers, he picked and scraped away, that he began to hum a tune oversoftly. It was as black now as it was in the deepest part of theancient quarry, but that did not seem to matter, for it was only thedarkness of evening, and if he waited there and kept on working, hewould see, first of all, a long pallid ray that would grow brighter, andbring as it were some light and hope, while as soon as he could get outa stone he would be able to see the sea, perhaps even make out thecutter, and signal. 

No: the boy had said that it was gone. But it would come back, and theywould see his signals; a boat would come ashore, he would be fetched outof this miserable black hole; the smugglers would be captured, and hewould have such a revenge on that boy Ram. It would be glorious. 

But all depended upon little _ifs_--_if_ he could get out the stone, _if_ the hole happened to be opposite the spot where the cutter wasmoored, _if_ they could see his signals. 

It was discouraging to have such thoughts as these, but Archy Raystokehad been for days condemned to inactivity, and the opportunity ofworking at something definite which proffered a way of escape made himtoil on with all his his might. 

In fact, he was obliged to check himself, for his task needed care. Toomuch exercise of the strength which had been growing latent might meanbreaking his knife, and the destruction of his hopes. 

So he toiled on well into the night, picking and loosening tiny scrapsof mortar, which, hard though it was, had fortunately for him been madeof an exceedingly coarse sand, or rather very fine shingle, whose tinypebbles formed each a point to work upon till it was loosened and fell. 

Archy's first thought was to work right on through the night, but themonotonous task in the darkness, and the fatigue and excitement, combined to produce their customary effect, and he found himself noddingand starting into wakefulness so many times over, that he resolved atlast to go back to his starting-place, have a good meal, and then comeback. 

He left his task with reluctance, but nature would not be refused, andwithout much difficulty he found his way to the basket, ate heartily, sat still to think a few minutes, and thought too much, starting upsuddenly and rubbing his eyes. 

"How stupid of me!" he exclaimed. "I must have just nodded off tosleep. Nearly wasted a lot of time. "

Afraid to remain where he was, lest he should yield to the temptationagain and fall dead asleep, he eagerly made his way back to the slopeand the rough steps, to stand there wondering as he got to the top. 

For there, straight before him, was a pale ray of light, and the placesmelt cool and fresh. 

Surely a star or the moon must be up, he thought, as he knelt down andresumed his task, feeling somehow a good deal rested. 

The explanation was not long in coming, for to his astonishment the rayof light grew brighter and brighter, and broadened out full of dancingmotes when he had been an hour at work, teaching him that he had notdropped off to sleep for a minute or two, but long enough to give him agood night's rest sufficient to prepare him for the toil to come. 

He felt vexed and called it laziness, working the harder to recover losttime, and as the hours glided by listening intently for the slightestsound from the quarry below that should indicate the coming of Ram withhis daily portion of food. 

On previous days he had looked forward to the lad's approach assomething that would break the monotony of his captivity, but now hewould have given anything to have known that by some accident the ladwould be kept away. 

Still Archy toiled on, the stone he had attacked as tight as ever, butquite a little heap of rough mortar increasing beneath where he knelt. 

"It's only getting out the first one, " he argued; "the others will comeeasily enough. "

And so, full of hope, he kept on, till feeling that it must be near thetime for the visit, he reluctantly closed his pocket-knife and wentdown, gazing back first at the tiny ray of light which pointed the wayto liberty. 

His arms ached and his fingers were sore. There was a blister too inthe palm of his hand where the knife had pressed; but these were triflesnow, and he seated himself in his old spot ready to receive hisvisitors, and so full of hope that he could hardly refrain from shoutingfor joy. 

He could see it all, now. This was quite an ancient mine, one perhapsfrom which all the best stone had been worked. Where Ram came down wasthe land entrance, and the ray of light marked the opening in the faceof the cliff, from which the pieces of stone had been lowered down intoboats or ships below. After the smugglers had taken possession itseemed probable that they had filled up the hole in the cliff face, though it struck Archy that this would leave them a handy place to gettheir cargoes ashore if they had tackle to haul it up, and get it intotheir store at once. 

The time seemed very long before the rattle and rumble of the stones onthe trap-door struck upon Archy's listening ear, but at last, after hehad convinced himself that he might have worked two or three hourslonger, there it was, and then came the rattle of the bolts and thesharp sound of the lock. Directly afterwards there was a soft glare, the lanthorn appeared like some creature of light swaying and floatingtowards him in the darkness till it stopped close by, and Ram's nowfamiliar voice exclaimed, --

"Hullo there! Getting hungry?"

"Yes, " said Archy, in a voice he wished to sound surly and obstinate, but which in spite of his wishes had a cheerful ring, which affectedRam, who began to laugh and chatter. 

"Nice to be you, " he said. "Get all the good things, you do. Friedfish to-day, and pork pie. I say, midshipman, you have got into goodquarters, you have. "

Archy tried to seem sulky. 

"Oh, you needn't talk without you like, but they didn't feed you upaboard ship like you're getting it now, I know; salt beef, then saltpork, and hard biscuits. Why, it's like fattening up one of our pigsfor Christmas. I say, you are quiet. Haven't been at one of themlittle kegs, have you? Oh, very well; if you don't like to talk, Ican't make you. "

"Are you going to let me out of this place?" said the midshipman, so asto keep up the idea of his longing to be set free, and chase anysuspicions of his having discovered a way out. 

"When I get orders, Mr Orsifer, and not before. I aren't skipper, nomore nor you are. "

"Another piece of insolence, " thought the prisoner. "Oh, how I will payhim out for this by and by!"

"Aren't you going to peck?"

Archy took no notice, and at last there came, in a deep, echoing growlthrough the place, --

"Say, lad, going to be all day?"

"Coming, Jemmy, " Ram shouted. "Want anything else, midshipman?"

"Yes, you to go and not worry me, " replied Archy, heartily repenting hiswords the next moment for fear that they should excite suspicion. 

But they did not, for Ram only laughed and walked away. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

As the prisoner sat listening to the bang of the trap-door and therattling of the bolts, he could hardly contain himself. But knowing thedanger of the boy coming back and finding him gone, he forced himself tostay where he was; and to pass away the time he opened the basket Ramhad now left in place of the other, and forced himself to eat. 

But he could hardly swallow the food, which seemed tasteless in theextreme, and he was about to give up and hasten back to his work whenhis heart leaped, for there was the distant sound of the bolts beingdrawn, and a minute or two later the soft yellow light came slowlytowards him and stopped. 

"Just remembered, " said its bearer. "Got half way home first, though. Mother said I was to be sure and take back that basket. Put the stuffout on the sail. Hullo, what you been doing to your hands?"

Archy started guiltily, and looked at them in the light to see that theywere covered with blood, from injuries that he had made unconsciously intoiling with his knife against the stones. 

"Tumbled down?" continued Ram without waiting for an answer. "Well, 'tis dark 'mong these stones. I used to trip over them, but I could goanywhere now in the dark. Seem to feel like when they are near. Nevermind, tear up yer hankychy and wrap round. I'll bring you one o' minenext time I come. There we are. Haven't forgot the basket this time. I say?"

"Well?"

The lad was ten yards away now, holding the lanthorn above his head. 

"You lost a chance. "

"What do you mean?"

"Jemmy Dadd isn't up by the door. You might have given me a topper witha stone, and run away; too late now. "

He ran off laughing, and holding the lanthorn down low to make sure ofhis way. 

But Archy did not start up in pursuit. He saw a better way out now, andwaiting till he felt convinced that the boy must be well on his wayhome, he jumped up, felt his way to the crevice, and was soon after hardat work picking the mortar from between the stones. 

Now and then, as he grew faint and weary, it seemed to him that he hadmade no progress, but the little heap of mortar told different tales, and once more taking heart he toiled away. 

It seemed a very easy thing to do, to loosen one stone in a rugged wall, draw it out, and then remove the other, but in practice it appearedalmost impossible, and again going back into the quarry to partake ofthe food that was absolutely necessary, Archy returned to his task, andafter working away again for about half an hour he fell fast asleep. 

How long he slept he did not know, but he started awake again to findthat it was quite dark, and he kept on like one in a dream. 

The stone seemed as fast as ever, and his progress was getting very slownow, for he had cleared away the mortar as fast as he could reach in;but at last, seizing the stone and getting his fingers well in thejoint, he gave it a vigorous shove, and then uttered a shout of triumph, for to his delight there came a sharp crack, and after giving a vigorousshove, the stone, which was about twenty inches long, was drawn out, andbecame the instrument for dislodging its fellows. 

This was comparatively easy now, and in the course of the next two daysthe prisoner had loosened and drawn out stones till he had made a waythrough a rough piece of wall six feet thick, and had enlarged the holeso that there was room to creep into the opening he had made and lookout. 

Here came disappointment the first. The wall he had worked through didnot face out to sea, but was one side of a chasm, and he gazed at theopposite side. 

Soon after he learned that this had not been the place where the stoneswere carried out for landing in boats, but the hole through which allthe refuse was discharged, to fall in a crumbling heap a tremendousdistance below, to be washed away by the waves which curved over andover against the foot and rolled up into the chasm. 

Still he worked on, enlarging the hole and sending the broken pieces andmortar, rattling down the face of the cliff into the sea, till there wasnothing to hinder his crawling out at any time, and either getting tothe top of the cliff or down below to the shore. 

He decided for the former as the more easy and the less likely tosuggest peril, and he spent the next few hours after cleansing himselfas much as possible, so as not to excite the attention of his younggaoler, and in his efforts to do this he made use of a piece ofsailcloth, and an end of a coil of rope which lay with some sea-goingtackle hard by where he slept. 

The day had come at last when the way was open, and he had but to creepout into the fresh bright sunshine and run for his liberty. 

He could hardly refrain from doing so at once, but his long and arduouslabour, which had taken the skin from his fingers and left his wholehands so tender that he hardly dared to touch anything, had taught himsome wisdom, especially not to throw away the opportunity for which hehad worked so hard. 

And now he sat there in the darkness, wafting, so exultant that his seatmight have been a throne, instead of a worn-out sail stretched over amass of stone. He hugged the knees upon which his chin rested, andgazed straight before him into the blackness, watching for the firstglow of Ram's lanthorn, and seeing as he watched the glorious sky, theblue sea all a-ripple; the shimmer and play of a passing shoal of fish;gulls floating without effort, now high up, now low down, their breastsof purest white, their backs of delicate grey, and their wondering eyesgazing at the rough-looking fisher-lad who crept out of a hole in theface of the cliff, made his way from shelf to shelf, ever up and up tillhe was on the grass at the top, where he lay down to wait till night forfear of being seen and dragged back. 

The black darkness of the great cavern quarry was all alight now withthe pictures his mind painted, and, in his delight and satisfaction, helaughed aloud as he thought of Ram's disappointment on coming one dayand finding his prisoner flown. 

It was hard work to keep from starting at once, but the midshipman feltthat if he did, his escape would be discovered at any moment, and if itwere, it was only a question of time before he would have the wholesmuggling gang after him, and he would be hunted down to a lot ten timesmore bitter from the fact of his having failure to contemplate, and formhis mental food. 

The rattle at last. The door dragged up, and Ram was not alone, for hisvoice could be heard in conversation with Jemmy Dadd. 

The boy was in capital spirits, and he was whistling merrily, his shrillnotes echoing from the flat roof as he came on swinging his lanthorn inone hand, the basket in the other. 

"Sleep?" he said, as he saw Archy's attitude. "There you are, " hecontinued. "I know you weren't asleep, and if you don't like to talk itaren't my fault. Want anything else?"

No reply; Archy dare not speak. 

"Oh, very well, " he said, "you can do as you like. Where's t'otherbasket?"

A shiver ran through the prisoner as he recollected that which he hadforgotten in his excitement: the basket which he had taken with some ofthe food therein, ready for his use as he worked, was standing by theopening at the top of the steps, and he cast an anxious glance sidewisein the direction of the passage, in dread lest the boy should detect thelight shining down. 

He need not have been alarmed, for there was not a ray visible, and evenif there had been, the light cast by the opened lanthorn would havehidden it; but he sat there trembling all the same, and with a curioussensation of suffocation rising in his throat, as he softly altered hisposition and loosened his hands, ready to make a spring at his enemy ifit should become necessary. 

"Well, I do call that grumpy. Keeps on bringing you nuts, and you're sosnarky that you won't so much as give one back the shells. Now, then, where's that basket?"

Archy felt that he must speak, or else the boy would go in search of it. 

"I haven't done with it. "

"But I want it to take back. "

"It has some of the dinner in it. "

"Well, then, let's empty it out. "

"No, " said Archy, sitting up angrily; "you can't have it now. "

"Oh, " said Ram, "that's it, is it? Suppose I say I will have it?"

"If you don't take yourself off, " cried Archy, "I'll break your headwith one of these pieces of stone. "

"Two can play at that game. "

"Be off. "

"I shan't. I want our basket. Mother said I was to bring it back. "

"Tell her you haven't got it. "

"Now, look here, " cried Ram, "if you don't give me that basket back, Iwon't bring you what I was going to bring to-morrow. Where is it?"

"Where I put it. You contemptible young smuggling thief! How dare youcome worrying a gentleman about a dirty old basket!"

"Wasn't dirty, for mother scrubbed it out before she'd send it to you. Where is it?"

Desperate now in his fix, and feeling that his only resource to keep Ramfrom searching for the basket with his lanthorn was to keep up this showof anger, Archy made a snatch at a long splinter of stone, and startedup menacingly. 

"Oh, that's it, is it?" cried Ram, who stood upon his guard, but did notappear in the least bit alarmed. "Fed you too well, have I? Had toomany oats, and you're beginning to kick up your heels and squeak andsnort. Never mind, I'll soon make you civil again. Going to give methat basket?"

"No. "

"Then you shan't have this. There!" cried Ram, and snatching up the onehe had brought, he walked straight away, swinging his lanthorn after hehad shut it with a snap. 

"Going to give it to me?" he cried, as he stopped about half way to thetrap-door. 

"No. "

"You'll want all this, and I've got some good tack inside. "

"Be off, fellow, and don't bother me. "

"Yah! Who want's to?" cried Ram; and he went off whistling merrily tillhe was at the opening, when he shouted back, --

"No oats to-day, pony. Good-bye. "

Archy leaped up and stood listening with his heart beating fast, and hishead bent in the direction taken by the boy. 

"How unfortunate!" he said. "But I could not help it. Will he comeback?"

He listened and listened and hesitated, but there was no sound, andstill he hesitated, till quite a couple of hours must have passed, whenhe uttered a loud exultant cry, determined now to make one bold dash forliberty, and made straight through the darkness for the open way. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

The midshipman drew in a long breath of the salt air, as he stood at theopening in the cliff face. He tightened his belt, drew his red cap downon his head, wished that his hands were not so sore, and muttered thewords, "Now for liberty!" He began to creep through the hole till hishead was well out, and he could look round for enemies. 

There was not one. The only thing that he could see was a gull sailinground and round between him and the sea, down to his right. 

And now, for the first time, it struck him that the gull looked verysmall, and from that by degrees he began to realise that the hole out ofwhich he had thrust his head was fully four hundred feet above where thewaves broke, and that it must be two hundred more to the top of thecliff. 

It looked more perilous too than it had seemed before, but the lad wasin nowise daunted. The way was open to him to climb up or lower himselfdown apparently, but he chose the former way of escape, knowing as hedid how very little at the base of the cliffs was left bare even in thelowest tides, and that if he got down he would either have to swim or tosit perched upon a shelf of rock till some boat came and picked him off. 

There was no cutter in view, but he did not trouble about that. Hestopped only to gaze down at the dazzling blue sea, and thought that ifit came to the worst he could leap right off into deep water, and thenhe drew himself right out on to a rugged ledge, a few inches in width, and stood holding on by the stones round the opening, looking upward forthe best way to get up. 

"Don't seem easy, " he said cheerily, "but every foot climbed will be oneless to get up. So, here goes. "

As he ceased speaking he drew a deep breath, and then feeling thatsafety depended upon his being firm, cool, and deliberate, he made hisway from the mouth of the hole along the ledge upon which he stood, tillhe found a spot where he could ascend higher. 

It was necessary that he should find such a spot, for the ledge hadgrown narrower and in another yard died completely away. So, raisinghis hands to their full extent, he found a place for one foot, then forthe other, repeated the experiment, and was just going to draw himselfup to a ledge similar to that which he had just left, when one footslipped from the stone upon which it rested, and had the lad lost hisnerve he must have fallen headlong. 

But he held on tightly, waited a minute to let the jarring sensationpass away, depending upon his hands and one foot. Then calmly searchingabout he found firm foothold, raised himself, and the next moment he wason the green ledge. 

"Wouldn't have done to tumble, " he said with a hall laugh. "Fall's onething, a dive another. I suppose the water's pretty deep down there. "

The ledge he was now on was fully a foot wide, and the refuse and fishbones with which it was strewn told plainly enough that in the springtime it was the resting--perhaps nesting--place of the sea-birds whichswarmed along the coast. 

As he stood facing the rock he found directly that he could not get anyfarther to his right, and a little search proved that from this ledge hecould get no higher, not even had he been provided with a ladder. Evenif a rope had been lowered down to him from the top of the cliff, itwould have been of no avail, for he realised now that which he could notsee from the hole by which he had escaped, to wit, that the cliffprojected above the opening, and a lowered down rope would have hungseveral feet right away clear. 

"Get farther along, " he said coolly; and he edged himself slowly along, taking hold of every prominence he found to steady himself, and passingcautiously along the rough ledge over the hole, and then onward forforty or fifty feet, where a rift ran upward, and, by cautious climbing, he mounted slowly till he was on a fresh ledge, a few feet above whichwas another rift, and he climbed again, to come to a depression orniche, where he stopped to rest. 

"No occasion to hurry, " he said to himself, and as there was plenty ofroom he sat down and gazed out to sea, noting a sail far away to theright, but the vessel was a schooner--it was not that which he sought. 

He was apparently cool enough, but his pulses beat more rapidly than wasconsistent with the exertion through which he had gone, and being aftera few minutes eager now to get his task at an end, he tried to the left, to find no way up there, to the right, but everywhere the rock wasperpendicular, and offered no foothold; or else sloped outward, andconcealed what was above. 

He tried again and again, hoping against hope, but without result. 

"Must be a way up, " he said, evidently considering that there must bebecause he wanted it, and he took tightly hold of a rough corner andleaned out a little to gaze upward, to find, in whichever direction helooked, right or left, there was nothing but rugged limestone, which hadbeen splintered and moulded by time till there was not a spot where themost venturesome climber could obtain foothold; in fact, above him hecould not see a spot where even the sea-birds had been in the habit offinding a resting-place. 

It was for liberty, and naturally enough the midshipman made nosuperficial search. His next plan was to lie flat down in the niche hehad made his temporary resting-place, lean over, and try and map out acourse by which he could descend a little way and then pass along for adistance, and resume his climb upward with better chances of success. 

But no; he could see no sign to help him, and, as a keen sense ofdisappointment assailed him that he should have got so near liberty andhave to give up, he decided that the way to freedom was downward. 

And now, as he looked over the edge of the shelf on which he lay, itstruck him for the first time that it was a very terrible descent, and, turning his eyes away, he looked up again for a way there. 

All in vain. He was fully a hundred and twenty feet from the top of thehuge cliff, and, half afraid now that he should be quite afraid, hedetermined to lose no time, and, going to the spot where he had crept onto the niche floor, he began to lower himself slowly down. 

"Be a good thing, " he said to himself, as he searched with his feet andmade sure of his footing, "if one could leave all one's thoughts behindat a time like this, or only keep enough to think where to put one'sfeet. "

"Glad I haven't got on my uniform, " he said a few moments later, as hisbreast scraped over the rough rock. 

Soon after, --

"Oh, how sore my hands are! That's better. "

He was back in safety on the ledge over the hole, and, passing along, hehad soon descended to the one beneath the exit. 

"Now then, " he said, as he paused for a few minutes before commencinghis descent; "this will be easier. "

Somehow he did not feel in any hurry to begin, and he sat down with hislegs hanging over the ledge, to give his nerves time to calm down, forthere was a strong tendency to throb about his pulses, and he was notsufficiently conversant with the house he lived in, to know thatconfinement, worry, want of fresh air, and excessive work during thepast few days had not given him what the doctors call "tone. "

So he sat there with his back to the rock, gazing out to sea again, andthen watching the graceful curves made by a gull, which had risen higherand higher, and came nearer and nearer, till it was on a level with him, and watching him curiously. 

"Wonder whether you think I am going to fall and let you have a pick atme, " said Archy, with a forced laugh; "because I am not going to tumble, so you can be off. "

All the same, though, he shuddered, and he had to exercise a littleforce to make his new start downward. 

"Best way after all, " he said, as he began to descend. "If you go up, it gets more dangerous every minute, because you have farther to fall. If you go down, it gets safer, because you have less. "

He found the way now comparatively easy, for the rock sloped a littleout, and he had even got down some sixty feet when he had a check. 

"I don't know, though, " he said, as he put a bleeding knuckle to hislips. "Don't make much difference, I should think, whether you fall onehundred feet or five. Bother! I wish I did not keep on thinking abouttumbling. "

He forced himself to study the next part of his descent, which wasnearly perpendicular, but well broken up with ledges and cracks whichoffered good holding, and terminated a hundred feet below, upon a shelf, which naturally offered itself as his next resting-place, but beyondwhich it was impossible to see. 

"Don't matter, " he said more cheerfully. "Let's take difficulties a bitat a time. I'm free, and I can laugh at them now. I could jump intodeep water and swim, if there were no way down from below there. "

His spirits rose now, for, though a false step or slip of the foot wouldhave sent him headlong down to the broad ledge, from which he would inall probability have bounded into the sea, the climbing was good, and, panting with the exertion, he got from projection to ledge, now straightdown, now diagonally, and often along first one tiny ledge or corniceand then another, zig-zagging, till, at about twenty feet from the placehe was making for, a slaty piece of the limestone rock by which he washolding parted, frost-loosened, from the parent rock, and he went downwith a rush. 

But it was only a slide. He alighted on his feet, and, scratched andstartled a bit, stood panting and trying to recover his composure. 

"No harm done, " he said, as he looked up to where the hole from which hehad escaped was beginning to look quite small. "Might have been worse. Quite bad enough, though. Shakes one so. Now for a rest, and then downagain. "

He stepped to the edge and looked over in the middle, next to the left, then to the right, and always with the same result. He was now on aregular sea-birds' sanctuary, for the rock below him was notperpendicular; but sloped right under, and, try as he would, he coulddevise no plan for getting down lower, save by taking a header into thesea, where the water looked black and deep to his right, while to hisleft there was the chasm upon which, twenty feet or so out of theperpendicular line, was the hole from which he had come. 

Heights of sea-cliffs are very deceptive, and slopes which look to theinexperienced eye only a hundred feet or so to the top, are often morethan double. It was so here, for, in spite of the distance he had comedown, the midshipman found that he must be fully two hundred feet abovethe sea. 

"Oh, how vexatious!" he cried, as he ground his teeth. "After all thatwork, after being so sure, to be out here on this wretched shelf like anold cormorant, but without any wings. "

"I don't care, " he said aloud, after again and again convincing himselfthat there was no possible means of farther descent. "I won't go backto prison; I'll sit here and starve first. Not I, " he added, after afew moments' thought; "the cutter will be sure to sail by, and theycould see me if I made signals from just here. "

Rather doubtful, as he knew, for he was only at the corner of the chasmor tiny gulf into which the sea rushed, and the chances were that unlesshe had something big and white to wave, he was not likely to get hissignal seen. 

For one moment only the recollection of the food he had left behindtempted him to return. 

"I might get it, and bring the basket down, " he said. "No, I won't tryit again; it's too dangerous. I don't want another slip. Besides, there must be a way down farther, if I could find it. Of course! Iknew it!" he cried, as he gazed over once more, farther in toward thehead of the little chasm, which looked as though the rock had been splitfrom top to bottom. 

He rubbed his hands, for some thirty feet below there was certainly anarrow possible place, and from there perhaps another might be found. 

"If one could get down, " he said to himself; but it did not lookpossible; the rock was out even of the perpendicular, and no sane personwould attempt to drop from the edge so great a distance as that. 

At that moment a piece of slaty rock came sliding down from on high, tofall with a crash and splinter on the rock at his feet. 

"Must have loosened that, " he said; "good job I didn't get it on myhead. Oh!"

It was a cry of rage as much as of alarm, for there, following his trackexactly, was Ram, who had returned repentant, alone, with his basket, tomiss his prisoner, search, find the opening, and without hesitation tocome down the cliff in pursuit. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

For the moment Archy Raystoke was puzzled--completely taken aback. Thiswas something upon which he had not counted; and he stood there lookingup, as he saw the boy descending with a far greater show of activitythan he could have displayed. 

Naturally, the first thought was of further flight, but he had alreadyconvinced himself that he was again a prisoner, and as, after anotherglance down at the ledge below to his left, he looked up at Ram, he sethis teeth, and laughed in a way that did not promise well for hispursuer. 

"What is he coming down for?" he said to himself, as his teeth began toset fast and his hands involuntarily to clench. "Does he think he isgoing to drag me up there again? He had better not try. "

Meanwhile Ram was descending rapidly, and sending little ambassadorsdown before him in the shape of pieces of rock and shale, all of whicharrived at the ledge in a very inimical way, bounding off, scattering infragments, or falling with a heavy thud. 

From time to time Ram looked down at his escaped prisoner, and thendevoted himself to the places where he should never plant his feet, achieving the whole in the most fearless manner, and finishing with aleap which landed him near where Archy stood gazing at him, regularly atbay. 

Ram did not hesitate an instant, but dashed at the midshipman to seizehim by the jacket, but Archy was on his mettle, and he struck outsharply, a blow in the chest and another in the right shoulder, sendingthe young smuggler staggering back. 

"Oh, that's it, is it?" cried Ram furiously. "I give you one morechance, though--will you give in, and come back quietly?"

"If you attempt to come near me, you dog, " said Archy slowly through hisclenched teeth, "I'll knock you off here into the sea. "

"Will you?" cried Ram, dashing at his late prisoner again, dodging theblow struck at him, closing with his adversary; and then began astruggle which would have made the blood of an onlooker curdle, soterribly narrow and dangerous was the place where the encounter tookplace. 

Of the pair, Archy Raystoke was a little the bigger, but the smuggler'sson fully made up for any deficiency by his activity, and the hardeninghis muscles had undergone for years. 

No blows were struck, the efforts of Ram being apparently directed tothrowing the midshipman down, when he meant to sit upon him till he hadreduced him to obedience. 

Archy's tactics were, of course, to prevent this, and rid himself of hisadversary, as he felt all the time how horribly risky it was to struggleand wrestle there, for the ledge was six feet wide at the outside, andnot much more than twice the length. 

But in a few minutes, as the encounter grew more hot, and they held onto each other, and swayed here and there, all thought of the positionthey occupied was forgotten. One minute Ram, by entwining his legwithin those of his adversary, nearly threw him; then, by a dexterouseffort, Archy shook himself fairly free. Then they clasped again, swayed here and there, Archy getting far the worse of the encounter fromweakness, but, with a final call upon himself, he strove desperately torecover lost ground, and made so fierce an effort to throw Ram in turn, that he succeeded. 

His effort was not sufficiently well sustained, though, for success tohave attended it, but for one fact. They had struggled to the extremeedge of the inward part of the shelf, and as the midshipman was at theend of his strength, and Ram realised it, the boy smiled, thrust backhis right leg to give impetus to his next thrust, and his foot went downover the rock. 

There was a cry, a jerk, and the midshipman was down on his chest, as hehad fallen, clinging to the edge, for the young smuggler seemed to havebeen snatched from his arms, and was now lying thirty feet below on theedge of a sloping rock, part of his body without support, and apparentlyabout to glide off into the waves below. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

Archy shuddered, his eyes grew fixed, and his whole body seemed to befrozen. The minute before he had been burning with rage, and strugglingto gain the mastery over his enemy; now he would have given anything tohave undone the past. 

"Ram!" he cried excitedly, --"Ram, my lad, turn over quickly, and layhold, or you will be off. "

There was no reply. Ram's face looked ghastly, and his eyes wereclosed. 

"I've killed him! I know I have!" cried Archy excitedly; and hestrained himself more over the edge of the rock, to gaze wildly aboutfor a means of descent, but there was only one: if he wished to get downto where the boy lay, apparently about to slip off into the sea, therewas only one way, and that was to jump. Thirty feet! And if he didjump, he could not do so without coming down in contact with the boy, perhaps right on him, when it seemed as if a touch of a finger wouldsend him headlong into the sea. 

"What shall I do?" thought the midshipman. "It is horrible. Ram!" heshouted. "Rouse up! For goodness' sake, speak! Try to creep fartheron to the rock. Oh, help I help!"

He shouted this frantically, but a wild and mournful cry from a gull wasthe only response, and his voice seemed to be utterly lost in the vastspace around. 

"I shall have murdered the poor fellow, " groaned Archy; and he staredabout wildly again, in search of some means of getting to his adversary. 

None--none whatever. It would have been madness to jump, and he knewit--death--certain death to both. No one could have leaped down thatdistance on to a shelf of rock without serious injury, and then it wouldhave been impossible to save himself from the rebound which must havesent him headlong into the sea below. This even if the shelf had notalready been occupied; and Ram lay there, evidently stunned, if notkilled. 

What did Mr Brough and old Gurr always say? "_Be cool indanger_--_never lose your nerve_!"

"Yes, that was it!" he said, as he recalled lessons that he had receivedagain and again. But what could he do? Even as he gazed down, hemomentarily expected to see Ram glide slowly off, and, with brow coveredwith great drops of perspiration and his hands wet and cold, themidshipman rose panting to his feet, looked round, and sent up shoutafter shout for help. 

Again his voice seemed utterly lost in the air, and a peculiar, querulous cry from the gull, which came slowly sailing round, was allthe response he got. 

"Ram!" he cried at last. "Ram! Don't play tricks, lad. Speak to me. I want to help you. Tell me what to do--to get help. Can't you speak?"

There was no mistaking the state of affairs; the boy was either dead orcompletely stunned by his fall. 

Archy put his hands to his temples, and stood looking down wildly for afew moments, to assure himself that he could not reach his lateadversary; and then, perfectly satisfied of the impossibility of thetask, he began resolutely to climb up the face of the cliff where he hadcome down, and, setting his teeth hard, went from crack to crevice andledge, on and on, seeing nothing but the white face below him on theshelf, and praying the while that the poor lad might not fall before hecame back with help. 

The work was more dangerous than he had anticipated, and twice heslipped, once so badly that he was holding on merely by the sharp edgeof a projecting piece of stone, but he found foothold again, drewhimself up, and went on climbing again, till, with face streaming withperspiration and his fingers wet with blood, of which he left traces onthe stone as he went on, he at last reached the opening he had fought sohard to make, climbed in, turned and leaned out as far as he could, totry and get a glimpse of Ram, and be sure that he had not glided intothe sea. 

He could see nothing; Ram was far below under the projecting rock; and, drawing back once more, the midshipman began to hurry down the steps andthen the slope, into the black quarry that he had fancied he had quittedfor ever. 

To his great delight, there, right away before him, was Ram's lanthorn, burning brightly with the door open, and shining upon the old sails andshipping gear, stores, and remains of wrecks saved from the sea. 

But he did not stay. He caught up the lanthorn, closed the door lest apuff again should extinguish the candle, and then hesitated a moment ortwo as a thought struck him. 

"No, " he said aloud, "I must get help;" and, hurrying toward theopening, he kicked against the basket of provisions the lad had broughtback. He made his way to the top of the other slope and shouted, --

"Hi, Jemmy!--smuggler! Quick! Come down!"

There was no response, for, good-heartedly enough, Ram had, asbefore-said, repented, and come back alone. 

What should he do? Climb out, and run for help?

No, he did not know where to find it; and by the time he had discoveredsome of Ram's people, it would be too late; so, with the way of escapeopen to him, and freedom ready to welcome him once again, he hurriedback, lanthorn in hand, selected a coil of rope from the pile of stores, threw it over his shoulder, passing his left arm through, and, leavingthe lanthorn where he had found it, he hurried back to the narrowpassage, climbed the slope and the steps up to the opening; and, withthe rope hanging like a sword-belt from his shoulder, impeding hismovements, and getting caught in the projections over and over again, heonce more began to descend. 

How he got down he hardly knew, but long before he reached the greatshelf, he was so incommoded by the rope that he contrived, spread-eagledas he was against the rock face, to get it over his head, and thencarefully let it drop, uttering a cry of anguish as he saw it fall, catching against a piece of rock which diverted its course, so that itrested nearly half over the edge, and he clung there, gazing downwildly, expecting to see it disappear, in which case he would have hadto climb again for another coil. 

Fortunately it lodged, and in a few minutes he was down beside it, andclose at the end of the great ledge, gazing over wonderingly, and withhis eyes half blinded by a mist, expecting to see the narrow shelf belowbare. 

But no; Ram had not moved, and there was yet time. 

Seizing the coil of rope, he shook it open, and selecting one of thebiggest blocks of stone, which had at some time fallen from above, hemade one end of the rope fast, tried it to make sure, lowered the otherover the edge, and carefully slid down, swinging to and fro, and turningslowly round, to hang for a few moments, trying to plant his foot on theledge without touching Ram, for he felt more than ever convinced hewould glide off at the slightest shock. 

It was impossible. The only way was to draw up his legs, give himselfan impetus by kicking against the rock, swinging to and fro, and thenletting himself, at a certain moment when he was well beyond the boy, drop on to the shelf. 

He tried the experiment, and swung past Ram again and again, but darednot leave go for fear of missing the rock with his feet. 

At last he ventured: swung well past the prostrate figure, loosened hisgrasp, alighted on the narrow ledge quite clear, but could not preservehis balance, and fell back, uttering a low cry, as he tightened hisgrasp upon the rope again, but not till he had slipped rapidly down agood twenty feet, where he began swinging to and fro again. 

For a few moments it seemed all over; there was the sea at a terribledepth below him, and all that distance to climb up with his handsbleeding and giving him intense pain, while his arms felt half jerkedout of their sockets. 

But he had had plenty of experience in climbing ropes, and, muttering, "Don't lose your nerve, " he got the line well twisted round his legs, and climbed up again sufficiently high to repeat his former experiment, this time with success, and he stood upon the ledge and loosely knottedthe rope about his waist, to guard against letting the end go, beforekneeling down tremulously, and getting one hand well in under the collarof the boy's rough coat. 

For some minutes he felt giddy; there was a mist before his eyes, and heinvoluntarily pressed himself close to the rock, expecting to fall, andin a curious, dreamy way he saw himself hanging far below, swinging atthe end of the rope. 

But all this passed off, and, exerting his strength as far as he couldin the terribly dangerous, crippled position in which he was, he gavethree or four sharp jerks, and succeeded in drawing Ram well on to theshelf, when, in the revulsion of feeling, the dizziness came back, andhe felt that he must faint. 

"Leave off, will yer?" came roughly to his ears, and roused him, tellinghim that the boy was not dead. "D'yer hear, Jemmy Dadd? Great coward!Father know'd you'd hit me like that, he'd half kill you. "

There was a pause, and a sob of relief struggled from Archy's breast. 

Then Ram began to mutter again. 

"Oh, my head!" he groaned. "Oh, my head! Oh, my--"

He opened his eyes, and began to stare wildly; then he seemed torecollect himself, and started up to gaze up, then over the side at thesea far below, and lastly at his companion in misfortune. 

"I reck'lect now, " he said. "We was fighting, and I put my foot overthe side, and come down here, hitting my head on the stones, and then Iturned sick, and I knew I was falling over, and then I went to sleep. Iwas half off, wasn't I, with my legs down?"

"Yes. In a horrible position. "

"Yes, it wasn't nice. Oh, my head! But who--Why, you didn't go and getthe rope and come down and pull me on?"

Archy nodded. 

"Is Jemmy here?"

"No. "

"But did you climb up and get a rope, and come down again and haul me onhere?"

"Yes, " said the midshipman. 

Ram stared at him, holding his hand to the back of his head the while, and a couple of minutes must have elapsed before he said, --

"Well, you are a rum chap!"

Archy grew red. Curious gratitude this seemed for saving the lad'slife. 

"Didn't you know the door was open?"

"Yes. "

"Why didn't yer run away?"

"How could I, and leave you to fall off that place?"

"Dunno. Wouldn't ha' been nice. Where did you get the rope?"

"From close to where I slept. "

"Yes, there was a lot there. 'Tain't cut, " he said, looking at the handhe drew from the back of his head. "What a whop it did come down on therock!"

"Don't talk about it, " said Archy, with a shiver. 

"Why not? Father allus said I'd got the thickest head he ever see. Isay, though, you--did you--course you did. You climbed up again, andwent into the cave, got the rope come down again, and then got down hereto help me?"

"Yes. "

"When you might have run away?"

"Of course. "

"Thank ye. Shake hands!"

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

Ram sat there holding out his hand to the midshipman, but it was nottaken, and for a space they gazed into each other's eyes. The silencewas broken by Ram. 

"Well, " he said at last, "won't you shake hands?"

"An officer and a gentleman cannot shake hands with one like you, "replied Archy coldly. 

"Oh, can't he?" said Ram quietly. "You're a gentleman. Was it being agentleman made you come down and pull me on here. "

"I don't know whether being a gentleman made me do it, " said Archycoldly. "I saw you would lose your life if I did not get a rope andcome to you, and so I did it. "

"Yes; that's being a gentleman made you do that, " said Ram thoughtfully. "None of our fellows would have done that. "

"I suppose not. "

"I know I wouldn't. "

"Yes, you would. "

Ram looked the midshipman hard in the face again. 

"You mean, if I'd seen you lying down here like I was, I should havegone and fetched the rope and pulled you up?"

"Yes; I am sure you would. "

Ram sat in his old position, with his hand to the back of his achinghead. 

"But it's being a gentleman made you do it. "

"No; anybody who saw a person in danger would try and save his life; andyou would have tried to save mine. "

"But I might have slipped and gone over the cliff. "

"You wouldn't have thought about that, " said Archy quietly. "You didnot think about the danger when you saw me trying to escape. "

"No, I didn't, did I?" said Ram thoughtfully. "I knew how savage fatherwould be if you got away and fetched the sailors; and he told me I wasto see you didn't get out, so I come down after you. "

"And you would have done as I said. "

"Well, praps I should, " said Ram, laughing; "but, as we didn't neitherof us go over, it's no use to talk about it. My! How it does ache!"

He turned himself a little, so as to plant his back against the rock, and let his legs hang down over the edge. 

"That's more comf'table. Bit of a rest. Hard work getting down hereand wrastling. "

Archy was in so cramped and awkward a position, half kneeling, that hefollowed his companion's example, shuddering slightly, though, as he lethis legs go down, and put his hands beside him to press his back firmlyagainst the rock. 

"Frightened?" said Ram, who was watching him. 

"I don't know about being frightened. It would be a terrible fall. "

"Oh, I don't know, " said Ram, leaning forward and gazing down into thevoid. "Water's precious deep here. Such lots of great conger eels, sixfoot long, 'bout the holes in the bottom. Jemmy Dadd and me's caught'em before now. Most strong enough to pull you out of the boat. Dessay, if you went down, you'd come up again, but you couldn't getashore. "

"Why? A good swimmer could get round the point there, and make for theledge where I saw you and that man land. "

"No, you couldn't, " said Ram; "it's hard work to get round there with aboat. You do have to pull. That's where the race is, and it wouldcarry you out to--oh?"

The boy was looking down between his legs as he spoke; and themidshipman just had time to dart forward his hand, catch him by theshoulder, and drag him back, or he would have gone off the rock. 

Ram lurched over sidewise, his sun-browned face mottled andstrange-looking, as his head dropped slowly over on to the midshipman'sshoulder, where it lay for a good ten minutes, Archy passing his armround the boy, and supporting him as he lay there, breathing heavily, with his eyes half-closed. 

It was a terrible position; and a cold, damp perspiration bedewed themidshipman's face, as he felt how near they both were to a terrible end. The deep water after that awful fall, the fierce current which wouldcarry him out to sea--and then came shuddering thoughts of the great, long, serpent-like congers, of whose doings horrible stories werecurrent among the sailors. 

At last, to his great relief, Ram uttered a deep sigh, and sat up, smiling at his companion. 

"I've felt like that before, " he said. "Come over all at once sick andgiddy, like you do if you lean down too much in the sun. I should havegone over, shouldn't I, if you hadn't ketched me?"

"Don't talk about it. "

"Oh, very well; it was hitting my head such a crack, I suppose. I say, though, you never thought you could get away down here, did you?"

"Meant to try, " said Archy laconically. 

"Yah! What was the good, I knowed you wouldn't; but I meant to fetchyou back. Me and Jemmy Dadd come down here once after birds' eggs, before father had the place up there quite blocked up. It used to be ahole just big enough to creep through. Jemmy stopped up on that patchwhere you and me wrastled, and let me down with a rope. There's nogetting no farther than this. "

"Not with a rope?"

"Well, with a very long one you might slide down to the water, butwhat's the good, without there was a boat waiting? You hadn't got theboat, and you didn't bring no rope. No use to try to get away. "

The words seemed more and more the words of truth as the midshipmanlistened, and he was compelled to own in his own mind that he had failedin his attempt; but a question seemed to leap from his lips next moment, and he said sharply, --

"Perhaps there's no getting down, but any one might climb up right tothe top of the cliff. "

"Fly might, or a beedle, " said the boy, laughing. "Why, a rabbitcouldn't, and I've seen them do some rum things, cutting up the rockswhere they've been straight up like a wall. Why, it comes right over upnigh the top. No, father's right; place is safe enough from theseaside, and so it is from the land. Now, then, let's go back. "

"You can go, " said Archy coldly. "I'm going to stop here. "

"That you won't, " said Ram sharply. "You're a-coming up with me. Yah!What's the good o' being obstinate? We don't want to have anotherfight. Don't you see you can't get away?"

"I will get away, " said Archy sternly. 

"Well, you won't get off this way, till your wings grow, " said Ram, laughing. "Come on, mate, let's get back. "

Archy hesitated, but was obliged to come to the conclusion that he wasbeaten this time, and he turned slowly to his companion and said, --

"Can you climb that rope?"

"Can I climb that rope? I should think I can!"

"But dare you venture now?"

Ram put his hand to his head, and gazed up thoughtfully. 

"Well, it would be stoopid if I was to turn dizzy again. S'pose youuntie the rope from round you, and let me tie it round my waist. Thenyou go up first, and when I come, you'll be ready to lend me a hand. "

"Yes, that will be best, " said Archy. 

"Without you want to leave me?" said the boy, laughing. 

The midshipman made no reply. There was an arduous task before him, andhis nerves were unstrung. After he had unfastened the end of the ropeand passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but themiddle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, thefall would not be so long. Then reluctantly, but feeling that it mustbe done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the greatledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon ashe was in safety so far. 

He tried to, but he dared not look over when the rope began to quiveragain. He contented himself with taking hold near the edge, andcrouched there, picturing the boy turning dizzy once more from hisinjury, letting go, and dropping with a terrible jerk to the extent ofthe rope where it was tied. Then, as he felt the strong hemp quiver inhis hands, he found himself wondering if the strands would snap one byone with the terrible strain of the jerk, and whether the boy would dropdown into the sea. 

What should he do then?

What should he do if the rope did not part? He did not think he wouldhave strength to draw the boy up, and, if he did, he was so unnervednow, that he did not believe he would be able to drag him over the edgeon to the rock platform. 

There! Ram must be turning giddy, he was so long; and, unable to bearthe pressure longer, Archy opened his eyes and crept nearer to the edge, to face the horror of seeing the boy's wild upturned eyes. 

But he saw nothing of the kind, save in the workings of his owndisordered imagination. What he did see was Ram's frank-looking rusticface close up, and a hand was reached over the edge. 

"You may get hold of me anywhere if you like, " said the boy, "and give ahand. That's your style, orficer! Pull away, and up she comes. That'sit!" he said, as he crept over the edge. "Thank'ee. I aren'tsmuggled. "

They both sat down for a few minutes, while Ram untied the rope from hiswaist and from round the big block of stone, before beginning to coil itup. 

"I say, " he said, as he formed ring after ring of rope, "that rock isn'tvery safe. If I'd slipped, and the rope hadn't snapped, that big stonewould have come down atop of me, and what a mess you'd have been in, iffather had said you pitched me off!"

"Let's get back, " said the midshipman, who felt sick at heart; and hemoved toward the place where he had been down and up three times. 

"Wait a moment, " said Ram, securing the end of the rope, and throwingthe coil over his shoulder. "That's right. I'll go first. Know theway?"

"Because you don't trust me, " said Archy angrily. 

"That's it, " said Ram. "Door's open, and you might get out. "

Archy's teeth grated together, but he said nothing, only began to climb, following the boy patiently till they were nearing the opening, when hestarted so violently that he nearly lost his hold. 

For a voice came from above his head, --

"Got him, Ram?"

"Yes, father; here he is. "

For the moment the midshipman felt disposed to descend again, but hekept on, and a minute later he looked up, to see Ram's frank facelooking out of the hole, and the boy stretched out his hand. 

"Want any help? Oh, all right then!"

"Did you think you'd get out that way, youngster?" said Shackle, as themidshipman stood erect at the top of the rough stairs. 

"I thought I'd try, " said the lad stiffly. 

"Took a lot o' trouble for nothing, boy, " said the smuggler. "I come tosee what was amiss, Ram, boy, you was so long. Don't come again withoutJemmy Dadd or some one. "

"No, father. "

"So you thought you'd get away, did you?" said the smuggler, with anugly smile. "Ought to have known better, boy. You wouldn't be kepthere, if there was a way for you to escape. "

Archy felt too much depressed to make any sharp reply, and the smugglerturned to his son. 

"What's the matter with you?"

"Bit of a tumble, father, that's all, " said the boy cheerfully, as heplaced his hand to the back of his head. 

"You should take care, then; rocks are harder than heads. Hi! YouJemmy Dadd!"

"Hullo!" came out of the darkness. 

"Get Tom to help you to-morrow. Bring a bushel or two o' lime stuff, and stop up this hole, all but a bit big enough for a pigeon to go inand out. It'll give him a taste o' light and air. Now, youngster, onwith you. Show the lanthorn, Jemmy. "

The man came forward, and Archy was made to follow him, the smuggler andhis son coming on behind; and ten minutes later the prisoner was seatedin his old place in the darkness, with Ram's basket of provisions forconsolation. As he sat there, listening to the departing footsteps, andfeeling more and more that it was quite true, --escape must be impossibledown the cliff, or else they would not have left him with the openingunguarded, --there was the dull, heavy report of the closing trap-door, and the rattle and snap of bolts, and that followed by the rumbling downof the pieces of stone. 

He had pretty well thought out the correct theory of this noise, that itwas on purpose to hide the trap-door from any prying eyes which mightpass, and prying eyes must be few, he felt, or else the smugglers wouldnot have had recourse to so clumsy a contrivance. 

He thought all this over again, as he sat there wearied out anddespondent, for in the morning his task had seemed as good as achieved, and now he was face to face with the fact, after all that labour, thatit had been in vain, and he was more a prisoner than ever. 

"Not quite so badly off as some, though, " he thought, as, moved theretoby the terrible hunger he felt, he stretched out his hand for thebasket. Not bread and water, but good tasty provisions, and--"What'sthis in the bottle?" he asked himself, as he removed the cork. 

It was good wholesome cider, and being seventeen, and growing fast, Archy forgot everything for the next half-hour in the enjoyment of ahearty meal. 

An hour later, just as he was thinking of going to the opening to sitthere and look out at the evening sky, he dropped off fast asleep, andwas wakened by the coming of two of the smugglers, who busied themselvesin the repairs of the broken wall. 

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

That day Jemmy Dadd brought him his food, and the next day, and thenext. 

"What did it mean?" he asked himself. He could understand this manbeing the bearer while he was employed at the mason work; but when thatwas over, he felt puzzled at Ram not coming. 

Then he began to wonder whether the boy was ill in consequence of hisfall, and he longed to ask, but, as everything he said to Dadd wasreceived in gloomy silence, he felt indisposed to question the man, andwaited, patiently or impatiently, till there should be a change. 

The change did come, Ram appearing the next day with the basket; but hisfather and several other men entered the quarry, and something wasbrought in--what he did not see. 

Ram came up to him with his basket, but, just as he began speaking, Shackle called him away, and once more the prisoner was left alone. 

He partook of his meal, feeling more dull and dispirited than ever, anda walk afterwards to the little opening, just big enough to allow of hisarm being thrust in, afforded no relief. For he wanted, to talk to Ramabout their adventures, and to try whether he could not win over the boyto help him to escape. 

The next day arrived, and, as of old, Ram came, with Jemmy Dadd left atthe door. 

"He's grumbling, " said the boy, "about having to help watch over you. "

"Then why not put an end to it?" cried Archy, eagerly dashing into thequestion next his heart, for his confinement now grew unbearable. 

"How?"

"Help me to escape. "

The boy laughed. 

"Aren't you going to ask me how I am?"

"No; why should I?"

"'Cause you made me have that fall, and my head's been trebble. I'vebeen in bed three days. "

"I am sorry for you, " said Archy; "but I can only think of one thing--how to get away. "

"No good to think about that. Father won't let you go; I asked him. "

"You did, Ram?"

"Yes, I asked him--though you wouldn't be friends and shake hands. "

"What did he say?" cried Archy, ignoring the latter part of his gaoler'sremarks. 

"Said I was a young fool, and he'd rope's-end me if I talked any moresuch stuff. "

The midshipman did not notice it, but there was a quiet and softened airin Ram's behaviour toward him, and the boy seemed reluctant to go, but, in the midshipman's natural desire to get away, he could think ofnothing else but self. 

"It would not be the act of a fool to set one of the officers of theRoyal Navy at liberty. "

"He says it would, for it would be the end of us all here. The sailorswould come and pretty well turn us out of house and home. No; he won'tlet you go. "

"How long is he going to keep me here?"

"Don't know. Long as he likes. "

That last sentence seemed to drive the prisoner into a fit of anger, which lasted till the boy's next coming. 

The prisoner had been listening anxiously for the sound which betokenedthe visit of his young gaoler, and he was longing to have speech withhim; but, telling himself that the boy was an enemy, he punishedhimself, as soon as the lanthorn came swaying through the darkness, bythrowing himself down and turning away his head. 

Ram came up and held the lanthorn over him. 

"Morning. How are you?"

Archy made no reply. 

"'Sleep?"

Still no answer. 

"You aren't asleep. Come, look up. I've brought you four plum puffs, and a cream-cheese mother made. "

"Hang your plum duffs and cream-cheeses!" cried Archy, starting up in arage. 

"Didn't say plum duff; said plum puffs. "

"Take 'em away then. Bread and water's the proper thing for prisoners. "

"Oh, I say, you wouldn't get fat on that. "

"Will you let me out?"

"No. "

"Then I warn you fairly. One of these days, or nights, or whatever theyare, I'll lie wait for you, and break your head with a stone, and thenget away. "

Ram laughed. 

"What?" cried the prisoner fiercely. 

"I was only larfin'. "

"What at?"

"You. Think I don't know better than that? You wouldn't be such acoward. "

"Oh, wouldn't I?"

"Not you, " said Ram, sitting down quietly, and making the lid of hisbasket squeak. "You know I can't help it. "

"Yes, you can. You could let me out. "

"Father would kill me if I did. Why, if I let you out, you'd come witha lot o' men, and there'd be a big fight, and some of our chaps woundedand some killed, and if we didn't whop you, our place would be allsmashed up, and father and all of 'em in prison. "

"And serve 'em right!"

"Ah, but we don't think so. That's what you'd do, isn't it?"

"Of course it is. "

"Well, then, I can't let you go. 'Sides, if I said I would, there'salways Jemmy Dadd, or big Tom Dunley, or father waiting outside, andthey'd be sure to nab you. "

"But you might come by night and get me out. "

"No, " said the boy sturdily, "I couldn't. "

"Then you're a beast. Get out of my sight before I half kill you!"

"Have a puff. "

"Take them away, you thieving scoundrel!" cried Archy, who was half madwith disappointment. "You come here professing to be civil, and yet youwon't help me. "

"Can't. "

"You can, sir. "

"And you wouldn't like me if I did. "

"Yes, I should, and I never could be grateful enough. "

"No, you wouldn't. You'd know I was a sneak and a traitor, as you callit, to father and all our chaps, and you'd never like me. "

"Like you! I tell you I should consider you my best friend. "

"Not you. I know better than that. Have a puff. "

"Will you take your miserable stuff away?"

"Have some cream-cheese and new bread. "

Archy made a blow at him, but Ram only drew back slightly. 

"Don't be a coward, " he said. "You're an officer and a gentleman, youtold me one day, and you keep on trying to coax me into doing what youknow would be making me a regular sneak. What should I say when youwere gone?"

"Nothing, " cried the prisoner. "Escape with me. Come on board, and thelieutenant will listen to what I say, and take you, and we'll make you aregular man-o'-war's-man. "

"And set me to fight agen my father, and all my old mates?"

"No; you should not do that. "

"And you'd call me a miserable sneak. "

"I shouldn't. "

"Then you'd think I was, and I should know it, so it would be all thesame. "

"Then you will not help me?"

"Can't. "

"You will not, you mean, " said Archy bitterly. "You'd sooner keep mehere to rot in the darkness. "

"No, I wouldn't, and I'd let you out if I could, " cried Ram, withanimation. "I like you, that I do, because you're such a brave chap, and not afraid of any of us. S'pose I was a prisoner in your boat, would you let me out?"

"That's a different thing, " said Archy proudly. "I am a king's officer, and you are only a smuggler's boy. "

"I can't help that, " said Ram warmly. "You wouldn't let me go becauseyou couldn't, and I won't let you go because I can't. "

"Then get out of this place, and let me be. "

"Shan't. It's horrid dull and dark here, and lonesome. I shouldn'tlike it, and that's why I get mother to give me all sorts o' good thingsto bring for you, and save 'em up. Father would make a row if he knew. I do like you. "

"Get out!"

"Ah, you may say that, but I'd do anything for you now. "

"Then let me go. "

"'Cept that. "

"Knock me on the head, then, and put me out of my misery. "

"And 'cept that too. I say, don't be snarky with me. You must stophere as long as father likes, but why shouldn't you and me be friends?I've brought you a Jew's harp to learn to play when you're alone. "

Archy uttered an ejaculation full of contempt, and snatched theproffered toy and hurled it as far as he could. 

"It was a sixpenny one, and I walked all the way to Dunmouth and back toget it for you--twenty miles. It aren't much of a thing for an orficerand a gentleman, though, I know. But, I say, look here, would you liketo learn to play the fiddle?"

"Will you take your chattering tongue somewhere else?"

"'Cause, " continued Ram, without heeding the midshipman's petulantwords, "I could borrow big Tom Dunley's old fiddle. He'd lend it to me, and I'd smuggle it here. "

"Smuggle, of course, " sneered Archy. 

"In its green baize bag. I could teach you how to play one toon. "

Archy remained silent, as he sat on a stone, listening contemptuously tothe lad's words. 

"I thought I could often come here, and sit and talk to you, and bring alight, and I brought these. "

He opened the door of the horn lanthorn, and produced from his pocket avery dirty old pack of cards, at which Archy stared with profounddisgust. 

"You and me could play a game sometimes, and then you wouldn't feel halfso dull. I say, have a puff now!"

There was no reply. 

"Shall I bring you some apples?"

Archy threw himself down, and lay on his side, with his head restingupon his hand, gazing into the darkness. 

"We've got lots o' fox-whelps as we make cider of, and some red-cheekswhich are ever so much better. I'll bring you some. "

"Don't, " replied Archy coldly. "Bring me my liberty. I don't wantanything else. "

"Won't you have the Jew's harp, if I go and find it?"

"No. "

"Nor yet the fiddle, if I borrow it?"

"No. "

"I say, don't be so snarky with me. I can't help it. I was obliged todo what I did, same as you'd have been if it had been t'other way on. Look here; let you and me be friends, and I could come often and sitwith you. I'll stay now if you like. Let's have a game at cards. "

Archy made no reply, and Ram sighed. 

"I'm very sorry, " he said sadly; "and I'd leave you the lanthorn if youlike to ask me. "

"I'm not going to ask favours of such a set of thieves and scoundrels, "cried the midshipman passionately; "and once more I warn you that, ifyou come pestering me with your proposals, I shall knock you down with astone, and then escape. "

"Not you, " replied Ram, with a quiet laugh. 

"Not escape?"

"I meant couldn't knock me down with a stone. "

"And pray why?"

"'Cause I tell you agen you couldn't be such a coward. I'm going now. "

No notice was taken of the remark. 

"Like another blanket?"

No answer. 

"I'm going to leave the basket and the puffs and cheese. Anything elseI can get you?"

Archy was moved by the lad's friendly advances, but he felt as if hewould rather die than show it, and he turned impatiently away from thelight shed by the lanthorn. 

"I'll bring you some apples next time I come, and p'r'aps then you'llhave a game at cards. "

There was no reply, so Ram slowly shut the door of the lanthorn, turningthe bright light to a soft yellowish glow, and rising to his knees. 

"Do let me stop and have a game. "

"Let me stop and talk to you, then. "

There was no reply to either proposal, and just then there came ahoarse--

"Ram ahoy!"

"A-hoy!" cried the lad. "I must go now. That's Jemmy Dadd shouting forme. "

Archy made no reply, and the boy rose, set down the basket beside wherehe had been kneeling, and stood gazing down at the prisoner. 

"Like some 'bacco to chew?" he said. Then, as there was no answer, hewent slowly away, with the prisoner watching the dull glow of thelanthorn till it disappeared behind the great pillars, there was a faintsuggestion of light farther on, then darkness again, the dull echoingbang of the heavy trap-door and rattle of the thin slabs of stone whichseemed to be thrown over it to act as a cover or screen, and then onceagain the silence and utter darkness which sat upon the prisoner likelead. 

He uttered a low groan. 

"Am I never to see the bright sun and the sparkling sea again?" he saidsadly. "I never used to think they were half so beautiful as they are, till I was shut up in this horrible hole. Oh, if I could only getaway!"

He started up now, and began to walk up and down over a space clear ofloose stones, which he seemed to know now by instinct, but he stoppedshort directly. 

"If that young ruffian saw me, he'd say I was like a wild beast in acage. He'd call me a monkey again, as he did before. Oh, I wish I hadhim here!"

The intention was for the administration of punishment, but just thenArchy kicked against the basket, and that completely changed the currentof his thoughts. 

"The beggar wants to be civil, " he said. "He is civil. It was kind ofhim to bring the things to amuse me, and better food. Wants to befriends! But who's going to be friends with a scoundrel like that? Idon't want his rubbish--only to be able to keep strong and well, so asto escape first chance. "

"Likes me, does he?" muttered the midshipman, after a pause. "I shouldthink he does. Such impudence! Friends indeed! Oh, it'sinsufferable!"

Archy's words were very bitter, but, somehow, all the time he keptthinking about their adventure, and the lad's bravery, and then abouthis having saved him. 

"I suppose he liked that, " said Archy, after a time, talking aloud, forit was pleasant to hear a voice in the solemn darkness, even if it wasonly his own. 

He grew a little more softened in his feelings, and, after resisting thetemptation for three hours, and vowing that he would keep to bread andwater and starve himself before he would let them think he receivedtheir gifts, he found himself thinking more and more of the friendlyfeeling of the boy and his show of gratitude. Then he recalled all thathad passed about the proposal to escape--to set him at liberty--to behis companion; and he was obliged to own that Ram had behaved very well. 

"For him, " he said contemptuously, and then such a peculiarly strongsuggestion of its being dinner-time reminded him that he ought topartake of food, that he opened the basket, and the temptation wasresisted no longer. 

Pride is all very well in places, but there is a strength in cold roastchicken, plum puffs, and cream-cheese, that will, or did in this case, sweep everything before it; and, after making a very hearty meal, themidshipman almost wished that he had Ram there to talk to as a humblecompanion in that weary solitude. 

"He's a miserable, contemptible beggar, " said Archy at last, "but I neednot have been quite so rough with him as I was. "

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

Matters grew no better. There was a leaning toward the rough lad, whoseemed never weary of trying to perform little acts of kindness for hisfather's prisoner; but there was only one thing which the midshipmandesired, and, as that could not be accorded, the friendly feelingbetween the two lads stayed where it was. In fact, it seemed to beturning into positive dislike on one side, Archy fiercely rating hisgaoler over and over again, and Ram bearing it all in the meekest way. 

The gloom was so familiar to Archy now that he could go almost anywhereabout the great place, without stumbling over the loose fragments ofstone, or being in danger of running up against the great pillars. And, as he roved about the quarry, his busy fingers touched packages andbales; he knew which parcels contained tobacco; he handled bales whichhe felt sure were silk, and avoided the piled-up kegs of brandy, whosesickly odour would always remind him of being ill at sea. 

All these things occupied his mind a little, and when he was extra dull, he would go and lie down by the hole which admitted the salt sea air, orelse make his way right under the trap-door, and climb up to it, and sitand listen for the coming of Ram. 

One morning he was there, wondering whether it was near the boy's hour, and he was listening most intently, so as to get full warning and insuretime enough to go back to his place and wait, when he fancied he heardthe bark of a dog. 

It was not repeated, and he was beginning to think that it was fancy, when the sound came again nearer, then nearer still, till there was aprolonged volley of canine-words, let us call them, for they evidentlymeant something from their being so persistent. 

"Why--hurrah! He has found me!" cried the prisoner excitedly; and heheard quite plainly, as he clung to the rough steps and pressed his earagainst the trap-door, the eager scratching made by a dog, and thesnuffling noise as it tried to thrust its nose down amongst the stones. 

"Hi! Good dog then!" he shouted, and there was a furious burst ofbarking. 

Then there was a sharp sound as if a heavy stone had fallen upon a heap, and he heard it rattle down to the side. 

Then there was a fierce growl, a bark, and directly after silence. 

The midshipman's heart, which had been throbbing with excitement a fewminutes before, sank down now like lead, as he waited to hear the soundsagain, but waited in vain. 

If ever the loud baying of a dog sounded like music in his ear, it wasduring those brief moments, and as he sat there, longing to know what itmeant, and whether his conjecture was right that the dog had scented himout, he faintly heard the gruff tones of a voice, and, hastilydescending, he went down the slope and made for his usual place. 

"That's what it was, " said Archy to himself. "The dog scented me out, and was scratching there till that great brute of a smuggler saw him, and threw a stone and drove him away. There they are. "

He was right, the rough pieces of stone were being removed, and a fewminutes later he saw the swinging lamp coming through the gloom. 

The prisoner was, as he said, quite right, for that day Celia Graeme hadwandered down towards the edge of the huge line of cliffs in a differentdirection to that which it was her wont to take. 

It was not often that she stirred far from the gloomy fir-wood at theback of the house, for her life had not been that of most young peopleof her age. Her father's disappointed and impoverished life, consequentupon his political opinions, and her mother's illness and depression, had made the Hoze always a mournful home, and naturally this hadaffected her, making her a serious, contemplative girl, older than heryears, and one who found her pleasure in sitting on a fallen trunk inthe sheltering woods, listening to the roar of the wind in the pineboughs, watching the birds and squirrels, and having for companion herdog Grip, who, when she took him for her walks, generally ran mad forthe first hour, scampering round and round her, making charges at herfeet, and pretending to worry her shoes or dress; running off to hideand dash out upon her in a mock savage way; bounding into furze bushes, chasing the rabbits into their holes; and then, as if apologising forthis wild getting rid of a superabundance of animal spirits kept low inthe mournful old house, he would come as soon as she sat quietly down, crouch close up to her, and lay his head on her knee, to gaze up in herface, blinking his eyes, and not moving again perhaps for an hour. 

Celia seldom went seaward. The distance was short, but she was contentto watch the beautiful changes on the far-spreading waste from high upon the hills. There had been wrecks on the Freestone Shore, which madeher shudder as she recalled how the wild cries of the hapless marinersin their appeals for help had reached the shore; she had seen the hugewaves come tumbling in, to send columns of spray high in the air, to beborne over the land in a salt rain, and, as a rule, the sea repelledher, and she shrank, too, from the great folds of the cliff, with theirmysterious-looking grass-grown ledges and cracks, up which came thewhispering and gurgling of water, and at times fierce hissings as if seamonsters lived below, and were threatening those who looked down and didnot pause to think that these sounds must be caused by air compressed bythe inrushing tide. 

Then, too, there was something oppressing in the poorly protected shaftswith their sloping descents, once, perhaps hundreds of years back, thebusy spots where old hewers of stone worked their way down below thethinner and poorer strata to where the freestone was clean and solid. 

These spots attracted and yet repelled her, as she peered cautiouslydown, to see that they were half hidden by long strands of bramble, withtufts of pink-headed hemp agrimony, and lower down the sides and archwayinfringed with the loveliest of ferns. 

There was something very mysterious-looking in these ancient quarrieswhere foot of man never trod now, and she shivered as she passedfunnel-shaped holes which she knew were produced by the falling in ofthe surface to fill up passages and chambers in the stone whose roofshad given way far below. 

She often thought, when tempted by Grip in the direction of these weirdold places, how horrible it would be if some day the earth suddenly sankbeneath her, and she should be buried alive. 

At such times her hands grew wet, and she retraced her steps, fancyingthe while that the earth sounded hollow beneath her tread. 

Upon this particular morning Grip had vanquished her. He was alwaystempting her in this direction by making rushes and looking back as ifasking her to come, for the dark holes tempted him. The rabbit burrowswere all very well, but he could never get in them beyond his shoulders, while in these holes he could penetrate as far as he liked in search ofimaginary wild creatures which were never found. Then, too, there werethe edges of the cliffs where he could stand and bark at the waves farbelow, and sometimes, where they were not perpendicular, descend fromshelf to shelf. 

The morning was glorious, and the sea of a lovely amethyst blue, asCelia wandered on and on toward the highest of the hills away west ofthe Hoze. Grip was frantic with delight, his tail stood straight out, and his ears literally rattled as he charged over the short turf aftersome rabbit, which dodged through the bushes, reached its hole, displayed a scrap of white cotton, and disappeared. 

And still, smiling at the dog's antics, the girl wandered on, nearer andnearer to where the land suddenly ended and the cliff went sharply downto the sea. 

As she went on, stopping to admire the beautiful purple thistles, whichsent up one each a massive head on its small stalk, or admired thepatches of dyer's rocket and the golden tufts of ragwort, the oldfancies about the ancient quarries were forgotten for the time, and sheseated herself at last upon a projecting piece of stone, away there inthe solitude, to watch the grey gulls and listen to the faint beat ofthe waves hundreds of feet below. 

There were a few sheep here and there, but the Hoze was hidden beyond afold of the mighty hills, and Shackle's farm and the labourer's cottagewere all down in one of the valleys. 

It was very beautiful, but extremely lonely, and to right and left therewere the great masses of cliff, which seemed like huge hills suddenlychopped off by the sea, and before her the wide-stretching amethystineplain, with a sail or two far away. 

Celia sat watching a little snake which was wriggling rapidly along pasther, a little creature whose scales looked like oxidised silver in theafternoon sunshine, and she was about to rise and try to capture theburnished reptile, knowing from old experience that it was harmless, when at one and the same moment she became aware that Grip was missing, and that Ram Shackle and the big labourer from the farm, Jemmy Dadd, were coming up a hollow away to the right, one by which they could reachthe down-like fields that spread along the edge of the cliffs from thefarm. 

She saw them, and hardly realising that they did not see her, she wenton watching the reptile as it glided with easy serpentine motion throughthe grass. 

"Ram is going to gather blackberries, " she said to herself, as sheglanced at his basket; "and Dadd is going to count the sheep. I oughtto have brought a basket for some blackberries. "

She felt full of self-reproach, as she recalled how plentifully theygrew there, and how useful they would be at home. "And I might get somemushrooms, too, " she thought, "instead of coming out for nothing. "

Just then she heard Grip again barking very faintly. 

"Stupid dog!" she said to herself, with a little laugh. "He hasfollowed a rabbit to its hole. If he would only catch a few more, howuseful they would be!"

Then she moved a little to follow the slow-worm, which was making for apatch of heath, and she was still watching it when, some time after, Grip came running up quickly, snarling and growling, and pausing fromtime to time to look back. 

"Oh, you coward!" she said, sitting down and pulling his ears, as hethrust his head into her lap. "Afraid of a fox! Was it a fox's hole, then, and not a rabbit's, Grip?"

The dog growled and barked. 

"Poor old fellow, then. Where is it, then?"

The dog leaped up, barked, and ran a few yards, to stop, look back ather, and bark again. 

"No, no, Grip; I don't want to see, " she said; and she began idly topick up scraps of wild thyme and toss at the dog, who vainly kept onmaking rushes toward the slope of the great cliff. 

"No, sir, " she said, shaking her finger at him. "I am not going to beled to one of your discoveries, to see nothing for my pains. "

The dog barked again, angrily, and not until she spoke sharply did heobey, and followed her unwillingly up the slope and then down into ahollow that looked as if at one time it might have been the bed of somegreat glacier. 

The dog tried again to lead her away toward the sea, but she wasinexorable; and so he followed her along unwillingly, till, low down inthe hollow, as she turned suddenly by a pile of great blocks ofweather-worn and lichened stone, she came suddenly upon Dadd and Ram, the former flat on his back, with his hat drawn-down over his eyes, thelatter busy with his knife cutting a rough stick smooth. 

"How do, Miss Celia?" said Ram, showing his white teeth. 

"Quite well, Ram. How is your head now?"

"Oh, it's all right agen now, miss. On'y a bit sore. "

"You tumbled off the cliff, didn't you?"

"Off a bit of it, " said Ram, grinning. "Not far. "

"But how foolish of you! Mrs Shackle said you might have been killed. "

"Yes, miss, but I wasn't. "

"What were you doing in such a dangerous place?"

"Eh?" said Ram, changing colour; "what was I doing?"

"Yes, to run such a risk. "

"I was--I was--"

Ram was completely taken aback, and sat staring, with his mouth open. 

"Lookin' after a lost sheep, " came in a deep growl from under JemmyDadd's hat. 

"Oh! And did you find it?"

"Yes; he fun' it, " said the man, "but it were in a very dangerous place. It's all dangerous 'long here; and Master Shackle wouldn't let youngRam here go along these here clift slopes without me to take care onhim. "

Ram grinned. 

"And you take my advice, miss, don't you come 'bout here. We lost foursheep last year, and come nigh losing the missuses best cow not longago. Didn't you hear?"

"Yes; old Mary told me, and Mrs Shackle mentioned it too. "

"Ay, " continued Jemmy, without removing his hat, "she fell slip-slapinto the sea. "

"Poor thing. "

"Ay, little missus; and, if I were you, I wouldn't come along top o'they clifts at all. Grass is so short and slithery that, 'fore youknows where you are, your feet goes from under you, and you can't stopyourself, and over you goes. And that aren't the worst on it; most likeyou're never found. "

"Yes, 'tis very slippy, Miss Celia, " said Ram, beginning to hack againat his stick. 

"I do not come here very often, Ram, " she said, quietly. "It is a longtime since I came. "

"Ay, and I wouldn't come no more, little missus, " continued Jemmy, fromunder his hat, "for if you did not go off, that there dog--"

Grip had been looking on uneasily, and turning his head from one to theother, as each spoke in turn; but the minute he heard himself mentioned, he showed his teeth, and began to growl fiercely at the man. 

"Look ye here, " cried Jemmy, sitting up quickly and snatching away hishat, "if you comes at me--see the heel o' that there boot?"

He held up the great heavy object named, ready to kick out, and Gripbared his teeth for an attack. 

"Down, Grip! Come here, sir. How dare you?"

But Grip did dare, and he would have dashed at the labourer if Celia hadnot caught him by the loose skin of his neck, when he began to shake hishead and whine in a way that sounded like protesting. 

"And me giving a bit of advice too, " said Jemmy in an ill-used tone. 

Grip barked fiercely. 

"Be quiet, sir!"

"And going to say, little missus, that if that there dog comes hangingabout here, he'll go over them there cliffs as sure as buttons, andnever be seen no more. "

"Come away, Grip. Thank you, Mr Dadd, " said Celia, hurrying the dogaway, and giving him a run down along the hollow; while Jemmy Dadd threwhimself back, rolled over on to his face, and laughed hoarsely. 

"I say, young Ram, " he cried, "what a game!"

"What's a game?" said the boy sharply. 

"That there dog; he won't forget that whack I give him on the ribs forlong enough. "

"Needn't have thrown so hard. "

"Why not?"

"Don't like to see dogs hurt, " said Ram, who was dealing with an awkwardknot. 

"Oh, don't you! Why, if your father had been along here with that rustyold gun of hisn, that he shoots rabbits with, and seen that dogscratching among them stones, know what he'd have done?"

"No. "

"Well, then, I do. He'd have shot him. And if I ketches him ferretin'about there again, I'll drop a big flat stone down on him, and thenchuck him off the cliff. "

"If you do, I'll chuck you down after him, " said Ram. 

"What?" cried the man, bursting into a fresh roar of laughter. "Oh, come, I likes that. Why, you pup! That's what you are--a pup. "

This was uttered with what was meant to be a most contemptuousintonation of the voice. 

"Pups can bite hard sometimes, Jemmy, " said Ram slowly; "and I shan'thave Miss Celia's dog touched. "

"Ho! Then he's to come here when he likes, and show everybody the wayinto our store, is he? Well, we shall see. "

"Yes; and you'd better go and see if they've gone. "

"Ah, yes, lad, I'll go and see if they've gone; and we needn't quarrel'bout it, for it strikes me as little missus won't come down here nomore, I scared her too much. "

Jemmy burst into another hoarse fit of laughing, and went lumping off inhis big sea-boots to see if Celia and her dog were well out of sight, before rejoining Ram to take the prisoner his repast. 

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

Three days passed, and the idea of losing her companion was so startlingto Celia, that she made no further journey toward the cliffs, in spiteof several efforts made by Grip to coax her in that direction. But onthe fourth day there was so mean and unsatisfactory a dinner at theHoze, of the paltry little rock fish caught by the labouring men, that, as Celia watched her mother partaking of the unsatisfactory fare, andthought how easily it might have been supplemented by a dish ofmushrooms and a blackberry pudding, she made up her mind that the nextday she would go. 

"I could be very careful, and not go near any of the slopes running downto the cliff, and I could make Grip keep with me. Yes, I will go, " shesaid. 

The next morning she partook of her breakfast quite early--a simpleenough meal, consisting of barley bread and a cup of fresh milk from theShackles' farm, and, taking a basket, she called Grip, who came boundingabout her in a state of the most exuberant delight. 

The dog's satisfaction was a little damped as his mistress took her waytoward the fir-wood, and he kept making rushes by another path. But itwas of no use; Celia had made her own plans, and, as the dog could notcoax her his way, and would not go alone, he had to follow her. 

There was a reason for this route being chosen, for Celia did not careto be seen by Ram, or any of the men who might be pretending to workhard on Shackle's farm, which was ill tended, and consisted for the mostpart of cliff grazing land; but somehow seemed to need quite a largestaff of labourers to keep it in such bad order. 

By passing through the fir-wood, Celia meant to get out of sight of thecottages, and she went on, with the dog following sulkily behind, butreviving a little upon being given the basket to carry. 

She trudged on for about a mile over the thin stony pastures, found afair number of small, sweet, pink-gilled mushrooms where the turf wasfinest and richest, and gradually adding to her store of glisteningbramble-berries till her finger-tips were purple with the stains. 

The course she chose was down in the hollows between the hills, till atlast she struck the one along which she had passed after leaving Ram andhis companion, and turned down here, believing that, if the boy selectedit, there would be good reason for his so doing. She walked steadilyon, finding a button mushroom here and a bunch of blackberries there. For one minute she paused, struck by the peculiar sweet and sickly odourof a large-leaved herb which she had crushed, and admired itsbeautifully veined blossoms, in happy ignorance of the fact that it wasthe deadly poisonous henbane, and then all at once she missed Grip. 

"Oh, how tiresome!" she cried excitedly; and she called him loudly, butthere was no reply. A gull or two floated about and uttered theirquerulous calls, otherwise the silence was profound, and, though sheswept the great curved sides of the hollow, whose end seemed filled upby the towering hill, all soft green slope toward her, but sheer scarpedand projecting cliff toward the sea, there was not so much as a sheep insight. 

With a great horror coming upon her, she hurried along towards thecliff, thinking of what Dadd had said, and picturing in her mind's eyepoor Grip racing along some seaward slope in chase of a rabbit, andgoing right over the cliff, she went on almost at a run, pausing, though, to call from time to time. 

It was intensely hot in that hollow, for the sea breeze was completelyshut off, but she did not pause, and rapidly neared the cliff now, herdread increasing, as she wondered whether Ram would be good enough toget a boat, and row along under the cliff to find the poor dog's body, so that she might bury it up in the fir-wood behind the house, in aparticular spot close to where she had so often sat. 

No sign of Grip: no sound. She called again, but there was no cheerybark in response, and with her despondent feeling on the increase, shebegan to climb the side of the hollow, passing unnoticed great clustersof blackberries, whose roots were fast in the stones, and the fruitlooking like bunches of black grapes; past glistening white mushrooms, better than any she had yet seen, but they did not attract her; and atlast she had climbed so high that she could see the blue waves spreadingup and up to the horizon, and about a couple of miles out thewhite-sailed cutter, which was creeping slowly along the shore. 

"I wonder where that midshipman is, " she thought, forgetting the dog forthe moment. "How strange that all was! Could it really have been adream?"

"Yes, it must have been, or else he would have gone and told hiscaptain, and they would have come and searched the cellar, and therewould have been sad trouble. "

She turned her eyes from the sea, and began to search the green slopesaround, and then all at once she uttered a cry of joy as she couldsight, on the highest slope right at the end of the valley, a whitespeck which suddenly appeared out of the earth, and then stood out clearon the green turf, and seemed to be looking about before turning andplunging down again. 

It was quite half a mile away, and her call was in vain, and she beganto descend diagonally into the hollow, the tears in her eyes, but asmile of content on her lips. 

"Oh, you bad dog, " she cried merrily, "how I will punish you!" and shestooped and picked a couple of mushrooms, quite happy again, and evensang a scrap of a country ditty in a pretty bird-like voice as she cameto a bramble clump, and went on staining her fingers. 

By degrees she passed the end of the hollow, leaving all theblackberries behind, and now, only pausing to pick a mushroom here andthere, she began to ascend the slope toward where she had seen the dog. 

"It is getting nearer the edge of the cliff, " she said; "but it slopesup, and not down. Ah, I see you, sir. Come here directly! Grip!Grip!"

The dog had suddenly made his appearance about fifty yards in front, right as it were out of the grassy slope, to stand barking loudly for afew moments before turning tail and plunging down again. 

"Oh, how tiresome!" she cried. "Grip! Grip!"

But, as the dog would not come to her, she went on, knowing perfectlywell that he had gone down one of the old stone pits, and quite preparedto stand at last gazing into a hole which inclined rapidly into thehillside, but was as usual provided with rough stones placed step-wise, and leading the way into darkness beneath a fern-fringed arch, while thewhole place was almost entirely choked-up with the luxuriantly growingbrambles. 

"He has found a rabbit, " she thought to herself, as her eyes wanderedabout the sides of the pit, and brightened at the sight of the abundantclusters of blackberries, finer and riper than any she had yet secured. 

"I wish I was not so frightened of these places, " she said to herself. "Why, I could fill a basket here, and there can't be anything to mind, Iknow; it is only where they used to dig out the stone. "

A sudden burst of barking took her attention to the dog, who camebounding up the rugged steps right to her feet, looked at her with hisgreat intelligent eyes, and, before she could stop him, rushed downagain, where she could hear him scratching, and there was a sound whichshe knew was caused by his moving a piece of stone such as she could seelying at the side in broken fragments, and of the kind dug in thinlayers, and used in the neighbourhood instead of tiles. 

"Oh, Grip, Grip! And you know you can't get at him. Come here. "

"Ahoy!"

Celia was leaning over the rugged steps, gazing down into the darknessbeneath the ferns, when, in a faint, smothered, distant way, there camethis hail, making her nearly drop her basket as she started away fromthe pit. 

The hail was followed by a sharp burst of barking, and the dog camebounding up again, to stand looking after her, barking again before oncemore descending. 

Slowly, and with her eyes dilated and strained, the girl crept back stepby step, as she withstood her desire to run away, for all at once thethought had come that perhaps some shepherd or labourer had fallen downto the bottom, and was perhaps lying here with a broken leg. 

She had heard of such things, and it would be very terrible, but shemust know now, and then go for help. 

In this spirit she once more reached the entrance to the old quarry, andpeered down, listening to the worrying sound made by the dog, who keptrattling one piece of stone over another, every now and then giving ashort, snapping bark. 

"Ahoy!" came again, as if from a distance, and a thrill ran through thegirl, bringing with it a glow of courage. 

"It is some poor fellow fallen down;" and, placing her basket by theside, she began to descend cautiously, with Grip rushing to meet her, barking now joyously, and uttering whine after whine. 

The descent was not difficult, and after the first few steps the feelingof timidity began to wear off, and Celia descended more quickly till, about fifty feet from the top, some distance under where the fringe offerns hung, and where it had seemed quite dark from above, but wasreally a pleasant greenish twilight, she found beneath her feet a fewloose flat stones, part of a quantity lying before her in the archwaythat seemed to lead straight on into the quarry. 

But here, right at her feet, the dog began to scratch, tossing one thinpiece of stone over the others upon which it lay. 

Celia looked before her wonderingly, for she had expected to see afallen man at once, probably some one of the men whom she knew by sight;but, in spite of the dog's scratching, she could not imagine anythingwas there, and she was bending forward, gazing into the half choked-uplevel passage before her, when there came from under her feet the samesmothered, --

"Ahoy!"

She started away, clinging to the side for support, and ready in herfear to rush back to the surface. 

But the dog's action brought her to herself, as he began again to barkfuriously, and tore at the stones. 

"Hush! Quiet, Grip!" she said in an awe-stricken whisper, as she wentdown on her knees and listened, her heart beating wildly, and a horribleidea, all confused, of some one having been buried alive, making herface turn ashy pale. 

"Ahoy! Any one there?" came in the same faint tones. 

"Yes--yes, " panted the girl. "What is it?"

"Help!"

And then, more loudly, --

"Let me out, pray. "

"Oh, " moaned the girl, "what does it mean?"

"Ahoy there!" came more plainly now. "Whoever you are, get a boat, andgo off to the cutter _White Hawk_. Can you hear?"

"Yes, yes, " said the girl huskily, as a horrible suspicion ran throughher mind. 

"Tell Lieutenant Brough that Mr Raystoke is a prisoner, kept by thesmugglers, and then show his men the way here. "

There was a pause, for Celia could make no reply; she knew who MrRaystoke was, and it seemed horrible to her that the frank, good-lookingyoung midshipman should be kept a prisoner in such a tomb-like place asthat. 

"Don't, don't say you will not go!" came up in the smothered tones. "You shall have a reward. "

"As if I wanted a reward!" panted Celia. "What shall I do? What shallI do?"

"Help--pray help!" came from below; and Grip joined in. 

"Yes, I will help you, " cried Celia, placing her face close down to thestones. 

"What!" came up. "I know you--the young--yes, Miss Graeme. "

"Yes, " she cried hastily. 

"Pray help me. "

"I want to, " she said; "but--but you will go and--and tell--about whatyou have seen. "

There was a pause, and then came faintly the words, --

"I--don't--want to; but--I must. "

"But I cannot--I cannot help you if you are going to fetch the sailorshere, perhaps to seize--Oh, what shall I do?"

There was a pause before the prisoner spoke again. 

"Look here, " he said; "I don't want to tell about your father beingmixed up with the smugglers. "

"You must not--you dare not!" cried Celia. 

There was another pause, and then the prisoner's voice came againreproachfully. 

"You ought to know it's my duty, and that I was sent ashore to find thisout. --I say. "

"Yes. "

"Did you know I was shut up like this by those beasts?"

"Oh, no, no, no!"

"Your father did. He had me sent here, so that he should not get intotrouble. "

"Indeed no! He would not do so wicked a thing. "

"But he is a smuggler. "

"It is not true!" cried Celia passionately; "and if you dare to say suchthings of my dear, good, suffering father, I'll go away and never helpyou. "

"I can't help saying it, " said Archy sturdily. "I'd give anything toget out of this dreadful dark place; but I must speak. "

"Not of him. "

"I don't want to speak of him, " said Archy, "but what can I do? I musttell about all those smuggled things there in the cellar that night whenyou found me in that room--out of uniform. "

"Ah!" ejaculated Celia. 

"I know it's hard on you, but I've been here a prisoner ever since, andit's enough to break one's heart. "

The poor fellow's voice changed a little as he spoke, and he would havegiven way if he had seen Celia's head bowed down, and that she wascrying bitterly. 

"You will send for help?"

"I cannot, " sobbed the girl, "unless you will promise not to tell. "

There was a pause again. 

"I can't promise, " came up huskily, in faint smothered tones. "I say, is the door locked as well as bolted?"

"I cannot tell; it is covered with stones. Pray, pray promise me thatyou will not tell. I do want to help you to get away. "

"I can't promise, " said Archy at last, after a bitter struggle withself. "I must go straight to my officer and tell him as soon as I getout. "

At that moment there was a sharp barking from the dog, who rushed up thesteps to stand at the top for a few moments before coming down again. 

"Won't you help me?"

"To send my poor innocent father to prison, " said Celia in a low voice. 

"I can't hear you, " came from below. 

"And I can't tell you, " said Celia to herself. "What shall I do--whatshall I do?"

She stole softly up the rugged steps, with her fingers in her ears, indread lest she should be called upon to listen to the prisoner's piteousappeals for help; and, as soon as she reached the top, she set offrunning as hard as she could go, to find her father, tell him all, andappeal to him to try and save the poor fellow from the cruel trials hewas called upon to bear. 

Celia could hardly see the direction in which she was going, for hereyes were blinded with tears, and so it was that, when down in thelowest part of the hollow, as she hurried blindly along, she trippedover one of the many loose stones, fell heavily, striking her templeagainst a block projecting from the steep side of the little valley; andfell, to lie insensible for a time; and when she did come to her senses, it was to find Grip lying by her, with his head upon her chest, and hiseyes looking inquiringly into hers, as if to ask what it all meant. 

Her head ached, and she felt half stunned still, but she strove to riseto her feet, and sank back with a moan of pain. 

For a worse trouble had discovered itself: her ankle was badly wrenched, so that she could not stand, and in the solitary place in which she hadfallen, it was possible that she might lie for days and not be found, unless special search was made. 

A sudden thought came--to tie her handkerchief about Grip's neck, andsend him home. 

The first was easily done, the latter impossible. Grip was anintelligent dog in his way, but nothing would make him leave hismistress there; and the poor girl lay all day in the hot sun, and atlast saw that night was coming on, and that there was no help. 

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

Celia Graeme took sundry precautions to avoid being seen, but she wasnot so successful as she imagined. 

Jemmy Dadd was an old servant of Farmer Shackle, one who always made apoint of doing as little as was possible about the farm. He did notmind loading a cart, if he were allowed as much time as he liked, orfeeding the pigs, because it afforded him an opportunity to lean overthe sty and watch the pretty creatures eat, while their grunting andsqueaking was sweet music in his ear. He generally fed the horses, too, and watched them graze. Calling up the cows from the cliff pastures hedid not mind, because cows walked slowly; and he did the milking becausehe could sit down and rest his head; but to thump a churn and makebutter was out of his line. 

Mrs Shackle complained bitterly to her lord and master about differentlots of cream being spoiled, but Farmer Shackle snubbed her. 

"Can't expect a man to work night and day too, " he grunted. "Set one ofthe women to churn. "

In fact, the farmer never found any fault with Jemmy, for the simplereason that he was his best worker on dark nights, and as handy a sailoras could be found. 

Jemmy knew it, felt that he was licensed, and laughed to himself as hefollowed his own bent, and spent a good deal of time every day in whathe called seeing the crops grow. 

When there were no crops growing, he went to see how the grass wasgetting on, and to do this properly, he put a piece of hard blacktobacco in his cheek, and went and lay down on one of the hill-slopes. 

He was seeing how the grass got on that particular morning with his eyesshut, when, happening to open them, he caught sight of Celia goingalong, a mile away, with her basket and dog. 

He knew her by the dog, though even at that distance, as she movedalmost imperceptibly over the short turf of the treeless expanse alongby the sea, he would have been sure that it was Sir Risdon's child. 

"What's the good of telling on her?" he growled to himself, as he layback with his hands under his head; and in that attitude he rested fornearly three hours. Then, moved by the cogitations in which he had beenindulging, he slowly and deliberately rose, something after the fashionof a cow, and began to go slowly in the direction taken by Celia hoursbefore. 

Jemmy Dadd seemed to be going nowhere, and as he slouched along, liftingup one heavy sea boot and putting it down before the other, he neverturned his head in either direction. So stiff was he in his movements, that any one who watched him would have concluded that he was lookingstraight forward, and that was all. 

A great mistake; for Jemmy, by long practice, had made his eyes worklike a lobster's, and, as he went on, they were rolling slowly round andround, taking in everything, keeping a look-out to sea, and watching therevenue cutter, sweeping the offing, running over the fields and downsand hollows, missing nothing, in short, as he steadily trudged along, not even the few mushrooms that the pleasant showers had brought up, andplacing them in his hat. 

Slow as his pace was, the distance between the prints of the big bootswas great, and the mushroom hunting took him, before very long, up thecliff beyond the entrance to the old quarry, then down below it, andthen close up alongside, where he stooped over, and then went down a fewsteps out of sight. 

He did not turn his head, for his lobster eyes had convinced him that noone was in sight, and, as he disappeared in the deep hole, he pouncedupon the basket, and then went softly and quickly down to where theloose tile stones lay. 

A rapid examination satisfied him that they had not been moved, and hewent softly up again, basket in hand, stood still and rolled his eyes, but saw no sign of the basket's owner, and then, thrusting his armthrough the handle, he went steadily back to the farm, where he thrusthis head in at the door, stared at Farmer Shackle, who was innocentlymending a net, and backed out and went into the rough stable. 

Shackle followed him, net in one hand, wooden netting-needle in theother. 

"Hullo!" he said. 

Jemmy held out the basket. 

"Well, I see brambrys and masheroons. What of 'em?"

"Little missus's basket. Fun' it. "

"Take it home. No--I'll send Ramillies. Ladyship don't like to seeyou. "

"Fun' it in number one!"

"What!"

"See her going along there with that dog. She must ha' smelled himout. "

"Place been opened?"

"No. "

Farmer Shackle scratched his nose on both sides with the netting-needle;then he poked his red worsted cap a little on one side with the sameimplement, and scratched the top of his head, and carefully arranged thered cap again. 

"Mayn't have seen or heard anything, lad. "

"Must, or wouldn't have left the basket. "

"Right. Have big Tom Dunley, Badstock and two more, and be yonder atdark. Ramillies know?"

"Not yet. "

"Don't tell him. He's waiting yonder for you. Here he comes. Go onjust as usual, and don't tell him nothing. I'll meet you soon as it'sdark. "

"Pistols?"

"No. Sticks. "

"Jemmy there, father? Ah, there you are! Come on. I've been waitingsuch a time. "

Ram looked sharply from one to the other, and knew there was somethingparticular on the way, but he said nothing. 

"Get it out of Jemmy, " he said to himself. 

"I'm ready, lad; I'm ready. "

"Look sharp, boy, " said the farmer. 

"Yes, father, " said Ram. "I'll go and get the basket. "

"Ay, do, boy. And look here--never mind more to-day; but take double'lowance to-morrow, so as not to go every day. "

"Very well, father. Look sharp, Jemmy!"

The boy ran back to the house, followed by his father, who went onnetting, and a minute later Jemmy and Ram were off over the barepastures in the direction from which the man had come. 

"Find that basket you give to father, Jemmy?"

"Ay, lad, half full o' brambrys and masheroons. Wondered whose it was. Gaffer says it's little missus's, and you're to take it up. "

"Oh, " thought Ram, "that's what they were talking about;" and he beganwhistling, quite content, as they went wandering about mushrooming, till, apparently tired, they sat down close to the mouth of the quarry, where Jemmy's eyes rolled round for a good ten minutes before he said, "_Now_. "

Then the pair rolled over to left and right, down into the hole, anddescended quickly to the bottom, where the man crept right on along thehalf choked passage, took a lanthorn from a great crevice; there was thenicking of flint and steel, a faint blue light, and the snap of theclosing lanthorn as the dark passage showed a yellow glow. 

Meanwhile Ram had been busy removing the pieces of stone, laying bare atrap-door upon which were a big wooden lock and a couple of bolts. These he unfastened, threw open the door, and descended with his basket;while, after handing down the lanthorn into the black well-like hole, Jemmy climbed up again to the surface and stood with his eyes just abovethe level, sheltered by blackberry strands and other growth, and slowlymade his eyes revolve; till, at the end of half an hour, Ram reappeared, when the business of closing and bolting the door went on, while Jemmyblew out the light, closed the lanthorn, through whose crevices cameforth an unpleasant odour, bore it back to its hiding-place; and thenthe pair departed as cautiously as they came. 

"What did he say?" growled Jemmy. 

"Oh, not much. Seemed all grumpy, and wouldn't answer a civilquestion. "

"Should ha' kicked him, " said Jemmy. 

Very little more was said till they reached home, and Ram busied himselfabout the farm till after supper, wishing that he could help themidshipman to escape without getting his father into trouble. 

He was thinking how horribly dark and miserable the old quarry must be, for the first time. The thought had not occurred to him before, throughevery hole and corner being so familiar, from the fact that scores oftimes he had held the lanthorn while his father's men carried insmuggled goods landed at the ledge, if there was plenty of time; for, ifthe landing had been hurried, and the danger near, the things were oftencarried up to the Hoze for temporary deposit till carts came to bear thethings into the interior. 

"I do wish he'd be friends, " thought Ram, when his musings wereinterrupted by his father saying, --

"Ah, there's that basket Jemmy found's mornin'. Go and take it up tothe Hoze. "

"He needn't go to-night, need he?" said Mrs Shackle. 

"You mind your own business, " said the farmer fiercely. "Be off, boy. "

Ram put on his red cap, took the basket, and trotted off toward theHoze, while Mrs Shackle sighed, for she knew that something particularmust be on the way, or Ram would not have been sent off, and her husbandhave prepared to go out directly after. 

"Oh dear me, dear me, dear me!" said the plump, comfortable-lookingwoman, as the door closed on her husband's back. "If he would only keepto his cows and sheep!"

"Here, " said the farmer, reopening the door, "be off to bed. Ramilliesneed not know that I'm gone out. "

"No, dear. But do take care of yourself. "

"Yah!"

Bang went the door, and Mrs Shackle, after putting a few thingsstraight, went off obediently to bed, troubling in no wise about thedoor being left on the latch. 

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

Archy Raystoke was fast asleep, dreaming about being once more on boardthe cutter, with the sun shining full in his eyes, because he was lyingon the deck, right in everybody's road, and Gurr the master was scoldinghim for it in a way which was very disrespectful to an officer and agentleman, while the men grouped around grinned. 

He was not surprised, for somehow Mr Brough was not there, and Gurr hadassumed the command of the cutter, and was playing the part of smugglerand pirate, and insulting him, whom he addressed again: "Get up!"

Archy leaped to his feet, and saw at a glance that it was not the sun, but the light of a lanthorn shining in his eyes, while, before he coulddo more than realise that several men were standing close to him, halfof a sack was drawn-down over his head and shoulders, and a thin ropewas twisted round and round his arms, fastening him securely, and onlyleaving his hands free. 

"What are you going to do?" he shouted, after a vain struggle to freehimself, and his voice sounded muffled and thick through the heavy sack. 

"Pitch you off the cliff if you make so much as a sound, " said a gruffvoice by his car. "Keep quiet, and you won't be hurt. "

The lad's heart beat heavily, and he felt hot and half suffocated. 

"Do you want to smother me?" he said. "Can't breathe. "

"Slit the back of the sack, lad, " said the same gruff voice, and therewas a sharp cutting noise heard, as a breathing-hole was cut right upbehind his head. 

"Now, then, bring him along. "

His hand was grasped, and, as he felt himself led over ground that wasquite familiar now, he knew that he was on the way to the entrance. 

Were they going to take him out, and set him free?

No; if they had been going to do that, they would not have blindfoldedhis eyes. 

Yes, they would, for, if they were going to set him free, they would doso in a way that would place it beyond his power to betray their secretstore. 

Quick immatured thoughts which shot through him as he was led along, andhe knew directly after that it was only fancy. Of course. He couldshow the lieutenant where the opening was in the cliff, and by knowingthat it would be easy to track out the land entrance. 

"No, " said the midshipman to himself sadly; "they are going to take meand imprison me somewhere else, for they must now know that I washolding communications with that girl. "

"Now then, steady!" said a voice, as he felt that the cool air wascoming down on to his head, and he breathed it through the thicksacking. "Make a rope fast round him. "

"I must be at the foot of the way in, " thought Archy, as he felt a ropepassed round him, and the next minute it tightened, he was raised fromhis feet, and the rope cut into him painfully as he felt himself hauledup. Then hands seized him, and he was thrown down on the grass, whilethe last rope was cast off. 

As he lay there being untied, though his eyes were blinded, his earswere busy, and he listened to the smothered sounds of the trap beingfastened and the stones being drawn over it again. 

"Trap-door--door into a trap, " he thought. "Where am I going now?Surely they would not kill me. "

A cold chill shot through him, but he mastered the feeling of terror ashe felt himself dragged to his feet. 

"Now, then, keep step, " the same gruff voice said; and, with apparentlyhalf a dozen men close by him, as far as he could judge by theirmutterings and the dull sound of their feet over the grass, he wasmarched on for over an hour--hearing nothing, seeing nothing, but allthe while with his ears strained, waiting for an opportunity to appealfor help, in spite of the threats he had heard, as soon as he could tellby the voices that he was near people who were not of the smugglers'gang. 

But no help seemed to be at hand, and, as far as he could judge, he wasbeing taken along the fields and rough ground near the edge of the wildcliffs, now near the sea, now far away. At one time he could hear thedull thud and dash of waves, for a good brisk breeze was blowing, and hefancied that he had a glint of a star through the thick covering, but hewas not sure. Then the sound of the waves on the shore was completelyhushed, and he felt that they must either be down in a hollow, or goingfarther and farther away inland. 

Twice this happened, and the third time, as all was still, and he couldfeel a hard road beneath his feet, he became sure. There was an echoingsound from their footsteps, dull to him, but still plain, and it seemedas if they were down in some narrow cutting or rift, when all at once!Just in front, after the men about him had been talking more loudly, asif clear of danger, there rang out a stern--

"Halt--stand!"

There was a hasty exclamation. Then came in the loud, gruff voice, --

"Back, lads, quick!"

He was seized, and retreat had begun, when again rang out:--

"Halt--stand!"

The smugglers were between two fires. 

The midshipman was conscious of a familiar voice crying, --

"No shots, lads. Cutlashes!"

There was a rush; the sound of blows, men swayed and struggled aboutwildly, and the lad, bound, blindfolded, and helpless, was thrust hereand there. Then he received a sharp blow from a cudgel, which sent himstaggering forward, and directly after a dull cut from a steel weapon, which, fortunately for him, fell upon and across the rope which boundhis arms to his sides. There were oaths, fierce cries, and thestruggling grew hotter, till all at once there was a rush, Archy wentdown like a skittle, men seemed to perform a triumphal war-dance uponhis body, and then they passed on with the fight, evidently consistingof a retreat and pursuit, till the sounds nearly died away. 

A minute later, as Archy lay there perfectly helpless, the noisesincreased again. Men were evidently laughing and talking loudly, andthe sounds seemed to come round a corner, to become plainer all at once. 

"Pity we didn't go on after them? Nonsense, my lad! They know everyhole and corner about here, and there's no knowing where they'd have ledus, " said a familiar voice. 

"Well, it is precious dark, " said another. 

"Too dark to see what we are about. But I take you all to witness, mylads, they 'tacked us first. "

"Ay, ay: they began it, " came in chorus. 

"And if it happens that they are not smugglers, and there's troubleabout it, you know what to say. "

Archy heard all this, and it seemed to him that the party were about topass him, when a voice he well knew growled out, --

"Hit me an awful whack with a stick. "

"Ay, I got one too, my lad; and I didn't like to use my cutlash. "

"Wish we'd took a prisoner, or knocked one or two down. Why, here isone. "

There was a buzz of voices, and Archy felt himself hoisted up. 

"Can you stand? Not wounded, are you? Who cut him down?"

"Well, I'm 'fraid it was me, " said one of the familiar voices. "Why, heis a prisoner ready made. "

"What? Here, cut him loose, lads. Hullo, my lad, who are you?"

"Take this off, " panted Archy in a stifled voice; and then, as the sackwas dragged over his head, he uttered a sigh, and staggered, and wouldhave fallen, had not one of the men caught him. 

"Hold up, lad. Not hurt, are you?"

"No, " said Archy hoarsely. 

"Who are you? What were they going to do with you?"

"Don't you know me, Mr Gurr?"

"Mr Raystoke!"

The rest of his speech, if he said anything, was drowned in a heartycheer as the men pressed round. 

"Well, I am glad!" cried the master. "We've been ashore a dozen times, my lad, and searched everywhere, till the skipper thought you must haverun away. "

"Run away!" cried Archy huskily. "I've been a prisoner. "

"Those were smugglers, then?"

"Yes, " cried Archy; "but they shall smart for all this. I know whereall their hiding-places are, and we'll hunt them down. "

"Hooray!" shouted the men. 

"Were you looking for me?"

"Well, not to-night, my lad. Making a bit of a patrol, " said Gurr. "The skipper thought that perhaps we might run against something oranother, and we have and no mistake. But what's the matter? Not hurt, are you?"

"No, not much. I got a blow on the shoulder, and then some one gave mea chop with a cutlass. "

"That was you, Dirty Dick! I did see that, " cried one of the men. 

"Well, I don't say it warn't me. How was I to know it was a orsifer inthe dark, and smothered up like that?"

"Are you wounded, then?" cried the master excitedly. 

"No; it felt more like a blow, but people kept trampling on me after Iwas down. "

"That's bad, " said Gurr, giving vent to a low whistle. "Here, lads, let's carry him to the boat. "

"No, no!" cried the midshipman. "I think I can walk. I could hardlybreathe. "

"Well, go steady, then. It's on'y 'bout half a mile to the cove. Wheredid they mean to take you, lad?"

"I don't know. Perhaps on board some ship to get me out of the way;"and he briefly explained his late position, as they walked steadily on, the men listening eagerly the while. 

"Then you can take me right to the place, Mr Raystoke?" said Gurr. 

Archy hesitated. 

"I can point it out from the sea, but it will be all guess-work from theshore. "

"Never mind; we'll find it. But you can't think about where they weretaking you to-night?"

"I have no idea. Of course they blindfolded me, so that I should notsee the way out of the place I left, nor the way into the other. "

"Ah, well, come on, and the skipper will talk to you. He has been fineand mad about it, and I 'most think he's turned a bit thinner, eh, Dick?"

"Ay, that he have, " said the latter. "Leastwise you might think so. "

"One day he's been all in a fret, saying you've run away, and that you'dbe dismissed the service, and it was what he quite expected; and then, so as not to put him out, when you agreed with him, he flew out at you, and called you a fool, and said he was sure the smugglers had murderedhis officer, or else tumbled him off the cliff. "

Archy was too weary with excitement to care to talk much, and he trampedon with the men, hardly able to realise the truth of his escape, andhalf expecting to wake up in the darkness and find it all a dream. Buthe was reminded that it was no dream, from time to time, by feeling ahand laid deprecatingly upon his bruised arm, and starting round to seein the darkness that it was Dirty Dick, who patted his injury gently, and then uttered a satisfied "Hah!"

"Pleased to see me back, " thought the midshipman, "but I wish hewouldn't pat me as if I were a dog. "

"Hullo!" exclaimed the master just then, as they came opposite adepression in the cliff which gave them a view out to sea. "What'sgoing on? Forrard, my lads. Smart!"

The pace was increased, for away in the darkness there hung out a brightsignal which all knew meant recall, and the midshipman's heart throbbedas he felt that before long he would be in a boat dancing over thewaves, and soon after treading the deck of the smart little cutter. 

"No, " he said to himself, as after a hail a boat came out of thedarkness, its keel grating on the pebbly shore, and he uttered a sigh ofcontent on sinking back in the stern-sheets; "it isn't a dream. "

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

Archy Raystoke's sense of weariness rapidly passed off, as the oarssplashed, and the boat glided softly out of the waters of the cove, between the two huge corners of rock which guarded the entrance, andthen began to dance up and down as she reached out into the tideway. After the darkness of the old quarry, with its faint odour of spirits, the night seemed comparatively like noonday, and the pure, brisk airthat fanned his cheek delicious. He seemed to drink it in, drawing downgreat draughts which made his bosom swell, his heart beat, and therewere moments when, like a schoolboy upon whom has suddenly come the joysof an unexpected half-holiday, he felt ready to jump up, toss his cap inthe air, and shout for joy. 

"But it would be undignified in an officer, " he felt; and he sat still, feeling the boat live almost in the water as she throbbed from end toend with the powerful strokes, and glide up the waves, hang for amoment, and slide down. 

"Tidy swell on, Mr Raystoke, " said Gurr. 

"Oh, it's glorious!" replied the lad in a low voice. 

"Glorious?"

"Yes. You don't know what it means to have been shut up in a place likea cellar, always black, and longing to see the blue sky and sunshine. "

"Well, there aren't none now, my lad. "

"No, Gurr, there is no blue sky and sunshine, but--but--this isdelightful;" and he said to himself, with his breast swelling, "I feelstupid, and as if I could cry like a child. "

They were nearing the cutter fast, her lights growing plainer, and thelad leaned forward with feelings that were almost ecstatic as he triedto scan her lines, and thought of leaping on her deck, and feeling theeasy, yielding motion as she rose and fell to her cable where she lay atanchor. He even thought of how glorious it would be for there to come astorm, with the spray beating on his cheeks and then, as heinvoluntarily raised his hand to his face, a thought occurred to himwhich made him start. 

"Oh!" he mentally ejaculated, as he thought of his long sojourn in thecave, and a feeling of satisfaction came over him that it was dark;"what a horribly dirty wretch I must look!"

A hail came from the cutter at last, and was answered from the boat, Archy's heart beating fast as he dimly saw the figures on board, andthought of the joy of being once more in his own cabin. 

"Gurr, " he whispered, "don't say a word to Mr Brough; let me tell him Ihave come on board. "

"Right, my lad; but you'll say we found you, and all that. You see, Imust make my report. "

"Of course. "

Just then the oars were thrown up and laid alongside, and, as thelieutenant came to the gangway, Archy sprang on to the cutter so sharplythat he came rather roughly in contact with his commanding officer. 

"How dare you! Why, you clumsy young--" Before he could say more, themidshipman touched his red cap. 

"Come aboard, sir, " he said. 

"Why? What? Mr Ray--Oh, my dear boy!"

There was not a bit of official dignity in the greeting, for the plumplittle lieutenant, in his surprise and delight, caught Archy by thearms, then by the shoulders; stared in his face; seized his hands, shookthem both, and was about to hug him, but, suddenly recollecting himself, he drew back. 

"In with that boat, " he cried sharply. Then, giving the orders to slipthe cable, and prepare to make sail, he turned to Gurr. 

"I'll take your report directly, Mr Gurr, " he said. Then, verystiffly, "Take charge of the deck. Mr Raystoke, follow me, sir, to mycabin. "

"Going to wig me, " said the midshipman, as he followed his officer downinto the cabin and shut the door. 

"Now, sir, " cried the lieutenant, turning upon him sharply, "have thegoodness to explain your conduct. Stop--not a word yet. I entrustedyou with an important commission. I dealt with you as if you were aman, an officer and a gentleman; and, instead of doing your duty, youwent off like a contemptible cabin-boy on a shore-going game, sir--dissipation, sir--behaved like a blackguard till all your money wasspent; and then you come sneaking back on board, insult me by blunderingup against me, and all you've got to say for yourself is, `Come aboard, sir. ' Now, then, what else have you to say?"

"Well, sir!--"

"Stop. Let me tell you that, knowing as I did what a young scamp youwere, I refrained from reporting your conduct at Portsmouth, to get youdismissed His Majesty's service; and knowing, too, that it would breakyour father's and mother's heart, I did not write and tell them. For Isaid to myself, `He'll come back and ask forgiveness to-morrow, and I'llpunish him and forgive him, ' for I did not want to blast your career. But to-morrow has always been coming, and you haven't come tillto-night. And now, what have you to say before--before I treat you--yes, I've a good mind to--like some mutinous scoundrel, and--What'sthat, sir, what's that? How dare you sit down in my presence, when--"

"I'm so done up, sir, and hungry and faint. "

"And serve you right, you insolent young dog. I knew it, and--"

"Oh, I say, Mr Brough, you don't think I could have been such a beast. "

"What?"

"I found out all about the smugglers, but they caught me, and I've beena prisoner ever since. Do give me something to eat and drink, and don'tscold me any more, till I've got on my uniform and had a good wash. "

"My dear boy! My dear Archy Raystoke!" cried the lieutenant, seizinghis hands and pumping them up and down. "Of course I didn't think it!Knew you were too much of a gentleman, but I was stuffed full ofthoughts like that, and they would come out. Here, " he cried, "drinkthat, and here's some cake sent from Poole, and--tip it up, and eataway. I am glad to see you again. God bless you, my dear boy! I'myour officer, but you don't know how miserable I've been. "

"Yes, I do, sir. I know you always liked me, " cried the midshipman, between the mouthfuls he was taking. "But never mind the beingprisoner, sir. I know all the scoundrels' secrets now, and you cancapture them, and make some good hauls. You must send a strong partyashore as soon as it's day. "

"But--but--"

Archy answered those buts to such an extent that Gurr's report wasneedless, and the master was terribly disappointed. 

By that time the cutter was slowly gliding away seaward, with every eyeon the watch, for, as the lieutenant explained, after telling hisrecovered officer how he had searched in all directions, he had thatnight seen lights shown far up on one of the cliffs--lights which mightmean a warning to some vessel to keep off, or just as likely might havethe other intention, and be an invite to some lugger to land her cargo. 

In any case the lieutenant meant to be on the alert, and hence thesailing of the cutter. 

The lieutenant had hesitated a little at first after hearing hismidshipman's report, but he now decided how to act. 

"No, " he said; "not to-night, my lad. I'm inclined to think the signalwas a warning to keep off. They may hide the cargo they leave ashore, and if we don't capture it, so much the worse, but our work is to crushup the gang more than to capture a few barrels and bales. We'll lookout to-night, and, as soon as it is daylight, you shall make sure of thebearings of your prison, then we'll land a strong boat's crew, and goalong the top of the cliff to the place, and put an end to that game. You shall make a good meal, and then have a sleep, ready for to-morrow'swork. Hah!" cried the little lieutenant; "that ought to mean a goodday's business, Mr Raystoke, and promotion to better jobs than this. "

"I hope so, sir, " said Archy, with his mouth full. 

"No use to hope, " said the lieutenant dismally. "I'm like poor oldGurr; they don't consider me fit for service in a crack ship; and when Imake my report, and send in my despatches, and ask for an appointment, Ishall be told I do my work too well on this important service, and thatthey cannot spare so valuable an officer from the station. Gammon, MrRaystoke, gammon! It's all because I'm so little and so fat. "

Archy was silent, for he knew it was the truth, and that such a quaintlittle fellow did not somehow quite command the men's respect. 

Half an hour after, he was sleeping heavily, with the delightfulsensation of being undressed and between blankets, to wake up with astart in the morning, by hearing Ram coming to the trap-door. 

No, it was a noise on deck; and he sprang up and rapidly washed anddressed, to hurry up to see what was going on. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

As the midshipman reached the deck, it was to find that there was alight mist on the water, and that the lieutenant was at the side withGurr, where they were watching a boat coming in from seaward. 

The cutter was back not far from her old moorings, and the great cliffsof the shore were dimly visible. 

"Lobster-boat, sir, " said Gurr, as Archy came behind them. 

"Never mind! I'll overhaul her. I'm going to be suspicious ofeverything now. Take the boat, and--Ah, to be sure. Mr Raystoke, takethe boat, and see what those fellows mean. They're making straight forthe ledge, and there is no one to buy lobsters there. "

"Ay, ay, sir!"

That familiar sea-going reply seemed to ring out of the lad's throat, and afforded him a pure feeling of delight. No more groping about inthe darkness, biting his nails, and feeling heart-sick with despondency, but the full delight of freedom and an active life. 

No lad ever sprang to his work with more alacrity, and, as he leapedinto the boat, and the men dropped their oars, there was a hearty lookof welcome in each smiling face. 

"She has just gone into the mist there, Mr Raystoke, " said thelieutenant; "but she's making straight for that ledge, and you can'tmiss her. One moment. If the men seem all right and honest as to whatthey are going to do, see if you can get any information, but be on yourguard, as they'll send you, perhaps, on some fool's errand. "

"Ay, ay, sir!" cried Archy again, as he took the handle of the tiller. "Now, my lads, give way!"

The mist was patchy, thin here and thick there, but it seemed an easytask to overtake the boat, which had glided into the fog, going slowly, with her little sail set, and with only a man and boy for crew. She wasabout a mile away from the cutter, and about a quarter of that distancefrom the land when she passed out of sight, and the possibility of notovertaking her never entered the midshipman's head. All the same, though, he was well enough trained in his duties to make him keep asharp look-out on either side, as they crept in, to make sure that theboat did not slip away under the cliffs to right or left unseen. 

The mist grew more dense as they neared the towering cliffs. Then itseemed to become thinner, and, just as the midshipman was thinking tohimself how glorious it would be if the man and boy in the boat shouldprove to be his old friends Ram and Jemmy Dadd, there came a peculiarsqueaking sound from somewhere ahead. 

"Lowering sail, sir, " said Dirty Dick, who was pulling first oar. 

"Then we have not missed them, " thought Archy, as the men pulledsteadily on, with the rushing, plunging noise of the waves beginning tobe heard as they washed the foot of the cliffs. "I'll be bound to sayit is Ram and that big scoundrel. Oh, what a chance to get them aboardin irons and under hatches, for them to have a taste of what they gaveme!"

It seemed perfectly reasonable that those two should have been offsomewhere in a boat, and were now returning. Who more likely to bemaking for the ledge, which, as far as he could judge, was a point ortwo off to the right. 

All at once, after a few minutes' pulling, the boat glided right out ofthe bank of mist which hung between them like a soft grey veil, while infront, lit up by the first beams of the morning sun, was the great wallof cliff, the ledge over which the waves washed gently, the greenpasture high up, and the ledges dotted with grey and white gulls. Thepicture was lovely in the extreme, but it wanted two things in Archy'seyes to make it perfect; and those two things were a background formedby the great cliff, down which he had crept, and the feature which wouldhave given it life and interest--to wit, the fishing-boat containing Ramand Jemmy Dadd. 

"Hold hard, my lads!" cried the midshipman, and the men ceased rowing, holding their oars balanced, with the diamond-like drops fallingsparkling from their blades into the clear sea, while the boat glidedslowly on towards the ledge, which was just in front. 

"Why, where's the boat?" cried Archy excitedly, as he swept the face ofthe cliff with his eyes. 

"She aren't here, sir, " said Dick. 

"Well, I can see that, my man. Can she have slipped aside and let uspass?"

"No, " said one of the other men. "'Sides, sir, she was just afore usten minutes ago, and we heard her lowering down her mast and sail. "

"Could that have been a gull?"

"What, make a squeal like a wheel in a block? No, sir, not it. "

"Then they have run her up on the ledge and dragged her into one of theholes. Give way!"

The men pulled in quickly, and at the end of a few minutes they were asclose to the side of the ledge as it was safe to go, for, as the wavesran in, the larger ones leaped right over the broad level space, washingit from end to end. But there was no sign of the boat, and themidshipman hesitated about believing that the man and boy could havetaken advantage of a good wave and run her right on. 

"It's strange, " said Archy aloud, as he sat there thinking that, if hechose his time right, he might make his men pull the boat in upon awave, let them jump out and drag her up the rocks. 

But he shook his head, for he knew that if everything was not done tothe moment, the boat would be stove in. 

"Hullo! What are you shaking your head about?" he said sharply to Dick. 

"Nothing sir, only you said it was strange. "

"Well, isn't it strange?"

"Ay, sir; so's the _Flying Dutchman_!"

"What? Why, you do not think any of that superstitious nonsense aboutthe boat, do you?"

"Well, sir, I dunno. I only says, Where's the boat now? She couldn'thave got away. "

"No, " said another of the men. "She couldn't have landed there. "

"Nonsense!" cried Archy angrily. "Absurd! Who ever heard of a phantomlobster-boat?"

Dick shook his head, and then sat playing with the handle of his oar. 

"You Dick, " cried Archy, "you're a goose! There, it will not be safe toland, my lads. Here, you two jump ashore as we back in. Mind, just asthe sea's off the ledge; and run up and have a good look round. "

The boat was turned, backed in, and, seizing the right moment, the menjumped on to the rock just as the water was only ankle-deep, had a goodsearch round, and came back, to be picked up again safely, though theboat was within an ace of being capsized. 

But they had seen nothing. There was no boat, and they searched alongsome distance east, turned back to the ledge and went west, stillwithout elucidation of the mystery; then they went as close under thecliffs as they dared go, in the hope of finding some cavern or passagethrough the rocks that escaped notice from outside. 

All in vain, and, obeying the signal now flying on the cutter, the boatwas rowed back. 

"Well, Mr Raystoke, where's the boat?"

"Don't know, sir. We never got sight of her. "

"Then you must have been asleep, " cried the lieutenant angrily. "There, breakfast, my lads, and be smart. "

After the meal, Gurr was left in the charge of the cutter, while thelieutenant accompanied Archy to search for the high cliff whichcontained the old quarry, and they rowed east for a couple of miles invain. But, after pulling back to the starting-point, and making for theother direction, they had not gone four hundred yards under the cliffbefore the midshipman exclaimed excitedly, --

"There; that's the place: there!"

"Then why didn't you say so when we were on deck? You could have seenit there. "

"I could not tell without seeing it close in, sir; and besides it looksso different from right out yonder. "

"But are you sure this is right?"

"Oh yes, sir. Look, that's the place--where there is that narrow rift, and if you look high up there is a hole. There, I can see it plainly. "

"Humph! Can you? Well, I cannot!"

"But you can see that broad ledge, sir, about two hundred feet up. That's where I climbed down to, and we had the struggle--that boy andI. "

"No, I can't see any ledges, Mr Raystoke. There may be one there, butif you had not been upon it, I don't believe you would know that therewas one. "

Archy looked up at the towering pile of rock, and was obliged to ownthat he was right. He shivered slightly as he swept the face of thecliff for the various points that had helped him in his descent, and, ashe gazed out there in cold blood, it seemed to have been an extremelymad idea to have attempted the descent. 

"Well, it is impossible to land here, " continued the lieutenant. "Youare certain that this is the place?"

"Certain, sir. "

"Good. Then we'll go back to the cutter, and this evening a strongparty shall land. I'll lead them myself, and we'll try and surprisethem. It's quite likely that the signals I saw last night may meanbusiness for to-night. If so, we shall be on the spot. "

"Won't you go at once?" Archy ventured to observe. 

"No, certainly not; what would be the good? We would be watched, ofcourse, and the scoundrels would signal from hill to hill, and our everystep would be known. This evening, my lad, at dusk. Now, my lads, giveway. "

The boat was rowed rapidly from under the shadow of the mighty cliff, and the midshipman could not repress a shudder as he noticed how swiftlythe current ran right out to sea, and fully realised what would havebeen the consequences to any one who had tried to swim along the coastif he had managed to descend in safety to the cliff foot. 

Back on board the cutter there was a fair amount of bustle andexcitement among the men, for, after months of unfruitful hanging aboutthe coast, chasing luggers which proved to be empty, following falseleads to get them off the scent or out of the way when contraband goodswere to be landed, here was genuine information at last, the smugglershaving, after such long immunity, placed themselves in the hands of theKing's men. 

Consequently cutlasses were being filed up, pistols carefully examinedas to their flints and nicked off to see that they threw a good showerof sparks into the pans, and the men sat and talked together as eagerlyas if they were about proceeding upon a pleasant jaunt, instead of upona risky expedition which might result in death to several, and certainlywould in serious injury. 

"Yes, " the lieutenant said, "rats will run away as long as they can, butwhen driven to the end of their holes they will fight. "

"But will they dare, do you think, sir?" said Archy. 

"Dare! Yes, my lad. You had a bit of a taste of it the other nightwhen they were surprised in the lane. They will be more savage in theirholes, and therefore, as you are so young, I should like you to go withthe men, show them the way, and then leave them to do the work. "

Archy stared at him. 

"Yes: I mean it. Of course as an officer you cannot shrink from yourduty, but, as you are a mere boy, it is not your duty to go and fightagainst strong men who are sure to get the better of you. "

"But they are not all men there, sir, " said the midshipman, with a lookof disappointment getting heavier in his face. "There's a boy there--that young rascal who came after the cow. I owe him such a thrashingthat I must have a turn at him. "

"Ah, that's different, " said the lieutenant; "and it will keep upappearances. But take care to confine yourself to fighting with him. And--er--I would not use my pistol, Raystoke. "

"Not shoot, sir?"

"Well--no. I want to destroy this wasps' nest, but in as merciful a wayas possible. I have given orders to the men, and I wish you to mindtoo--I don't want to kill the wasps, but to make them prisoners. "

"Yes, sir, I see. "

"They are not French wasps, or Dutch wasps, but English. Youunderstand?"

"Quite, sir. "

"That's right. Another hour and you may be off. You think you can findthe place?"

"I do not feel a doubt about it, sir. "

"Well, it's going to be a dark night, and you and Mr Gurr will have tobe careful over your men. You had better keep as close to the cliff asyou can, for, of course, the entrance must be somewhere near. I havegiven Mr Gurr full instructions. You are to search and find the place, and if found hold it, but if you do not find it you will be back onboard by daybreak, and another expedition must be made by day. If wecan surprise them by night, when they think all is safe, it may savebloodshed. If we are obliged to go by day, they will have good warning, and be prepared to receive us, though they may be now. I wish I wasgoing with you, but that cannot be. "

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. 

Everything was arranged on board, so that no watcher armed with a glasswho scanned the ship should suspect that an expedition was on hand; butas soon as it was dark the men were ordered into two boats, onecommanded by Gurr, with whom was Archy, the other by the boatswain, onlyleaving a very small crew on board with the lieutenant. Then theypushed off, rowing with muffled oars, and keeping right away from thecliffs, so that any watcher there should have no indication of theirpassing. 

The quiet little cove was still a couple of miles away, when Archysuddenly touched the master's arm as he sat there holding his cutlass. 

"Yes; what is it?"

For answer the midshipman leaned forward, and pointed to where, far backand apparently opposite to the cutter, a couple of faint lights could beseen high up and away from the cliff. 

"Humph! Lights, " said Gurr; "but they may be up at some cottage. Whatdo you think?"

"I thought they might be signals. "

"Well, my lad, if they be, it's to bring the smugglers ashore, where wemay have the luck to be in waiting for 'em. But before that the skippermay have seen them, and, though he's short-handed, they could manage toshake out a sail or two, and manage a gun. "

"You would not put back, then, after seeing these lights?"

"Not likely, with the orders we've got, sir, " said the master; and themen rowed on, and in due time reached the cove, where all was perfectlyquiet, the tide falling, and as they landed quite a noisy tramp had tobe made over the fine pebbles, in which the men's feet sank. 

A couple of men were left in charge of the boats, the others were formedup, and, after passing the cottages of the few fishermen of the place, the party struck off for the top of the cliffs, to follow the rugged, faint track which was more often lost, and the arduous tramp wascontinued hour after hour, till, partly from the schooner's lights, partly from his idea of the run of the coast, the late prisoner began tocalculate that they must be approaching the land side of the largecliff. 

It had been a terrible walk in the darkness, for the cliff tops were asif a gigantic storm had taken place when that part of the coast wasformed, and a series of mountainous--really mountainous--waves had runalong and became suddenly congealed, leaving sharp-crested hill anddeeply grooved valley, which had to be climbed and descended in turn, till the men vowed that the distance was double what it would have beenby road, and they certainly were not exaggerating much. 

It was only here and there that the party had been able to follow theedge of the cliff. For the most part prudence forced them to keep wellin, but at times they had some arduous climbs, and walked along thesides of slopes of thin short grass, covered with tiny snails, whoseshells crushed beneath their feet with a peculiar crisp sound; and hadit been daylight, the probabilities were that they would have giventhese risky spots a wider berth. 

"Call a halt, Gurr, " whispered Archy at last; and it was done. Then, giving the master his ideas, the men were allowed a few minutes'breathing space before being formed in a line, with a space of a fewyards between the men, one end of the line being close to the edge ofthe cliff, the other some distance inland. 

In this way the men were instructed to walk slowly on, scanning everydepression and clump of bared stone carefully, and at a word uttered bythe man who felt that he had found any place likely to prove to be anentrance to a cave or quarry, all were to halt, the word was to bepassed along, and the officers were to examine the place before the linewent on again. 

The plan was good, and the long line swept slowly along, the halt beingcalled soon after they had started, but the stoppage was in vain, themidshipman and Gurr finding before them only a rough piled-up collectionof stones from which the earth had in the course of ages crumbled orbeen washed away. 

On again in the darkness, the officers pacing along portions of the lineto urge on the men to be careful, and warning those near the cliff edge. 

The advice was needed, for all at once, just as Archy was leaving theedge, there was a faint cry; the halt was called, and the young officer, closely followed by Dick, went quickly to the spot from whence the cryhad come. 

"It's Bob Harris, sir, " said the last man they reached. "I see him amoment ago, and heard him cry out, and then he was gone. "

With his blood seeming to chill, Archy crept in the darkness close tothe cliff edge, to find that it sloped down where he stood. 

"Give me your hand, Dick, " he whispered. 

"Lie down, my lad, and I'll go down too, " said the sailor in a huskyvoice, which told of the horror he felt. 

It was good advice, and the midshipman was putting it in force just asGurr came tearing up. 

"What is it?" he panted. 

"Bob Harris gone over, sir, " whispered Dick. 

"And no rope with us!" exclaimed the master. "See anything, my lad?"

"Yes; he is just below here on a ledge. Hi! Are you hurt?"

"No, sir, " came up faintly; "but I durstn't move, or I should go over. "

"Lie still, then, till we pull you up. Mr Gurr, I can almost touchhim. I could, if some one lowered me a little more. "

"No, no, my lad, no, no!" whispered the master. "Here, Dick, and you, "he said in short, quick, decisive tones, as he lay down and looked over. "Now, then, four more men here. Now, who'll volunteer to lean over andget a good grip of him, while we hold by your legs?"

"I will, " said Dick. 

"'Spose I'm as strong as any on 'em. But who's going to hold my legs?"

"Two men, my lad, and there'll be others to hold them. "

"Right, " said Dick shortly; and the men lay down, forming themselvesinto a human chain, the end of which Dick was lowered slowly down theslope and over the edge. 

"Look here, my man, " said Archy, as he lay with his head and chest overthe edge of the awful precipice, listening to the faint beat of thewaves, and involuntarily thinking of his adventure with Ram, "as soon asDick grips you, get tight hold of him too. "

"Ay, " came up in a hoarse whisper. "Please be quick. I feel as if Iwas going. "

"Now, " said the master, "ready, lads? Steady! You, Dick, give the wordyourself to lower away. "

"Ay, ay, sir; lower away. " Then again, "Lower away! Lower away!"

The suspense in the darkness seemed strained to breaking point, andArchy lay with his heart beating painfully, watching till it seemed asif the case was hopeless, and that if Dick, now nearly off the cliff, could grip hold of the fallen man, they would never be able to get himand his burden back. 

"'Nother inch, " came up out of the void. "Touched him. 'Nother inch!"

At each order, given in a hoarse, smothered way, the men shuffledthemselves forward a little, and lowered Dick down. 

"Just a shade more, my lads, " came up. 

"Can't!" said one of the men who held one of Dick's legs. 

"Right. Got him, " came up, as a thrill of horror ran along the chain atthat word _can't_. "Haul away!"

How that hauling up was managed the midshipman hardly knew, but he hadsome consciousness of having joined in the efforts made, by seizing oneman of the human chain, and dimly seeing Gurr and two other men of thegroup now gathered about them lend their aid. Then there was ascuffling and dragging, a loud panting, and, with a few adjurations to"hold on, " and "haul, " and "keep tight, " Dick and the man he had beenlowered down to save were dragged into safety. 

"Phew!" panted Dick. "Look here, Bob Harris--never no more, my lad, never no more!"

"Bravely done, Dick, " whispered Gurr. 

"Thank ye, sir. But, never no more. I want to be a good mate toeverybody, but this here's a shade too much. "

"And I'd take it kindly, Master Raystoke, sir, " said the man themidshipman had gripped, "if nex' time, sir, you wouldn't mind grapplingmy clothes only. You're tidy strong now, and I can't `answer for myflesh', if you take hold like that. "

"Hush! No talking, " said the master. "Dick, take the outside now, andbe careful. Form your line again. Bob Harris, take the far left. "

"Well, Master Raystoke, sir, " grumbled Dick, "I call that giving afellow a prize. Saves that chap, and here am I. "

"Post of honour, Dick. Go slowly, and not too near. "

"Not too nigh it is, sir, " said Dick, with a sigh; and a minute laterthe word was given, and they went on once more. 

One hundred, two hundred, three hundred yards, but no sign. 

Then a discovery was made, and by the midshipman. 

They had come to the descent on the far side of the vast hill by whosetop they had been searching. There was a stiff slope beyond, andanother mass of cliff loomed up, rising dimly against the sky, in a waythat made Archy feel certain that, though so far their search had beenin vain, they had now before them the huge cliff which held thesmugglers' store. 

The midshipman felt so assured of this, that he whispered his belieffreely to Gurr, as he encountered him from time to time perambulatingthe line of men, but the old master received the communication rathersurlily. 

"All guess-work, my lad, " he said. "We're working wrong way on. Thesegreat places would puzzle a monkey, and we shan't find the hole unlesswe come by daylight, and leave a boat off-shore to signal to us till weget over the spot. "

"What's that?" cried Archy excitedly, as one of the men on his leftuttered a sharp, "Look out!"

"Sheep, I think, sir. "

"No, it was a dog, " said another. 

"Hi! Stop him!" cried a third. "Boy!"

There was a rush here and there in the darkness, the line beingcompletely broken, and the men who composed it caught sight from time totime of a shadowy figure to which they gave chase as it dodged in andout of the bushes, doubling round masses of weather-worn stone, plunginginto hollows, being lost in one place and found in another, but alwaysproving too active for its pursuers, who stumbled about among the roughground and dangerous slopes. Here for a moment it was lost in a damphollow full of a high growth of mares-tail (_equisetum_), that curiouswhorled relic of ancient days; driven from that by a regular course ofbeating the ground, it led its pursuers upward among rough tumbledstones where the brambles tripped them, and here they lost it for atime. But, growing hotter in the chase, and delighted with the sport, which came like a relief from their monotonous toil, the Jacks put theirquarry up again, to get a dim view of it, and follow it in full cry, like a pack of hounds, over the rounded top of the hill, down the otherside into a damp hollow full of tall reeds, through which the men had tobeat again, panting and regaining their breath, but too excited by thechase to notice the direction in which they had gone, and beyond hearingof the recall shouted by their officers. 

The midshipman joined as eagerly in the chase as any of the men, forgetting at the moment all about discipline, formation, and matters ofthat kind, for in one glimpse which he had of the figure, he madecertain that it was Ram, whom they had surprised just leaving theentrance to the cave; and it was not until he had been joined in thehunt for about a quarter of an hour, that he felt that the men oughtinstantly to have been stopped, and the place around thoroughlysearched. 

"How vexatious!" he cried to himself, as he panted on alone, always indread of coming suddenly upon the edge of the cliff, and trembling lestin their excitement the men might go over. 

All regrets were vain now, and he kept on following the cries he heard, first in one direction and then in another, till at last, after a wearystruggle through a great patch of brambles and stones, he found himselfquite alone and left behind. 

But his vanity would not accept this last. 

"I've quite out-run them, " he said, half aloud, as he peered roundthrough the gloom, listening intently the while, but not a sound couldbe heard, and in his angry impatience he stamped his foot upon the shortdry grass. 

"What an idiot I am for an officer!" he cried. "Leading men and lettingthem bolt off in all directions like this. Suppose the smugglers shouldturn upon us now!"

"They would not have any one to turn upon, " he added, after a pause. 

"Well, it's all over with anything like a surprise, " he continued, aftera time, "and we must get back to the place where we started from, if wecan find it. "

"I'll swear that was Ram, " he said, as he trudged on up a steephillside; "and if they have caught him, we'll make him show us the way. Stubborn brute! He was too much for me in the quarry, but out here withthe men about, I'll make him sing a different tune. "

"Where can they be?" he cried, after wandering about for quite half anhour. "Why! Ah!" he ejaculated. "I can see it all now. It was Ram, and he was playing peewit. The cunning rascal! Oh, if I only get holdof him!

"Yes; there's no doubt about it, and he has been too clever for us. Hewas watching by the entrance, and just as the men got up, and would havefound it, he jumped up and dodged about, letting the men nearly catchhim, and then running away and leading them farther and farther on. "

"Never mind. I'll get the men together, and we'll go back to the placeand soon find it. Oh, how vexatious! Which way does the sea lie?"

There was not a star to be seen, and the night was darker than ever. 

He listened, but the night was too calm for the waves to be heard at thefoot of the cliffs, and, gaze which way he would, there was nothing butdimly seen rugged ground with occasional slopes of smooth, short grass. 

"Ahoy!" he cried at last, and "Ahoy!" came back faintly. 

"Hurrah!" he said, after answering again, and walking in the directionfrom which the cry came, downward in one of the combe-like hollows ofthe district. "No one need be lost for long, if he has a voice. Don'thear any of the others though. "

He shouted again and again, getting answers, and gradually diminishingthe distance, till he saw dimly the figure of a stoutly built man, andthe next minute he was saluted with, --

"Oh, it's you, is it, Mr Raystoke? Pretty run you've led me. Praywhat sort of a game do you call this?"

"Game, sir!" said Archy ruefully; "it's horribly hard work!"

"Hard work! To you, sir--a mere boy! Then what do you suppose it is tome? I have hardly a breath left in me. "

"But where are the men Mr Gurr?"

"The men, Mr Raystoke, sir? That's what I was going to ask you. Nowjust have the goodness to tell me what you mean by forgetting all thediscipline you have been taught, and leading these poor chaps off onsuch a wild-goose chase. "

"I, Mr Gurr?" said Archy in astonishment. 

"Yes, sir, you, sir. What am I to say to Mr Brough when we get back?I am in command of this expedition, and you lead the men away like apack of mad March hares, and now I find you here without them. Whereare they?"

"I don't know, sir. "

"You don't know!"

"I thought they were with you. "

"And you took them away and left them?"

"I didn't take them away!" cried the midshipman angrily. 

"Then where are they, sir?"

"I don't know. You were close by me when they rushed off after thatboy. "

"Sheep, sir. "

"No, no, Mr Gurr; boy--Ram. "

"Well, I said sheep, Mr Raystoke. "

"No, no, boy; that's his name--Ram. "

"Nonsense, sir; it was a sheep, and if it was not, it was a dog. "

"I tell you, sir, it was the smuggler's boy, Ram, --the one who cameaboard after the cow. "

"Hang the cow, sir! I want my men. Do you think I can go back on boardwithout them. Why, it's high treason for a naval officer to let one manslip away, and here you have let two boats' crews go. I say once more, how am I to face Mr Brough?"

"I don't know, Mr Gurr, " said Archy, who was growing vexed now at theblame being thrown on his shoulders. "You were in command of theexpedition, and the bosun was in charge of the second boat's crew. Idon't see how I am to blame. "

"But you led the men away, sir. "

"Not I, Mr Gurr. I joined in the chase, and I tried to get the boystogether, but they scattered everywhere. "

"But it really is awkward, Mr Raystoke, isn't it?"

"Horribly, sir. Got anything to eat?"

"To eat? No, my lad. But--tut--tut--tut! I can't hear them anywhere. "

"Nor I, sir. "

"Well, we must not stand here. But what did you say?--I did not seewhat it was; they went off after a boy?"

The master spoke so civilly now that Archy forgot his anger, and enteredinto the trouble warmly. 

"Yes, " he said; "and it was a plan. That boy is as cunning as can be. We must have been close up to the way into the cave when he started outand led us all away from it. "

"Eh?"

"I say he jumped up and dodged about, knowing the place by heart, andkept hiding and running off again, to get us right away from theentrance. "

"That's it--that's it, Mr Raystoke. Don't try any more, sir. You'vehit it right in the bull's eye. "

"You think so?"

"No, sir; I'm sure of it. A young fox. Now as soon as we've taken himprisoner, I'll put the matter before Mr Brough in such a way that theyoung scamp will be tied up, and get four dozen on the bare back. "

"Hadn't we better catch him first, Mr Gurr?"

"Right, Mr Raystoke. Come on then; and the first thing is to get themen together. We shall catch him, never you fear that. These cunningones generally get caught first. Now then, sir, let's listen. "

They listened, but there was not a sound. 

"'Pon my word! This is a pretty state of affairs!" cried the master. "What do you propose next?"

"Let's get right up to the top of this place and hail. "

"That's good advice, Mr Raystoke, sir: so come on. "

They started at once, and at the end of ten minutes they were at the topof a hill, but upon gazing round they could only dimly see other hillssimilar to the one on which they stood, --regular earth-waves of thegreat convulsion which had thrown the strata of the Freestone Shore intoa state of chaos, --but nothing more. 

"I'll hail, " said Archy; and he shouted, but there was no reply. 

"The scoundrels!" cried the master angrily. "They're all together insome public-house drinking, and glad to get away from us. Eh? What areyou laughing at?"

"There are no public-houses out in this wild place, Mr Gurr. "

"Eh? Well, no, I suppose not. I'll hail. Ahoy?"

A faint echo in reply. That was all. 

"Which way shall we go?"

"I don't know, Mr Gurr. "

"Can't make out which is the north, can you?"

"No, sir, nor the south neither. "

"Humph! I think I could find the south if you told me which was thenorth, " said the master drily. "Well, we must do the best we can. Let's strike along here. I seem to feel that this is the rightdirection. "

Archy felt that it was the wrong direction, but, at he could not pointout the right, he followed his leader for about a quarter of a mile, both pausing to shout and listen from time to time. 

All at once Gurr came to a dead stop. 

"I feel as if we're going wrong, " he said. "You choose this time. "

"Let's try this way, " said Archy, selecting the route because it wasdown hill; but a quarter of an hour of this did not satisfy him, and hetoo stopped dead short. 

"I feel just as much lost as I did in the dark in that cave, Mr Gurr, "he said. 

"Never mind, my lad, " said the master good-humouredly. "It's all anaccident, and nobody's fault. Wish I had my pipe. "

"Ahoy!" shouted Archy, but there was no reply. 

"I'd sit down and wait for morning, only conscience won't let me. "

"Well, let's try this way, " suggested Archy. 

"Seems to me, my lad, that it don't matter which way we take, we only gowandering in and out among the stones and brambles and winding all sortsof ways. Never mind; we must keep moving, so come on. "

They trudged on for how long they could not tell, but both were gettingexceedingly weary, and as ignorant now ever as to their whereabouts;for, whether the direction they followed was east, west, south, ornorth, there was no indication in the sky; and they kept on, alwayscautiously, in dread and yet in hope that they might come upon the edgeof the cliff, which would solve their difficulty at once, if they couldsee the cutter's lights. 

"Though that aren't likely, Mr Raystoke. Strikes me that he'll liethere, and not show a light, on the chance of a smuggling lugger comingalong, though that's hardly our luck. "

"I don't know, " said Archy bitterly. "Seems just the time for her tocome when the skipper's so short-handed that he can't attack. "

"Yes, we are an unlucky craft and no mistake, and I 'most wish sometimesI'd never sailed in her. Look here, for instance, here's a chance forus. "

"Hist! Listen!" whispered Archy. 

"What is it?"

"A hail right in the distance. "

"No such luck, my lad. I don't know how I'm going to face Mr Brough. Hark!"

"Yes; there it is again, away to the left. Yes; there it goes. Ahoy!"

They stopped and listened after the midshipman had hailed as loudly ashe could; and, to the intense delight of both, the hail was respondedto. 

Hurriedly changing their direction, they went on as rapidly as the roughground would allow, getting an answering hail every time they shouted, and each time louder, as if those who called were also coming towardthem. 

Ten minutes later they heard voices, by degrees these became a murmur, and they knew that there must be several of the men together. 

In another ten minutes they came upon a group steadily approaching. 

Mutual inquiries took place. 

No, the men had not captured the fugitive, but they were sure it was aboy; Dirty Dick was ready to take an oath to that effect, but he was notasked. 

Then came the important question--Where were they?

The boatswain gave it as his opinion that they had been going westward, but he could give no reason why; and it was decided to continue in thatdirection, after Gurr had satisfied himself that the men were allpresent, though they learned that there had been a good deal of hailingbefore all were collected. 

They trudged on almost in silence, for the whole party were wearied out, till an announcement galvanised them all, for suddenly Dick put an endto the question of their journeying west by suddenly shouting, --

"South ho!"

"Eh? What do you mean?" cried the master. 

"I know yon hill, " said Dick, pointing to an eminence dimly seen awaybefore him. "That's just close to the cove, and if we keep straight on, we shall be in the road in less than half an hour, and at the boats tenminutes later. "

"No, no, my lad, " said the master; "I don't think that's right. --Yes, itis, my lad; I'm 'most sure of it now. "

Right it was, as was proved a quarter of an hour later, by theirstriking the rough road at right angles, and there a halt was called. 

"Don't seem any good to go searching along again in the dark, MrRaystoke, " said the master; and the boatswain shook his head decisively. 

"All 'bout done up, " he growled. 

"We could do no good now, " said Archy, "for of course I am not surewhere the entrance is. "

"Must be getting toward morning too, and time to be aboard, MrRaystoke. There, sir, sometimes we win and many more times we lose. We've lost this time, so let's go back aboard, according to orders. Forward right, my lads, and let's make the best of it. "

"Never mind, Mr Gurr, " said Archy in a low voice. "I was regularly indespair as I was being taken from one prison to be shut up in another, when I ran up against you. Perhaps we may run up against the smugglersafter all. "

"Wish we might, " said the master. "Oh, how I could fight!"

But they ran up against no smugglers on their way to the boats, whichthey hailed from the strand, where the water was very low; and soonafter they were passing in the lowest of low spirits, out of the cove tothe open channel, when once more every one was thrilled with excitement, for right away in the offing they heard a gun. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. 

"Can't be, sir, " said Gurr, as he tried to pierce the darkness, "becausethe skipper must be lying at anchor where we left him. "

"Hah! See that?" cried Archy, as the men bent to their oars and madethe now phosphorescent water flash. 

"Only the oars, lad. Water brimes. "

_Thud_! came the report of a heavy gun. 

"You're right, lad! 'Twas the flash from a gun. Some one's pursuing ofsomething. Pull away, my lads, let's get aboard, and the skipper mayjoin in. Bah! What's the good o' shore-going? Man's sure to get wrongthere. "

The men forgot their weariness in the excitement, as they realised thatsome vessel was in chase of a smuggler, but they murmured amongthemselves at their ill luck at being away from the cutter; for if theyhad been aboard at the first shot, the anchor would have been weighed orslipped, and the _White Hawk_ gone to see what was going on, probably tohelp capture a heavily laden smuggler craft. 

"And we should have took our share, lads, " said Dick in a whisper. "Hey, boot we are out o' luck. "

"Don't sit muttering and grumbling there, my lad, but pull hard, andlet's get aboard, " cried the master, and the oars dipped away in thedark sea, seeming to splash up so much pale lambent fire at everystroke. 

But this was no novelty to the men, and the boats sped on, one in theother's wake, with the crew straining their heads over their leftshoulders to catch a glimpse of the next flash which preceded the gun. 

"Good six mile away from where we are now, " said Gurr. "Oh, my lad, mylad, I wish we were aboard. "

But it was a long pull from the cove to where the cutter lay, nearly amile and a half from the shore, and, though the master and Archy keptstraining their eyes to catch sight of their little vessel, she wasinvisible. 

As they rowed on, they kept on increasing their distance from the shore, steering so as to pass along one side of a right-angled triangle, instead of along by the cliff and then straight off; but, as the cuttershowed no lights, this was all guess-work, and made the task ratheranxious. 

The firing kept on, the dull thud of the gun being preceded by theflash, and at each notification of a shot the men gave such a tug at thestout ash blades that they bent, and the boat leaped through the water. 

"Hurrah! Morning, " cried Archy, and the men answered his remark with acheer, for there was a grey light coming fast now in the east, but, tothe utter astonishment of all, the cutter did not become visible. 

They gazed round excitedly as the light broadened, but there was nocutter where they expected she would be, but ten minutes later, dimlyseen as yet, they made her out miles away under full sail, in chase of along, low, three-masted lugger, at which she was keeping up a slow andsteady fire. 

The men cheered as the direction of the boats' heads was changed. 

"Pull, my lads, pull!" cried master and boatswain. The men respondedwith another cheer, and the water rattled under their bows. 

"It's a long pull, " cried the master; "but as soon as she sees us, she'll run down and pick us up. "

"Hurrah!" shouted the men. 

"Well done, Mr Brough, well done!" cried Gurr excitedly. "Think ofhim, with hardly a man to help him, sailing the cutter, and keeping up asteady fire like that. Oh, Mr Raystoke, why aren't we aboard?"

"Ah, why indeed? There she goes again. I say, Mr Gurr, won't she beable to knock some of her spars overboard. "

"I wish I was aboard the lugger with an axe, " growled Gurr, shading hiseyes; and then, placing his foot against the stroke oar, he gave aregular thrust with the man's pull, a plan imitated by the boatswain onboard the other boat. 

The light increased rapidly now, and the soft grey sky gave promise of aglorious day, but this did not take the attention of those on board theboats, who could see nothing but the lugger trying to escape, andgradually growing more distant, while the cutter kept on slowly, sendinga shot in her wake, evidently in the hope of bringing down one of hermasts. 

"What boat's that, Mr Gurr?" said Archy at last, drawing the master'sattention to one in full sail in the opposite direction to that in whichthey were going. 

"Dunno, my lad. Never mind her. Lobster, I should say. "

"Looks fast and smart for a lobster-boat, " thought Archy, as he keptglancing at the craft, whose aspect seemed to have a strange attractionfor him alone. In fact, every eye was fixed upon the two vessels in theoffing, while it seemed to Archy that the boat, which was sailingrapidly, had changed her course on seeing them, and was trying to getclose up under the cliffs, apparently to reach the cove from which theyhad come. 

There was nothing suspicious in a sailing-boat making for the cove, but, as the middy looked at it, the boat heeled over in a puff of wind, andhe fancied that he caught sight of a familiar figure behind the sail. 

It was only a momentary glance, and directly after he told himself itwas nonsense, for the figure which had started up in the night, away onthe cliff was Ram Shackle, and he could not be in two places at once. 

"We shall never do it, my lads, " said the master suddenly. "Easy--easy. It's of no use to break your backs, and your hearts too. She's sailingtwo knots to our one. Easy in that boat, " he shouted. "We can't doit. "

A low murmur arose from both crews. 

"Silence there!" shouted Gurr. Then, more gently, "I don't want to giveit up, but you can see for yourself, bo's'n, we can't do it. "

"No, " came back abruptly. 

"It would only be hindering her too. No, Mr Raystoke, it's only ourold bad luck, and common sense says it's of no use to fight again it. "

"Mr Gurr, " said Archy excitedly, speaking with his eyes fixed on thesailing-boat. 

"Yes, my lad, what is it?"

"Do you think it possible that yonder boat has had anything to do withthe lugger?"

"Eh? What?" cried the master sharply. "Haven't got a glass. I dunno. They're such a set of foxes about here that she might. "

He shaded his eyes with his hand, and took a long look at her, and oncemore a puff of wind caught her sail and heeled her over, so that hecould get a good look over her side. 

She was about a mile away, and well in toward the shore, keeping farenough from the cliffs to catch the land breeze, and now, as the task ofcatching up the cutter was given up as impossible, the boat took theattention of all. 

"Why, she's got a lot of men in her, " cried Gurr excitedly; "nine or tenlying down in her bottom. "

"Yes, " cried Archy; "and it doesn't take ten men to catch a lobster. "

"Ahoy, bo's'n!" cried Gurr; "pull off to the west'ard sharp, and cut offthat boat if she makes for that way. Try and head her in under thecliff where there's no wind, if she tries to pass you. Look out! Shehas a lot of men on board. "

The direction of the second boat was altered at once, the men began topull hard; and just as a dull thud from seaward told that the _WhiteHawk_ was still well on the heels of her quarry, the first boat turnedsmartly and began to chase. 

"I hope you're right, Mr Raystoke, " said the master. "I should like tohave one little bit o' fun before we go back aboard. Ah, look at her!She don't mean us to overhaul her. Be smart, my lads. Don't cheer, butseem to be taking it coolly. You're right, Mr Raystoke, " he added aminute later; "there's something wrong with that boat, or she would notwant to run away. "

For the direction of the little yawl they were making for was suddenlychanged, and it was evident that, seeing how the second boat, commandedby the boatswain, was going to head her off from the west, she was beingput on the other course, so as to run east. 

But the first boat was going rapidly through the water now, and a turnof the helm changed her course, so that it would be easy to cut the yawloff from going in the new direction, while an attempt to pass betweenthe boats and head straight for sea was also met by the steersmen of thepursuers. 

"Why, what's she going to do?" said Gurr. "Ah, my lad, it's all a flam. Only a lobster-boat after all. She's going to run in under the cliffswhere there's no wind, and of course it's to take up her lobster-pots. "

"If she was only going to take up lobster-pots she wouldn't have triedto run, " said Archy sharply. "I'd overhaul her, Mr Gurr. "

"Going to, my lad. Don't you be scared about that. I'll overhaul her, if it's only to get some fresh lobsters for breakfast. There, I toldyou so, " he continued, after a few minutes' interval, during which theboat was sailing straight in for the cliffs, about five hundred yardsaway from the landing ledge, away to the west; and as the master spokethe mainsail was rapidly lowered, the jib dropped, and those in the_White Hawk's_ leading boat saw that there was a good deal of busy workon board; and before they had recovered from their surprise, several menrose up, oars were thrust over now that the wind had failed, and, witheight men pulling, they were going straight for the cliff. 

"Smugglers!" shouted Gurr excitedly. "Jump up, Mr Raystoke, and signalthe bo's'n to come on. We shall have a prize after all, though it'sonly a little one. Pull my lads, pull?"

The smugglers' boat was now about half a mile away, the men in herpulling with all their might, but the King's boat was the more swift, though after a few minutes' chase it was evident that the start was inthe smugglers' favour. 

"Hang them! They're going to run ashore. They've got a nook there, I'll be bound, and as soon as they're landed they'll be scuffling up theside of the cliff. Pull, my lads, and as we reach the rock, out withyou and chase them; you can climb as well as they can. If they'regetting away, cover them with your pistols, and tell 'em they shall haveit if they don't surrender. "

The excitement was now tremendous: the cutter's boat was going fast, andthe second boat was closing up, so that it would be impossible for thesmugglers to escape by sea. And now, as they drew nearer, Archy sawthat his first surmise was right: Ram was in the boat, and rightforward, his red cap showing out plainly in the morning light. JemmyDadd was there too, and Shackle, beside the big dark fellow who hadtricked the lieutenant, while the rest of the crew were strong-lookingfellows of the fisherman type. 

"Now then there!" shouted Gurr, rising up, but retaining his hold of thetiller with one hand. "It's of no use. Surrender!"

A yell of derision came from the boat, and Ram jumped up and waved hisred cap, with the effect that it seemed as if some of the dye had beentransferred to Archy's face, which a minute sooner had been rather palewith excitement. 

"Pull, my lads, pull, and you'll have them before they land!" cried themaster, stamping his foot. "Here, take the tiller, Mr Raystoke;" andhe shifted his position, passed the tiller to Archy, and stood up anddrew his sword. 

"Starboard a little--starboard!" he said. "Run her right alongside, mylad; and you, my men, never mind your oars, the others'll pick them up. The moment we touch, up with you, out with your cutlashes, and down withany man who does not surrender. "

"Ay, ay, sir!" cheered the men. 

"Now, then, " shouted Gurr, "do you surrender?"

A derisive laugh came from the smugglers, who pulled their hardest, pretty closely followed by the king's boat, when, just as they seemed tobe coming stem on to the rocks at the foot of the cliff, the four men onthe starboard side suddenly plunged their oars down deep, backing water, while the men on the larboard pulled furiously, the result being thatthe head of the boat swung round, and she glided right out of sightbehind a tall rock, which seemed part of the main cliff from a few yardsout. 

A fierce cry of rage came from the master, but he was quick at givingdirections, checking the course of his boat, and then proceedingcautiously; and having no difficulty in following under a low archwayfor some twenty yards, --a passage evidently only possible at extreme lowwater, --and directly after they were out again in broad daylight, and atthe bottom of a huge funnel-like hollow, from which the rocky cliffsrose up some three hundred feet. 

It was a marvellously beautiful spot, but the occupants of the _WhiteHawk's_ boat had only eyes then for the smugglers, who had run theirboat into a nook just across the bottom of the pool, and they had hadtime to leap on to the rock, and were rapidly climbing a rough zigzagpath. 

"And us never to have been along here at the right time of the tide tofind this hole!" thought Archy, as, in obedience to a sign, he steeredthe boat across the beautiful transparent pool, and laid her alongsidethe smugglers boat. 

Then oars were thrown down, the men sprang across the smugglers' craft, and, headed by Archy and Gurr, began to climb rapidly after theirenemies. 

"It's of no use to call upon them to surrender, " said Gurr ratherbreathlessly, as they toiled up the zigzag. 

"We'll make them do it later on, " cried Archy, whose youth and activityhelped him to get on first. 

"Steady, my lad, steady!"

"But I want to see which way they go. "

"Right, but keep out of danger, my lad. If they show fight, keep back. "

Archy heard, but made no reply, and toiled on up the rugged ascent, straining every nerve as he saw the last smuggler disappear over thetop, and, at the next turn he made in the zigzag, he caught a glimpse ofthe ascent from top to bottom, with the sailors climbing up, and justthen there was a fresh cheer, which made him turn swiftly again, to lookround and see the second boat gliding through the rocky arch into thepool. 

It was rather risky, for he was on a narrow slippery place at one of theturns of the _zigzag_, and nearly lost his footing, but, darting out ahand, he caught at the rock, recovered himself, and climbed on, to reachthe top just in time to see Ram's red cap disappearing some four hundredyards away over a rounded eminence due west of where he stood. 

He glanced down again, and then, breathless as he was, ran on over thedown-like hillside till he reached the spot where he had seen Ram's redcap disappear, and here he stopped, to make sure of Mr Gurr seeing thedirection he had taken, standing well up with his sword raised above hishead in the bright sunshine. 

There was nothing visible but soft green rolling cliff top, and helooked vainly for some sign of the enemy, eager to go on, but taughtcaution, and not knowing but what Ram might have taken one direction tolure the pursuers away, while the men were in hiding in another. 

But, as he waited and scanned the place around, he suddenly caught sightof what seemed to be a rift against the sky in the edge of a cliff whichrose up rapidly, and his heart gave a great throb. 

"Let Ram play what tricks he likes, " he said, "I know where I am now. "

"Well, my lad, well!" panted Gurr, running up, followed by the men. "Don't say they've got away!"

"No, " cried Archy excitedly. "I think I can lead you to the foxes'hole. This way. "

And, as he spoke, there came in rapid succession a couple of dull thudsfrom seaward, and a cheer from the crew behind, as, led by ArchyRaystoke, the men now went over the undulating cliff top at a trot. 

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. 

The discovery of the way through the cliff made clear to Archy severalmatters connected with the appearance and disappearance of Ram and hiscompanion with the boat, for upon more than one occasion it had seemedimpossible that they could have rowed six miles to the cove and comeback again. And, excited as the midshipman was, these ideas occurred tohim while running along over the top of the down-like cliff. 

On looking back beyond the first boat's crew, the head of the secondcrew could be seen as they reached the top of the zigzag path, where theboatswain waited till the last man was up, and then gave the word forthem to double after their fellows. 

Seeing that he was so well supported, the master felt that he was readyfor any force the smugglers might have to back them up, and, turning toArchy, he suggested that the midshipman should point out the way intothe smugglers' cave, and then leave them to do the work. 

"It will be time enough to talk about that, Mr Gurr, " said Archy ratherbreathlessly, "when we have found the place. "

"But I thought you had found it, my lad!"

"After the tricks played us, I shall not be certain until I see you allright in the cave. "

"But you think it's close here?"

"Yes; unless I am quite wrong, the old quarry is in that great cliffwhere the grass runs right up to the edge. "

"Then if it's there, and those fellows have gone in, we'll find the way, and go in too. "

"Oh!" ejaculated Archy, stopping short. 

"What's the matter, lad?--hurt?"

"No. The place is dark as pitch, and we have no lights. "

"Then we'll strike some with our pistol locks, and set fire to somewood. Never mind the lights. If it's light enough for them, it will belight enough for us, lad. Let's find the way in, and that will beenough. They won't show fight. Let's get on, and we shall be marchingthem all out tied two and two before they're much older. "

The party kept on along the rugged undulating top of the cliffs, till, after a careful inspection in all directions, Archy declared that theymust now be over the cavern. 

The second boat's crew had overtaken them now, and, upon receiving thisinformation, the master spread his men out a few yards apart, to sweepthe ground after the fashion observed on the previous night. 

"You must find it now, my lads, " he said. "I should say what you've gotto look for is a hole pretty well grown over with green stuff right upat the end of a bit of a gully, and looking as if no one had been therefor a hundred years. "

"Yes, something like the mouths of the old quarries we have seen, " addedArchy. 

"Then there's something of the sort down yonder, " cried Dick, pointingto a spot where the ground seemed to have sunk down. 

"Yes, " cried Archy eagerly; "and that's the place. Look here, MrGurr. "

"What at, my lad?"

"The grass. "

"Well, we want to find smugglers, not grass, my lad. "

"Yes, but don't you see that some one has gone over here lately. Thedew is all brushed off, and you can see the footmarks. "

"I can't, my lad. Perhaps you can with your young eyes. "

"Oh, it's all right, " growled the boatswain. 

"Keep a sharp look-out, then, and mind no one gets by. "

The little force advanced, with the men spread out to right and left, the officers in the centre, following the trail which led right to thegully-like depression, once doubtless a well-worn track, but nowcompletely smoothed over and grass-grown; and there, sure enough, asdiscovered only a short time before by Celia, was the scooped-out hollowfilled with fern, bramble, and wild clematis, and the rough steps down, and the archway dimly seen beyond the loose stones. 

"Halt!" cried the master; and, after a careful inspection had shown thatthe footprints in the dewy grass had gone no farther than the entrance, the men were called up, and stood round the pit. 

There it all was, exactly as Archy had pictured it in his own mind: theloose stones at the bottom of the hole covering, he was sure, thetrap-door he had so often heard opened and shut; but, as he went down afew steps in his eagerness, and scanned the place, he was puzzled anddisappointed; for the trap-door, if that was the spot where it lay, wascovered, and therefore the men could not be in the cave. 

"Bad job we've got no lanthorns, " said Gurr, who was looking overArchy's shoulder at the low-browed arch of the passage leading right in;"and it looks bad travelling, but in we've got to go if they won'tsurrender. Let me go first, my lad. "

For answer the midshipman went down to the bottom of the rough steps, and stood over the trap-door on the loose stones. 

"No, no, my lad, " said Gurr kindly, as he joined him. "Too rough a jobfor you. I'll lead, and, hang it! I shall have to crawl. Not verygood work for one's clothes. Come along, my lads. You, Mr Raystoke, and four men stop back, and form the reserve, to take prisoner any onewho tries to escape. "

The men descended till every step was occupied, the little forceextending from top to bottom. 

"Stop a minute, Mr Gurr. Let the bo's'n guard the entry here; I mustgo with you to act as guide. "

"It aren't all passage, then, like this?"

"No; it's a great open place supported by pillars, big enough to loseyourselves in. But stop; that can't be the way, sir. "

"Oh, hang it all, my lad!" cried the master in disappointed tones. "Don't say that. "

"But I do, " cried Archy. "There ought to be a trap-door covered withstones leading down a place like a well. "

"Yes; that's what we've come down. "

"No, no, another. I think it was down here. "

He stamped his foot on the loose stones, and then uttered a cry of joy, for there was a curious hollow sound, and on stooping down he pulledaway some of the great shaley fragments, and laid bare a rough plankwith a bolt partly visible. 

"Right! Got 'em at last, " cried Gurr. "Clear off more stones, my lads. No; stop!" he said. 

"Yes, I know what you are thinking, Mr Gurr, " said Archy. "The mencouldn't have shut themselves in there. "

"Course not, my lad. But you are right, that's the way down to theircuriosity shop, and they're hiding in this hole here. "

Then, thrusting in his head, and holding on by the rugged stones, heshouted into the hollow passage, --

"Now then, my lads, out you come!"

A pause. 

"D'yer hear? The game's up, and if you don't come out quietly, we shallhave to fetch you out on the rough. "

Still no reply. 

"Come, come, my lads, no nonsense! Surrender. I don't want to usepistols and cutlashes to Englishmen. You know the game's up. Surrender. "

Still no reply. 

"I don't think that hole goes in far, Mr Raystoke, " whispered themaster. "There's no echo like, and it sounds smothered. " Then aloud, --

"Now, then, is it surrender? Oh, very well; I've got some nice littleround messengers to send in after you. "

He drew a pistol from his belt and cocked it, winking at Archy as he didso. "Now, then, once--twice--fire!"

He pointed the mouth of the pistol downward, and drew the trigger, andin the semi-darkness below the overhanging brambles and clematis therewas a dull flash, the report sounded smothered, and the place was filledwith the dank, heavy-scented smoke. 

"There's precious little room in there, " whispered the master. "Ifthere'd been much of it, we should have heard the sound go rolling alonginstead of coming back like a slap in the face. Here, one of you, reload that. You, Dick, follow me. If they show fight, you come onnext, bo's'n, with the whole of your boat's crew. "

"Ay, ay, sir. "

"Hi! In there. Do you surrender?"

There was not a sound, and, after a momentary pause, the master spat inhis fist, gripped his cutlass, went down on all fours, after driving hishat on tightly, and crawled into the hole, followed by Dick. 

"Keep a cheery heart on it, lad, " said one of the men just before toDick. "We'll fetch you out and bury you at sea. "

Dick drove his elbow into the man's chest for an answer, grinned as hefelt the point of his cutlass, and dived into the hole, while theboatswain and his men stood waiting eagerly, ready to plunge forward atthe first sound of a scuffle. 

Archy peered in at the dark passage, his heart beating as he listened tothe noise made by the two men crawling in, and the last of the two hadhardly disappeared when there was a shout, a scuffle, and the boatswainplunged in. 

"All right!" they heard Gurr say. "I've got him. Hold still, youvarmint, or I'll cut your ears off. Here, Dick, get by me, and goforrard if you can. "

There was more scuffling, and the rattle of a stone or two, as thelisteners pictured in their own minds the man squeezing past the masterand his prisoner, and then Dick's voice came out in a half smotheredway:

"Can't get no farther. All choked-up. "

"All right, then, but make sure. "

"Oh, I'm sure enough, " said Dick. "It's all a stopper here. "

"Then out you come, my lad, " said the master; and the next minute hislegs were seed as he backed out, dragging evidently some one after himwho was resisting. 

"Here, Dick, " came in smothered tones. 

"Ay, ay, sir. "

"Says he won't come. If he gives me any more of his nonsense, touch himup behind with the pynte of your cutlash. "

"Ay, ay, sir. "

"Yah! Cowards!" came in angry tones. 

"Ram!" exclaimed Archy, as the boy, looking hot and fierce, was draggedout by the master, to stand looking round him as fiercely as a wild cat. 

"Hullo!" cried Archy. "It's my turn now, Ram;" but he repented hiswords directly, as he saw the reproachful look the boy darted at him. Then he forgot all directly, as he exclaimed, --

"I see, Mr Gurr, I see! The smugglers are down here after all, andthey left this boy behind to fasten the door, and cover it over withstones. "

Unable to contain himself, Ram thoroughly endorsed the midshipman'swords by giving an angry stamp upon the bottom of the hole. 

"That's it!" cried Gurr. "Here, chuck these stones into the passage, mylads;" and the rough trap-door was laid bare, the two bolts by which itwas secured were seen to be unfastened, and the lock unshot. 

"No way out, Mr Raystoke, is there?"

"No. "

"Then we've got 'em trapped safe this time, " said Gurr, as the door wasthrown open. "Bad job we've no lanthorns; but never mind, my lads. Ifthey won't surrender, you must feel your way with the pyntes of yourtoothpicks. "

There was a murmur of excitement among the men, and then Gurr leaneddown over the hole, put his hand to his mouth, and shouted, --

"Below there! In the King's name--surrender!"

His words went rolling and echoing through the place, but there was noreply. 

"Once more, my lads, to save bloodshed, will you surrender?"

No reply. 

"Very well. It's your fault, my lads, and very onsensible. Bo's'n, it's a big place, and I shall want all my men. You're all right here;with one you ought to be able to hold this. "

"And the prisoner?"

"No; we'll take him with us. Here, lash his hands behind him, and tiehis legs together. We'll lay him down to have a nap somewhere yonderdown below. That's right, " he continued, as a man produced a piece ofline, and firmly secured the boy, who was lowered down to one of the menwho had descended, laid on the stones in a corner at the bottom; andthen, after giving the word to be ready, Gurr braced himself up. 

"You'll stop aside me, Mr Raystoke, and try and guide. "

"Yes, sir. "

"You understand, bo's'n, down with the first who tries to escape up thehole here. "

"Ay, ay. "

"Then, now, forward!" cried Gurr; and, closely followed by Archy and hismen, he descended into the old quarry, and then stood listening at thetop of the slope, before preparing to advance into the enemy-peopleddarkness right ahead. 

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. 

Archy felt his heart throb as he led the way down the slope, every stepof which seemed so familiar that he advanced without hesitation, theknowledge of how many sturdy men he had at his back keeping away thenatural shrinking which under other circumstances he might have felt. 

"Halt!" said the master suddenly, and then in a whisper to his guide, "Strikes me as they'll have the best of it if they should fight, mylad. "

"Not much, " replied Archy; "it's as dark for them as it is for us, sothat they can't take us at a disadvantage. Call on them to surrenderagain. "

"Ay, to be sure, " cried the master; and once more he summoned thesmugglers to give in. 

There was not a sound to suggest that his orders were heard. 

"Don't know what to do, my lad, " whispered the master again. "If we goforward, we're leaving the way open for the enemy to attack the watch atthe entrance, and we don't want that. Are you sure they're here?"

"I feel certain of it, " said Archy in the same low tone. "They must be, but they're hiding, so as to try to escape, or else to take us at adisadvantage. "

"Well, " said Gurr, "let them. So long as they come out and fight fair, I don't care what they do. Here, four of you stop here; Dick, takecommand. We'll go forward and turn the enemy, and try to take them inthe rear. Stand fast if they come at you; no pistols, but use yourcutlasses. We shall come up to you at the least sound, to help. "

The men uttered a low, "Ay, ay, sir, " speaking as if they were oppressedby the darkness, and the master whispered. 

"Now, my lad, " he said, "try and give us the shape of the place like. "

Archy obeyed, and explained where the smugglers' stores lay, and thepile of little kegs, if they had not been moved, the place where he hadslept, and the positions of the huge pillars and heaps of broken stones. 

"And you was shut up here all that time, and didn't go mad!" said Gurr. "Well, you are a wonder! Tell you what, my lad, I should just like tomake sure that those brandy kegs are still here, and then I think we'llbe off, and come back with lights. There's no one here but ourselves. Place isn't big enough for any one to be hiding without our hearingthem?"

"Plenty, Mr Gurr, " said Archy firmly; "and I am sure they are here; butit is impossible to search without lights. They may be hiding behindthe pillars or piles of stone. Have lights got as soon as possible, andthen we can come and make them prisoners. "

All this was said in a hurried whisper, as the two stood together infront of their men, and in absolute darkness, for they had advanced intothe place far enough for the faint light which filtered down from thetrap-door to be completely lost. 

"Yes; but I'd like to be able to tell the skipper that we have gotsomething in the way of a prize for the men. Can you lead us to it, mylad?"

"But you couldn't take it away. "

"Well, we might carry one keg aboard, as a sample. Now then, where willit be from here?"

"Give me your hand, and I'll lead you right to it. "

"There you are. Take care how you go. Can you keep close behind us, mylads? Better join hands. Now then, are you ready?"

"Ay, ay, " came in a low murmur; and, grasping the master's hand, Archyled on, fully believing that the smugglers were still there, but feelingthat they would keep in hiding, and try to escape when they were gone. 

"Say, my lad, " whispered the master, "I pity you--I do from my soul. Think of you being shut up all alone in a place like this! Hah! Lookout!"

The order was needless, for the smugglers gave every one warning to dothat. 

One moment the King's men were advancing cautiously through thedarkness, the next, without a sound to warn them, there was a rush;blows fell thick and fast, cudgel striking head, cutlass, shoulder, anything that opposed the advance; and in less time than it takes todescribe the encounter, the sailors were beaten down or aside, and theparty of four, who were warned of what to expect by the noise in theirfront, advanced to the help of their friends, but only to be beaten downor aside by the gang which rushed at them. 

"Stop them, Dick. Down with them!" shouted the master, as soon as hecould get on his feet. "Hi, Dick! Pass the word to the bo's'n to lookout. Here, Mr Raystoke! Hi, bo's'n, down with that trap and make itfast. Mr Raystoke, I say, where are you? Which way is it? Who'sthis?"

"No, no, sir, " cried one of them; "it's on'y me. "

"Mr Gurr! Here!" cried Archy. "Where are you?"

"At last. Where were you, then?"

"On the stones, half stunned, " cried Archy. "Here, all get together andfollow me. "

"What are you going to do?"

"Make for the trap-door--sharp! They're fighting there. "

"Oh, dear, who'd have thought it was this way!" grumbled the master. "Talk about blind man's buff! Sure you're going right, lad? Shall Ifire a pistol to make a flash?"

"No; I know. "

"Hah!" cried Gurr, as an echoing bang ran through the great cavern. "Bravo, bo's'n!"

The bang was followed by a heavy rattling sound perfectly familiar toArchy, as he hurried the master along to the foot of the slope. 

"Are you all there?" cried Archy. 

"Yes, "--"No, "--"No, " came from different directions. 

"Then keep up this way, and be ready for another rush. "

"Ay, " cried the master loudly; "and I warn you fellows now, I'd havetreated you easy; but if you will have it, the word's war, and a volleyof bullets next time you come on. "

"No, no, don't fire! You'll hit our own men, " whispered Archy, as hereached the top of the slope. "Ah! Who's this?" he cried, as he nearlyfell over a prostrate figure. 

"Steady, my lad, steady!"

"Steady it is, " said another voice. 

"What, bo's'n?"

"Yes, sir, and me too. Oh, my head! How it bleeds!"

"Why, what are you doing here?"

"They came at us, sir, like mad bulls, and 'fore I knew where I was theyhad me. Pair o' hands pops up out of the hole, takes hold of my legs, and I was pulled down, had a crack of the head, was danced on, and hereI am, sir. "

"And me too, sir, " said the other voice. "But, I'm much worse thanhim. "

"But the smugglers?"

"All seemed to come over us, sir; banged the door down, and they've beenrattling big stones on it. There, you can hear 'em now. "

In corroboration of the boatswain's words, there was a dull thunderoussound overhead, as of great stones being thrown down over the trap-door, and all listened in silence for a time till the noise ceased. 

The silence was broken by Gurr, who suddenly roared out, as if he hadonly just grasped the position, --

"Why, they've got away!"

"Every man jack of 'em, sir, and they all walked over me. "

"And they've shut us in!"

"Yes, Mr Gurr, " said Archy sadly; "they've shut us in. "

"But if they were here, " cried the master; "that's what I wanted to doto them. I say, Mr Raystoke, you've done it now. "

Half angry, half amused, but all the while smarting with the pain causedby a blow he had received, Archy remained silent, listening to the heavybreathing and muttering of his companions in misfortune. The soundsabove ground had ceased, and it was evident that the smugglers had madegood their escape. 

Again the silence was broken by the master, who raging with pain andmortification, exclaimed, --

"Well, Mr Raystoke, sir, you know all about this place; which is theway out?"

"Up above here, Mr Gurr, close to where we stand. "

"Very well, sir; then why don't you lead on?"

"Because they have shut and fastened the trap, and heaped about a ton ofstone upon it. "

"Well, then, we must hack through the door with our cutlashes, and letthe stone down. "

"What's that?" cried Archy excitedly, --"a light!"

For there was a dull report and a flash of blue like lightning; and, running down the slope, the midshipman beheld that which sent a thrillof terror through him. For, away toward the far end of the cave, therewas a great pool of flickering blue light; and, as it lit up the ceilingand the huge square stone supports of the place, he saw that whichexplained the meaning of what had seemed to be a wonderful phenomenon. 

There, beyond the flickering pool of blue and yellow flame, which wasrapidly spreading in every direction, he could dimly see quite a wall ofpiled-up kegs, one of which lay right in the edge of the pool of fire, and suddenly exploded with a dull report, which blew the tongues of firein all directions, half extinguishing them for the moment, butinstantaneously flashing out again in a volume of fire, which quadrupledthe size of the pool, and began to lick the sides of the kegs. 

"The wretches! They fired the spirits before they escaped, " criedArchy, who realised to the full what had been done; and, for the sake ofour common humanity, let us say it must have been an act of vindictivespite, aimed only at the destruction of the proof spirit, so that itmight not fall into the sailors' hands--not intended to condemn them toa hideous death. 

"Back quick to the entrance! We must hack down that door, " roaredArchy. 

"Ay, ay, " shouted the men, who the moment before were mad with terror, but who leaped at the command as if their safety were assured. 

"No, no!" shouted the midshipman, as a fresh keg exploded; and in theflash of flame which followed, the place glowed with a ghastly light. 

"Yes, sir, yes!" shouted the men. 

"I tell you no, " cried Archy; "we should be burned or suffocated longbefore we could get that open. "

And, as in imagination he saw the men fighting and striving with oneanother to get to the trap-door, which remained obstinately closed, heclapped his hand on Mr Gurr's shoulder. 

"I know another way, " he cried. "Follow me. "

"Hurrah!" yelled the men, and the lad had taken a dozen steps toward thepool of fire, when a wild shout came from near the entrance. 

"All! Who's that?" cried Archy, as he mentally saw a wounded man beingleft behind. 

"Don't leave a poor fellow to be burnt to death, Mr Raystoke, " cried afamiliar voice. 

"Ram!" cried Archy, running back to where the boy lay bound behind apile of stones, forgotten for the time, and unheeded by his companions. 

"Yes, it's me, " said the boy excitedly. 

"Quick! Get up. Can you walk?" said Archy, cutting him free. 

"Yes, " cried the lad. 

"Then come on!"

"For the top passage, " whispered Ram. "That's the only way now. "

"Yes. Follow me. "

The midshipman had hardly given the command when there was anotherexplosion, a fresh flash of fire, which nearly reached them, and he sawbeyond the dancing tongues of flame the black opening he sought. 

But this fresh explosion--one of which he knew scores must now rapidlyfollow--checked him for the moment, and he saw that Ram had disappeared. 

"It's our only chance, my lads, " cried Archy. "Are you all ready?"

"Ay, ay. "

"Hold your breath, then, as you get to the fire, and follow me. "

"Through that blaze, my lad?" whispered the master. 

"Yes. Don't stop to talk. Now, then, " roared Archy, "come on!"

"Hurrah!" cried the men wildly; and Archy dashed forward, but was thrownback, and had to retreat, as a fresh keg exploded and added to the sizeof the pool, now almost a river of fire many yards wide. 

"It's now or never!" cried Archy frantically, and he rushed into theblue flames, which leaped about his feet and up as if to lick his face. 

A dozen strides, splashing up blue fire at every step, and he wasthrough it, and where a faint current of cold air seemed to be meetinghim. 

Almost as he reached the farther side, the men came leaping and yellingafter him, to stand beating the tongues of fire from their feet andlegs. 

_Bang_--_bang_--a couple more explosions, and the men crowded up toArchy, the master included, as if to ask what next. 

"Are you all here?"

"Ay, ay, sir. "

"And that boy?"

"I'm here, " cried Ram. "Quick, before they all go off. "

"Yes, " said Archy. "Forward!"

He led the way into the darkness once more, but into an atmosphere whichhe could breathe. Then up the familiar way, with its rugged steps, andon to the newly mortared wall, with its loophole, through which theglorious light of day streamed. 

"Now, my lads, cutlasses here. That wall's new. Four of you work, andloosen the stones, the others take them and throw them back below. "

The men cheered, and, headed by Mr Gurr and Dick, worked as they hadnever worked before. 

The stones were hard to move at first, but it was child's play comparedto the toil through which the young midshipman had gone when he attackedthe wall. First one yielded, then another, and, as they were draggedout, the men cheered, and passed them back to those down the roughsteps. 

With every stone removed, hope strengthened the little party; but as theexplosions followed fast, and the flames began to flicker and play upthe passage in which they were penned, Archy closed his eyes for a fewmoments to mutter a prayer, for his thoughts were getting wild. 

Just then, he knew that some one else thought as he did, for a handtouched his arm, and a voice whispered, --

"It wasn't my fault. It must have been Jemmy Dadd. I say--case theycan't make a way out in time--shake hands once, mate. I do like you. "

Something like a hysterical sob burst from the young midshipman's breastat this; and, facing death as he was just then, --a horrible death whichmight follow at any moment, --the lad's hand grasped that of his younggaoler--officer and smuggler, but both boys of one blood, who had foughteach according to his lights. 

"Hah!" sighed Ram, as he gripped hard, and then let go. "Now, then, tell 'em to shove the stones, sharp, and let 'em fall out. Quick!Before the powder ketches. "

"Powder?" said Archy in an awe-stricken whisper. "Yes; there's a lotnot far from the kegs. " The men cheered, as the fresh order was given, and a new set took the places of those who were growing weary, sendingthe stones out rapidly, till there was room for a man to creep through. 

"Here, Ram, you through first, and show them how to climb on the shelf. "

"No, no, you lead, Mr Raystoke, " cried the master. "Silence, sir! Iknow what I'm doing, " yelled Archy. "Out with you, Ram. "

The boy went through like a rabbit, passing something dark before him, and then rapidly one by one the men followed, with the flames roaringhorribly now below, and explosion after explosion following quickly, thecave rapidly becoming a reservoir of fire. 

"Hurrah! That's all, " cried Mr Gurr. "Now, Mr Raystoke. "

"No, sir, you. "

"I say you. "

"And I--"

Archy yielded to his superior in the expedition, crept out, and themaster was following, and got stuck, but a fierce tug from a couple ofthe men set him free, and he had only just joined the two boats' crewsstanding side by side on the shelf of rock, when the whole cliff seemedto shake; and, as if the passage they had left were some vast cannon, the artificial wall left was blown right out by an awful burst of flame, the stones hurtling down as if the end of the cliffs had come, andfalling with a mighty splash into the chasm. 

The men stood white and awe-stricken, expecting the cliff to crumbleaway beneath them, but save that a stream of fire roared out of theopening, all was now still. 

Then, in the midst of the awe-inspiring silence, Ram spoke, --

"I thought it wouldn't be long before the powder caught;" and then, before any one could reply, the lad said quietly, "I didn't want to beburnt to death. Better go to prison for smuggling. I say, I got thisrope. Hadn't we better make it fast somewhere, and then you can all getdown to the big shelf? I'll come last, and unfasten it. "

"And then how will you get down?" said the master suspiciously. 

"Oh, " said Ram, laughing, "I can climb down; can't I, orficer?"

"Yes, " said Archy quietly. "He can get down. You will not try toescape, will you, Ram?"

"No; not I. What's the good?" said Ram sadly. "It's all over now. "

The rope was made fast, and by its help the men easily reached the greatledge, Ram coming down soon after with the coiled-up rope about hisshoulder and under one arm. 

"Couldn't have got away if I wanted to, " he said, laughing frankly inArchy's face. "I say, I am hungry! Aren't you? Don't I wish I'd gotone of mother's baskets full of good stuff!"

"Where's your mother?" asked Archy. 

"Up at the farm. "

"And your father?"

"Oh, he went off in the lugger this morning, after they'd tried to run acargo. Your cutter was too quick for them though. We tried to get outto her, but the skipper sent a shot at us, and we came back here, onlyyou saw us, and run us down. "

"Where do you suppose your men are now?" asked Archy. 

"Don't know, and if I did, I wouldn't tell, " said the boy bluntly. "Isay, " he added, after a pause, "I give you a pretty good run last night, didn't I?"

"You young dog!" growled the master. 

"Well, if I hadn't, you'd have found the way in yonder, and I wasn'tgoing to let you if I could help it. "

"Ah, you'll be hung, sir. "

"Get out!" cried Ram. "Your skipper wouldn't hang a boy like me. Thinkthe cutter will be long?" said the boy after a pause, during which allhad been watching the flame which seemed to flow out of the opening faroverhead. 

"I don't know; why?" replied Archy. 

"Because she'll have to come and take us off. This rope's long enough, and we shall have to slide down into a boat. "

But the cutter was long. For the lugger had escaped to Hollandconsequent upon the _White Hawk_ being so short-handed, and it wastoward evening that she came close in to search for the crews, and allthe party descended in safety to the boat, which rowed under in answerto the signals made by firing pistols. 

As to the boats that passed under the archway, they were prisoned tillthe next low water. 

"Satisfied?" said the lieutenant, after all were on board, and he hadheard the report. "More than satisfied. I was horribly disappointed atlosing the lugger, and I made a hard fight for it, but your news--mydear boy--my dear Mr Gurr, this is splendid! What a despatch I canwrite!"

"It will be the breaking up of the gang, will it not, sir?" asked Archy. 

"Yes, my dear boy; and an end to this wretched work. They must promoteme now, and draft you, too, into a good ship. If we can be together, Mr Raystoke, I shall be delighted. "

That same night, as he was thinking about Ram Shackle, Archy went up tothe lieutenant, who was walking up and down rubbing his hands. 

"Beg pardon, sir, but may I ask a favour?"

"A dozen if you like, Raystoke, and I'll grant them if I can. Want arun ashore?"

"No, sir. I want you to be easy with that boy. He was very kind to mewhen I was a prisoner. "

"Hum! Hah! Well, I don't know what to say to that. Here, my man, fetch that boy on deck. "

Ram came up, whistling softly, and looking sharply from one to theother. 

"Now, sir, take off your cap, " said the lieutenant sternly. 

Ram did not look a bit afraid, but he doffed his red cap. 

"I suppose you know, sir, that you'll be sent to gaol?"

"Yes. --I knew you wouldn't hang me. "

"And pray what have you to say for yourself?"

"Nothing that I knows on, " said Ram. "Yes, I have. I say father'sgone, and I dessay he won't come back for ever so long, and I don't wantto go among the Dutchmen. May I stop here 'long of him? There won't beno more smuggling to do. "

"You mean you want to volunteer for His Majesty's service?"

"Yes, that's it, " said Ram cheerfully. "May I?"

"Yes, " said Lieutenant Brough shortly. "There; you can go below. "

Ram waved his red cap, tossed it in the air, and turned to Archy. 

"I say, orficer, " he said, "I know where your little sword is. You sendone of your chaps to-morrow to mother, and tell her I'm aboard and goingto be a sailor, and she's to give him your little sword as father put inthe top drawer. "

Archy's eyes sparkled, for the loss of his dirk was a bitter memory. 

"Humph!" said the lieutenant, as Ram went below; "not a bad sort of boy. Well, Mr Raystoke, will that do?"

Archy shook the hand held out, and went aft to gaze at the cliff, feeling that somehow he liked Ram Shackle. 

Then he turned, rather despondent, for he knew that the next day therewould be an expedition ashore, when visits would be paid to the farm andto the Hoze, and he felt uncomfortable about the Graemes. 

CHAPTER FORTY. 

"Hullo, young fellow!"

"Hullo, orficer!"

"You must not speak like that, " said Archy, as he encountered Ram ondeck next morning, whistling softly as he neatly coiled down a rope. "And you must touch your cap. "

"That way?" said Ram. 

"Yes; that will do, but you must say `Sir, ' or `Ay, ay sir. '"

"Ay, ay, sir. "

"Well, you seem to be settling down very soon. "

"Oh, yes, I'm all right. What's the good of making a fuss. Goingashore?"

"Yes. Do you want to go?"

Ram shook his head. 

"No; I should only see some of our chaps, and it would look as if I'dbeen splitting on them; and I didn't, did I?"

"No; you behaved very bravely and well, Ram. "

"Mean it--_sir_?"

"Yes, I do, indeed. "

"Thank ye--sir, " said Ram. "No, don't let the skipper send me ashore;and--I say--"

"Yes?"

"Tell mother I'm all right, and that I shan't have to go to prison, andthat I'll get some one to tell her how I'm getting on now and then. She's a good one is mother, that she is. "

"I'll tell her you have given up all smuggling, and that you are goingto be a good sailor now. "

"Yes, do, please--sir. She hates the smuggling, and used to beg fathernot, but he would do it. And I say, are you going up to the Hoze?"

"Yes; we shall search the farm and the Hoze too. "

"Won't find nothing at the farm. Father never had nothing there, noteven a keg. And you won't find nothing at the Hoze. "

"Not in the cellar?"

"No, " said Ram frankly. 

"How long has that Sir Risdon Graeme been a smuggler?"

"Him? Never was one, poor old chap, only father good as made him lendus his cellar, because it was nice and handy, and nobody would think ofgoing and searching there. Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Ram, showing his whiteteeth; "you people went up there one day and touched your hats to SirRisdon, and were afraid to go close up to the house, when all the timethe cellar was choke full. "

"I remember, " said the midshipman; "and I found it out. But look here, Ram, how could your father make Sir Risdon, who is a gentleman, lend himthe cellar?"

"'Cause father and mother used to pretty well keep 'em. I had to bealways going without father knowing, and taking 'em bread and butter andbacon and eggs. They just are poor. Mother used to send me, and sheoften used to tell me that they was 'most starved to death. "

"Then Sir Risdon didn't get anything by the smuggling?"

"Him!" cried Ram. "Why, father sent me up one day with a keg of brandyfor him, and a piece of silk for her ladyship; I did get hot that daycarrying of 'em up the hill. It was last summer. "

"Yes; and what did Sir Risdon say?"

"Say? He 'most shied 'em at me, and I had to carry 'em back. My! Thatwas a hot day and no mistake. "

Somehow Archy felt relieved about the Graemes, and, after a littleconsideration, he went and reported all he had heard to the lieutenant, who nodded his head, looked severe, and ordered the two boats to bemanned. 

The midshipman took the order on deck, and Ram stared. 

"I say, " he said, "what's the good of going now? You'll have to row allthe way to the cove and walk all the way along by the cliffs. If youwait till the tide's right out, you can get in through Grabley's hole. "

Archy reported this, and in due time Gurr was left in charge of thecutter, the lieutenant went off in one boat, and the other was inArchy's charge. 

It all seemed very matter of fact now, as they rowed in through theopening, left the boats in the little pool, climbed the zigzag; and ahalt was called, during which the little lieutenant wiped his streamingface, and recovered his breath. 

Then the party marched for the farm, where, red-eyed, and her floridface mottled and troubled-looking, Mrs Shackle met them. 

"Well, woman, " said the lieutenant severely; "I have to search thisplace. "

"If you please, sir, " said the woman humbly. 

"One moment. Answer me honestly. Is there any contraband articlestored about the farm?"

"No, sir, and never was. "

"Humph! That's what your son said. "

"My son? Oh, pray, pray tell me, gentlemen, is he safe? I heard thathe was burned to death. "

"Your son is quite well, aboard my ship. "

"Thank God! Oh, thank God!" cried the poor woman, sinking upon herknees to cover her face with her hands, sobbing violently, and rockingherself to and fro. 

"There!" she cried, jumping up quickly, and wiping her eyes; "I've nocause to fret now. "

"He has volunteered for the navy, " continued the lieutenant; "and if heis a good lad, we shall make a man of him. "

"Then you will, sir; for a better boy never stepped. "

"For a smuggler, eh?" said the lieutenant drily. 

"Well, sir, he was my husband's boy, and he did what his father toldhim. "

"And your husband?"

"The men came and told me, sir, that he escaped in the lugger. "

"And the men--where are they?"

"They got away yesterday, sir, those who were left. They felt that theymust leave these parts for good. "

"Yes, for _good_!" said the lieutenant emphatically. "Now, MrRaystoke, have you anything to say?"

"Only to deliver my message. Mrs Shackle, Ram told me to tell you hewas all right. "

"Thank Heaven!" said the woman, wiping away a tear; "and you won'tpunish him, sir, and you'll keep him away from the smuggling?"

"Never fear, " cried the lieutenant, laughing. 

"You were to give me my dirk, Mrs Shackle. "

"Oh, _yes_, sir!" cried the woman, crossing to an old bureau, and takingout the little weapon. "And I suppose, sir, all the old home will betaken and destroyed?"

"Oh, I don't know. We shall see. But, look here, my good woman; do youwant to sail right or wrong now?"

"Oh, right, sir, please. "

"Then tell me honestly where there are any more goods stored?"

"Everything left, sir, was put in the old quarry. "

"Nothing up at that house on the hill?"

"No, sir, I think not. It's all over now, and my husband has gone, so Imay as well speak out. "

"Of course. It will be best for you--and for your son. "

"They only stored cargoes up at Sir Risdon's because it was handy, sir, and then took them on afterwards to the big store in the old quarry thatwas burned last night. But pray tell me, sir, was any one hurt?"

"No, but we have no thanks to give your people. Now, Mr Raystoke. "

He marched out, and Archy was following, but Mrs Shackle arrested him. 

"God bless you, my dear!" she whispered. "I knew about you being there, but we couldn't help it, and Ram used to tell me all about it, and howhe liked you; and we sent you everything we could to make youcomfortable. Be kind now to my son. "

"If Ram turns out a good lad, Mrs Shackle, he shall never want a--"

Archy was going to say friend, but he could not, for Mrs Shackle hadthrown her arms about his neck in a big, motherly hug, from which theyoung officer escaped red-faced and vexed. 

"I wish she hadn't kissed me, " he said to himself, after making surethat no one had seen. "And she has made my face all wet with hercrying. "

They were on the march now to the Hoze, with the lieutenant in thehighest of glee, and chatting merrily to Archy as a brother officer anda friend. 

"If I could only have got the lugger too, Raystoke, " he cried, "it wouldhave been glorious! But I couldn't do impossibilities, could I?"

"I am sure you did wonders, Mr Brough, " said Archy. 

"Well, never mind what I did, sir. You and Gurr acted so that I'm proudof you both, and of the lads. Completely burned out the wasps' nest, eh? It--will be a glorious despatch, Raystoke. By the way, we must gostraight down there and see if the place is cool enough to search. There may be a little of the wasps' comb left, eh?"

"I'm afraid the whole of the stores would be destroyed. "

"Ah, well, we shall see, and--Who are these?"

"Sir Risdon and Lady Graeme and their daughter, " whispered Archy, whocoloured as he saw Celia looking at him defiantly. 

They were outside the house, and Lieutenant Brough halted his men, marched forward with the midshipman, and raised his hat, his salutebeing formally returned. 

"I regret to have to come in this unceremonious way, sir, " said thelieutenant. 

"Excuse me, " interrupted the baronet. "I expected you, sir, and, whilecongratulating you and your men upon their success, I wish to humbly ownthat my place has unwillingly on my part, been made one of the storesfor their nefarious transactions. "

The lieutenant moved away with Sir Risdon, leaving Archy alone withCelia and her mother. 

"Oh, " cried the girl, taking a step nearer to the midshipman, "how Ihate you!"

"Miss Graeme!"

"I thought you a nice frank boy, and that you would be our friend. "

"Celia, my child, " whispered Lady Graeme reproachfully. 

"I can't help it, mamma. I wanted to help him, but he would keep sayingthat he must tell of papa because it was his duty. "

"Yes, " said Archy bluntly; "and so it was. "

"Yes, " said Lady Graeme, "it was. "

"Oh, mamma dear, pray don't say that. And now he has come with hishateful men to take papa to prison, and--"

"Oh, yes, yes, yes, Sir Risdon, of course, I must write my despatch. But you have given me your word of honour as a gentleman that you neverengaged in these contraband practices. "

These words reached the little group, and also Sir Risdon's reply:

"I swear it, sir; and it was only--"

"Yes, yes. Never mind that. Word of honour's enough between gentlemen. Oh, no, I shall not search, sir. I am satisfied. "

"Oh!" ejaculated Celia. 

"Hah!" ejaculated Archy in a sigh of relief. 

"Now, Mr Raystoke, midshipman, " said the lieutenant merrily. "My chiefofficer, ladies! Come, we have a great deal to do. Good morning. Ifyou will pay us a visit on the cutter, we shall be only too proud to seeyou. "

A friendly salute was interchanged, and Archy emphasised his by holdingout his hand to Celia. 

"Good-bye, " he said. "Don't hate me, please. I only did my duty. "

"I don't hate you, " she replied, giving him her hand. Only a boy andgirl; but Archy looked back several times, as they marched downward tothe cliff, and then up its steep, grassy slope, to see at a turn a whitehandkerchief being waved to him. 

"Why--hullo, Mr Raystoke!" cried the lieutenant merrily. "Oh, I see. Well, wait till you become a post-captain, and I hope I shall be anadmiral by then, and that you will ask me to honour the wedding. "

"Hush, pray, sir!" said Archy. "Some of the men will hear. "

But the men did not hear, for they were quietly trudging along over theshort grass, chewing their quids, and discussing the fire in the cave;those who had escaped relating again to those who were on the cuttertheir terrible experiences before the powder caught. 

In due time they reached the entrance to the quarry, and found thateverything was as they had anticipated, the smugglers having piled quitea ton of stones over the trap-door. These were removed at length, andthe door was thrown open, when a peculiar dim bluish mist slowly rose, and disappeared in the broad sunshine. 

"Keep back, my lads, " said the lieutenant. "The powder smells badly, and it would be very risky to go down now. "

"Fire seems to be out, " said Archy, as he held his hand in the bluishsmoke, which was dank and cold. 

"Not much to burn, " said the lieutenant; and, giving the word, the menbivouacked on the short turf to eat the provender they had brought, quite alone, for not a soul from the cottages between the farm and thecave appeared. 

So strong a current of air set through the old quarry, that by the timethey had ended the air was good; but now another difficulty arose. There were no lights, and a couple of men had to be despatched to thefarm, from whence they returned with four lanthorns which had often beenused for signals. 

Armed with these, the party descended, and explored the place, to findthat, where the powder had exploded, the walls were blackened andgrisly, and that scores of little barrel staves were lying aboutshattered in all directions and pretty well burned away. On the otherhand, the staves of the brandy kegs were for the most part hardlyscorched, and the stone floor showed no traces of fire having passed. 

The spirits had burned vividly till the explosion took place, when theforce of the powder seemed to have scattered everything, but it had beensaving as well as destructive, separating the brandy kegs, some of whichburst and added fuel to the flames, but many remained untouched. 

In fact, to the great delight of all, it was found that, though a greatdeal of destruction had been done, there was an ample supply of thesmugglers' stores left to well load the cutter twice; and, jubilant withthe discovery, the men returned on board, dreaming of prize-money, butnot until a strong guard had been left over the place, in case any ofthe wasps should return. 

But they did not come back. The nest had been burned out, and thesmuggling in that part of the Freestone Shore had received so heavy ablow, that only one or two of the men cared to return, and then only fora temporary stay. 

Lieutenant Brough's despatch had of course been sent in, and he obtainedpraise and prize-money. 

"But no promotion, Mr Raystoke, " he cried; "and of course you can havenone until you have passed. They have not even appointed you to anothership. "

"Well, if you are going to stay in the _White Hawk_, sir, I don't knowthat I want to change. I'm very comfortable here. "

"That's very good of you, Raystoke, very good, " said the lieutenant. "And then it's of no use to complain. I shall never get my promotion. I'm too little and too fat. "

"No, that's not it, " said Archy boldly; "they think you do the work sowell that they will not remove you from the station. "

"No, " said the lieutenant sadly; "it's because I am so stout. I shallnever be lifted now. "

Mr Brough was wrong, for two years later he was appointed to a frigate, and his first efforts were directed to getting Archy Raystoke and Ramberths in the same ship, where a long and successful career awaitedthem. 

But with that we have at present nought to do. This is the chronicle ofthe expedition of the _White Hawk_ to crush the smuggling on theFreestone Shore, the most famous place for the doings of those who setthe King's laws at defiance. 

It was some ten years later, when one of His Majesty King George'ssmartest frigates was homeward bound from the East Indies, where hercaptain had distinguished himself by many a gallant act, that, as shewas making for Portsmouth, with the tall white cliffs of the Isle justin sight, a tall handsome young officer went to the side, where asun-browned seaman was standing gazing shoreward, shading his eyes withhis hand. 

"Why, Ram, " said the officer; "looking out for the scene of some of yourold villainies?"

"No, sir, " said the man, touching his cap. "I was wondering whether myold mother was down on the cliff yonder, looking after the cows. "

"The cows!" cried the young lieutenant. "Ah, to be sure. Remember thecow falling off the cliff, Ram?"

"Ay, sir, that I do. But look yonder, sir. You could make out theshelf on the big cliff if you had your glass. Remember our tusslethere?"

"To be sure I do, " said Lieutenant Raystoke, sheltering his eyes in avery deceptive fashion, for he was trying to make out the old grove oftrees amidst which stood the Hoze. 

"Mr Raystoke!"

"Captain calling you, sir, " said a rugged-looking sailor, with a veryswarthy face, that looked as if it would be all the better for a wash, but only seemed. 

"All right, Dick, my man, " said the young officer; and he hurried towhere a plump, rosy little man stood in full post-captain's uniform. 

"Ah, there you are, Mr Raystoke, " said the captain, handing thelieutenant his glass. "I've been sweeping the shore, and it broughtback old days. Look there; you can easily make out the range of cliffs. That highest one is where you and Mr Gurr were at the burning out ofthe smugglers ten years ago. How time slips by!"

"Yes, sir, " said Lieutenant Archy Raystoke, returning the glass; "that'swhere the wasps' nest was destroyed. "

Then to himself, --

"I wonder whether Celia will be glad to see me. "

She was: very glad indeed.