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diff --git a/23386.txt b/23386.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a9f23c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/23386.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11304 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of In the King's Name, by George Manville Fenn + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: In the King's Name + The Cruise of the "Kestrel" + +Author: George Manville Fenn + +Release Date: November 6, 2007 [EBook #23386] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE KING'S NAME *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +In the King's Name; or, The Cruise of the Kestrel, by George Manville +Fenn. + +________________________________________________________________________ +This is quite a long book, and one of G.M. Fenn's very best, for his +hero gets into all sorts of tight corners, from which there appears no +possible escape, just in the manner of most of Fenn's books, for he is +the very master of suspense. + +It starts off with a coastguard vessel, the "Kestrel", on patrol +looking for smugglers, Jacobites, or anything else that appears +suspicious. + +Most of the action, however, takes place on the land, though sometimes +in smugglers' caves near the shore. + +It makes a brilliant audiobook for your enjoyment. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +IN THE KING'S NAME; OR, THE CRUISE OF THE KESTREL, BY GEORGE MANVILLE +FENN. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +ON BOARD THE "KESTREL." + +Morning on board the _Kestrel_, his Britannic majesty's cutter, lying on +and off the south coast on the lookout for larks, or what were to her +the dainty little birds that the little falcon, her namesake, would pick +up. For the _Kestrel's_ wings were widespread to the soft +south-easterly breeze that barely rippled the water; and mainsail, gaff +topsail, staysail, and jib were so new and white that they seemed to +shine like silver in the sun. + +The larks the hover-winged _Kestrel_ was on the watch to pick up were +smuggling boats of any sort or size, or Jacobite messages, or exiles, or +fugitives--anything, in fact, that was not in accordance with the laws +of his most gracious majesty King George the Second, whose troops had +not long before dealt that fatal blow to the young Pretender's hopes at +the battle of Culloden. + +The sea was as bright and blue as the sea can look in the Channel when +the bright sun is shining, and the arch above reflects itself in its +bosom. The gulls floated half asleep on the water, with one eye open +and the other closed; and the pale-grey kittiwakes seemed to glide about +on the wing, to dip down here and there and cleverly snatch a tiny fish +from the surface of the softly heaving sea. + +On the deck of the little cutter all was in that well-known apple-pie +order customary on board a man-of-war, for so Lieutenant Lipscombe in +command always took care to call it, and in this he was diligently +echoed by the young gentleman who acted as his first officer, and, truth +to say, second and third officer as well, for he was the only one--to +wit, Hilary Leigh, midshipman, lately drafted to this duty, to his great +disgust, from on board the dashing frigate _Golden Fleece_. + +"Man-o'-war!" he had said in disgust; "a contemptible little cock-boat. +They ought to have called her a boy-o'-war--a little boy-o'-war. I +shall walk overboard the first time I try to stretch my legs." + +But somehow he had soon settled down on board the swift little craft +with its very modest crew, and felt no small pride in the importance of +his position, feeling quite a first lieutenant in his way, and for the +greater part of the time almost entirely commanding the vessel. + +She was just about the cut of a goodsized modern yacht, and though not +so swift, a splendid sailer, carrying immense spars for her tonnage, and +spreading canvas enough to have swamped a less deeply built craft. + +The decks were as white as holystone could make them, the sails and the +bell shone in the morning sun like gold, and there was not a speck to be +seen on the cabin skylight any more than upon either of the three brass +guns, a long and two shorts, as Billy Waters, who was gunner and +gunner's mate all in one, used to call them. + +Upon this bright summer morning Hilary Leigh was sitting, with his legs +dangling over the side and his back against a stay, holding a fishing +line, which, with a tiny silvery slip off the tail-end of a mackerel, +was trailing behind the cutter, fathoms away, waving and playing about +in the vessel's wake, to tempt some ripple-sided mackerel to dart at it, +do a little bit of cannibalism, and die in the act. + +Two had already been hauled on board, and lay in a wooden bucket, +looking as if they had been carved out of pieces of solid sea at +sunrise, so brilliant were the ripple marks and tints of pink and purple +and grey and orange and gold--bright enough to make the gayest +mother-o'-pearl shell blush for shame. Hilary Leigh had set his mind +upon catching four--two for himself and two for the skipper--and he had +congratulated himself upon the fact that he had already caught his two, +when there was a sharp snatch, the line began to quiver, and for the +next minute it was as though the hook was fast in the barbs of a silver +arrow that was darting in all directions through the sea. + +"Here's another, Billy!" cried the young man, or boy--for he was on the +debatable ground of eighteen, when one may be either boy or man, +according to one's acts, deeds, or exploits, as it used to say in +Carpenter's Spelling. + +Hilary Leigh, from his appearance, partook more of the man than the boy, +for, though his face was as smooth as a new-laid egg, he had well-cut, +decisive-looking Saxon features, and one of those capital +closely-fitting heads of hair that look as if they never needed cutting, +but settle round ears and forehead in not too tight clustering curls. + +"Here's another, Billy," he cried; and a stoutly built sailor amidships +cried, "Cheer ho, sir! Haul away, sir! Will it be a mess o' mick-a-ral +for the lads to-day?" + +"Don't know, Billy," was the reply, as the beautiful fish was hauled in, +unhooked, a fresh lask or tongue of silvery bait put on, and the leaded +line thrown over and allowed to run out fathoms astern once again. + +Billy Waters, the gunner, went on with his task, rather a peculiar one, +which would have been performed below in a larger vessel, but here the +men pretty well lived on deck, caring little for the close stuffy +quarters that formed the forecastle, where they had, being considered +inferior beings, considerably less space than was apportioned to their +two officers. + +Billy's work was that of carefully binding or lashing round and round +the great mass of hair hanging from the poll of a messmate, so as to +form it into the orthodox pigtail of which the sailors of the day were +excessively vain. The tail in question was the finest in the cutter, +and was exactly two feet six inches long, hanging down between the +sailor's shoulders, when duly lashed up and tied, like a long handle +used for lifting off the top of his skull. + +But, alas for the vanity of human nature! Tom Tully, owner of the +longest tail in the cutter, and the envy of all his messmates, was not +happy. He was ambitious; and where a man is ambitious there is but +little true bliss. He wanted "that 'ere tail" to be half a fathom long, +and though it was duly measured every week "that 'ere tail" refused to +grow another inch. + +Billy Waters had a fine tail, but his was only, to use his own words, +"two foot one," but it was "half as thick agen as Tom Tully's," so he +did not mind. In fact the first glance at the gunner's round +good-humoured face told that there was neither envy nor ambition there. +Give him enough to eat, his daily portion of cold water grog, and his +'bacco, and, again to use his own words, he "wouldn't change berths with +the king hissen." + +"Easy there, Billy messmet," growled Tom Tully; "avast hauling quite so +hard. My tail ain't the cable." + +"Why, you don't call that 'ere hauling, Tommy lad, do you?" + +"'Nuff to take a fellow's head off," growled the other, just as the +midshipman pulled in another mackerel, and directly after another, and +another, for they were sailing through a shoal, and the man at the helm +let his stolid face break up into a broad grin as the chance of a mess +of mackerel for the men's dinner began to increase. + + "Singing down deny, down deny, down deny down, + Sing--" + +"Easy, messmet, d'yer hear," growled Tom Tully, straining his head round +to look appealingly at the operator on his tail. "Why don't yer leave +off singing till you've done?" + +"Just you lay that there nose o' your'n straight amidships," cried +Billy, using the tail as if it was a tiller, and steering the sailor's +head into the proper position. "I can't work without I sing." + + "For this I can tell, that nought will be well, + Till the king enjoys his own again." + +He trolled out these words in a pleasant tenor voice, and was just +drawing in breath to continue the rattling cavalier ballad when the +young officer swung his right leg in board, and, sitting astride the low +bulwark, exclaimed-- + +"I say, Billy, are you mad?" + +"Mad, sir? not that I knows on, why?" + +"For singing a disloyal song like that. You'll be yard-armed, young +fellow, if you don't mind." + +"What, for singing about the king?" + +"Yes; if you get singing about a king over the water, my lad. That's an +old song; but some people would think you meant the Pretend--Hallo! look +there. You look out there forward, why didn't you hail? Hi! here fetch +me a glass. Catch hold of that line, Billy. She's running for +Shoreham, as sure as a gun. No: all right; let go." + +He threw the line to the gunner just as a mackerel made a snatch at the +bait, and before the sailor could catch it, away went the end astern, +when the man at the helm made a dash at it just as the slight cord was +running over the side. + +Billy Waters made a dash at it just at the same moment, and there was a +dull thud as the two men's heads came in contact, and they fell back +into a sitting position on the deck, while the mackerel darted +frightened away to puzzle the whole shoal of its fellows with the novel +appendage hanging to its snout. + +"Avast there, you lubber!" exclaimed Billy Waters angrily. "Stand by, +my lad, stand by," replied the other, making a dart back at the helm +just as the cutter was beginning to fall off. + +"Look ye here, messmet, air you agoin' to make my head shipshape, or air +you not?" growled Tom Tully; and then, before his hairdresser could +finish tying the last knot, the lieutenant came on deck. + +For when Hilary Leigh ran below, it was to seize a long spyglass out of +the slings in the cabin bulkhead, and to give his commanding officer a +tremendous shake. + +"Sail on the larboard bow, Mr Lipscombe, sir. I say, do wake up, sir; +I think it is something this time." + +The officer in question, who was a hollow-cheeked man of about forty, +very sallow-looking, and far from prepossessing in his features, opened +his eye, but he did not attempt to rise from the bunker upon which he +was stretched. + +"Leigh," he said, turning his eye round towards the little oval thick +glass window nearest to him, "You're a most painstaking young officer, +but you are always mare's-nesting. What is it now?" + +"One of those three-masted luggers, sir--a Frenchman--a _chasse maree_, +laden deeply, and running for Shoreham." + +"Let her run," said the lieutenant, closing his eye again; the other was +permanently closed, having been poked out in boarding a Frenchman some +years before, and with the extinction of that optic went the prospect of +the lieutenant's being made a post-captain, and he was put in command of +the _Kestrel_ when he grew well. + +"But it _is_ something this time, sir, I'm sure." + +"Leigh," said the lieutenant, yawning, "I was just in a delicious dream, +and thoroughly enjoying myself when you come down and bother me about +some confounded fishing-boat. There, be off. No: I'll come this time." + +He yawned, and showed a set of very yellow teeth; and then, as if by an +effort, leaped up and preceded the young officer on deck. + +"Let's have a look at her, Leigh," he said, after a glance at a long, +low, red-sailed lugger, about a couple of miles ahead, sailing fast in +the light breeze. + +He took the spyglass, and, going forward, looked long and steadily at +the lugger before saying a word. + +"Well, sir?" + +"French lugger, certainly, Leigh," he said, quietly; "fresh from the +fishing-ground I should say. They wouldn't attempt to run a cargo now." + +"But you'll overhaul her, sir, won't you?" + +"It's not worth while, Leigh, but as you have roused me up, it will be +something to do. Here, call the lads up. Where's Waters? Waters!" + +"Ay, ay, sir," replied that worthy in a voice of thunder, though he was +close at hand. + +"Load the long gun, and be ready to fire." + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +There was no beating to quarters, for the little crew were on deck, and +every man fell naturally into his place as the lieutenant seemed now to +wake up to his work, and glanced at the sails, which were all set, and +giving his orders sharply and well, a pull was taken at a sheet here and +a pull there, the helm altered, and in spite of the lightness of the +breeze the _Kestrel_ began to work along with an increase of speed of +quite two knots an hour. + +"Now then, Leigh, shall we ever have her, or shall we have to throw a +shot across her bows to bring her to?" + +"Let them have a shot, sir," cried the young officer, whose cheeks were +beginning to flush with excitement, as he watched the quarry of which +the little falcon was in chase. + +"And waste the king's powder and ball, eh? No, Leigh, there will be no +need. But we may as well put on our swords." + +Meanwhile, Billy Waters was busy unlashing the tail of Long Tom, as he +called the iron gun forward, and with a pat of affection he opened the +ammunition chest, and got out the flannel bag of powder and smiled at a +messmate, rammer in hand. + +"Let's give him his breakfast, or else he won't bark," he said, with a +grin; and the charge was rammed home, the ball sent after it with a big +wad to keep it in its place, and the men waited eagerly for the order to +fire. + +Billy Waters knew that that would not come for some time, so he sidled +up to Hilary, and whispered as the young man was buckling on his sword, +the lieutenant having gone below to exchange a shabby cap for his cocked +hat, "Let me have your sword a minute, sir, and I'll make it like a +razor." + +Hilary hesitated for a moment, and then drew it, and held it out to the +gunner, who went below, and by the time the young officer had had a good +inspection of the lugger, Billy came back with his left thumb trying the +edge of the sword. + +"I wouldn't be too hard on 'em, sir," he said, with mock respect. + +"What do you mean, Billy?" + +"Don't take off too many Frenchies' heads, sir; not as they'd know it, +with a blade like that." + +"Are we gaining on her, Leigh?" said the lieutenant. + +"Just a little, sir, I think; but she creeps through the water at an +awful rate." + +The lieutenant looked up at the white sails, but nothing more could be +done, for the _Kestrel_ was flying her best; and the water bubbled and +sparkled as she cut her way through, leaving an ever-widening train +behind. + +There was no chance of more wind, and nothing could be done but to hold +steadily on, for, at the end of half an hour, it was plain enough that +the distance had been slightly reduced. + +"However do they manage to make those luggers sail so fast?" exclaimed +the lieutenant impatiently. "Leigh, if this turns out to be another of +your mares' nests, you'll be in disgrace." + +"Very well, sir," said the young man quietly. + +And then to himself: "Better make some mistake than let the real thing +slip by." + +The arms were not served out, for that would be but a minute's task; but +an arm chest was opened ready, and the men stood at their various +stations, but in a far more lax and careless way than would have been +observed on board a larger vessel, which in its turn would have been in +point of discipline far behind a vessel of the present day. + +The gulls and kittiwakes rose and fell, uttering their peevish wails; a +large shoal of fish fretting the radiant surface of the sea was passed +and about a dozen porpoises went right across the cutter's bow, rising +and diving down one after the other like so many black water-boys, +playing at "Follow my leader;" but the eyes of all on board the +_Kestrel_ were fixed upon the dingy looking _chasse maree_, which +apparently still kept on trying hard to escape by its speed. + +And now the time, according to Billy Waters' judgment, having come for +sending a shot, he stood ready, linstock in hand, watching the +lieutenant, whose one eye was gazing intently through the long +leather-covered glass. + +"Fire!" he said at last. "Well ahead!" + +The muzzle of the piece was trained a little more to the right, the +linstock was applied, there was a puff of white smoke, a heavy deafening +roar; and as Hilary Leigh gazed in the direction of the lugger, he saw +the sea splashed a few hundred yards ahead, and then dip, dip, dip, dip, +the water was thrown up at intervals as the shot ricochetted, making +ducks and drakes right across the bows of the lugger. + +"Curse his impudence!" cried the lieutenant, as the men busily sponged +out and began to reload Long Tom; for the lugger paid not the slightest +heed to the summons, but sailed away. + +"Give her another--closer this time," cried the lieutenant; and once +more the gun uttered its deep-mouthed roar, and the shot went skipping +along the smooth surface of the sea, this time splashing the water a few +yards only ahead of the lugger. + +"I think that will bring him to his senses," cried the lieutenant, using +his glass. + +If the lowering of first one and then another sail meant bringing the +lugger to its senses, the lieutenant was right, for first one ruddy +brown spread of canvas sank with its spar into the lugger, and then +another and another, the long low vessel lying passive upon the water, +and in due time the cutter was steered close up, her sails flapped, and +her boat which had been held ready was lowered, and Leigh with three men +jumped in. + +"Here, let me go too," exclaimed the lieutenant; "you don't half +understand these fellows' French." + +Hilary flushed, for he fancied he was a bit of a French scholar, but he +said nothing; and the lieutenant jumped into the boat. A few strokes +took them to the dingy lugger, at whose side were gathered about a dozen +dirty-looking men and boys, for the most part in scarlet worsted caps, +blue jerseys, and stiff canvas petticoats, sewn between the legs, to +make believe they were trousers. + +"Va t'en chien de Francais. Pourquoi de diable n'arretez vous pas?" +shouted the lieutenant to a yellow-looking man with whiskerless face, +and thin gold rings in his ears. + +"Hey?" + +"I say pourquoi n'arretez vous pas?" roared the lieutenant fiercely. + +"I ar'nt a Dutchman. I don't understand. Nichts verstand," shouted the +man through his hollow hands, as if he were hailing some one a mile +away. + +"You scoundrel, why didn't you say you could speak English?" + +"You never arkst me," growled the man. + +"Silence, sir. How dare you address an officer of a king's ship like +that!" + +"Then what do you go shooting at me for? King George don't tell you to +go firin' guns at peaceable fisher folk, as me." + +"Silence, sir, or I'll put you in irons, and take you on board the +cutter. Why didn't you obey my signals to heave-to?" + +"Signals! I never see no signals." + +"How dare you, sir! you know I fired." + +"Oh, them! We thought you was practisin', and hauled down till you'd +done, for the balls was flying very near." + +"Where are you from?" + +"From? Nowheres. We been out all night fishing." + +"What's your port?" + +"Shoreham." + +"And what have you on board? Who are those people?" + +Those two people had been seen on the instant by Hilary Leigh, as they +sat below the half-deck of the lugger, shrinking from observation in the +semi-darkness. He had noticed that, though wearing rough canvas +covering similar to those affected by a crew in stormy weather, they +were of a different class; and as the lieutenant was in converse with +the skipper of the lugger, he climbed over the lowered sail between, and +saw that one of the two whom the other tried to screen was quite a young +girl. + +It was but a momentary glance, for she hastily drew a hood over her +face, as she saw that she was noticed. + +"Jacobites for a crown!" said Hilary to himself, as he saw a pair of +fierce dark eyes fixed upon him. + +"Who are you?" he exclaimed. + +"Hush, for heaven's sake!" was the answer whispered back; "don't you +know me, Leigh? A word from you and they will shoot me like a dog." + +At the same moment there was a faint cry, and Hilary saw that the young +girl had sunk back, fainting. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +A STRICT SEARCH. + +"Sir Henry!" ejaculated Hilary Leigh; and for the moment his heart +seemed to stand still, for his duties as a king's officer had brought +him face to face with a dear old friend, at whose house he had passed +some of his happiest days, and he knew that the disguised figure the +Jacobite gentleman sought to hide was his only daughter, Adela, Hilary's +old playmate and friend, but so grown and changed that he hardly +recognised her in the momentary glance he had of her fair young face. + +"Hush! silence! Are you mad?" was the reply, in tones that set the +young man's heart beating furiously, for he knew that Sir Henry Norland +was proscribed for the part he had take in the attempt of the Young +Pretender, and Leigh had thought that he was in France. + +"Who are they, Mr Leigh?" said the lieutenants striding over the lumber +in the bottom of the boat. + +"Seems to be an English gentleman, sir," said Leigh, in answer to an +agonised appeal from Sir Henry's eyes. + +"I am an English gentleman, sir, and this is my daughter. She is very +ill." + +"Of course she is," cried the lieutenant testily. "Women are sure to be +sick if you bring them to sea. But look here, my good fellow, English +gentleman or no English gentleman, you can't deceive me. Now then, what +have you got on board?" + +"Fish, I believe," said Sir Henry. + +"Yes, of course," sneered the lieutenant; "and brandy, and silk, and +velvet, and lace. Now then, skipper, you are caught this time. But +look here, you scoundrel, what do you mean by pretending to be a +Frenchman?" + +"Frenchman? Frenchman?" said the skipper with a look of extreme +stupidity. "You said I was a Dutchman." + +"You lie, you scoundrel. Here, come forward and move that sail and +those nets. Now no nonsense; set your fellows to work." + +He clapped his hand sharply on the skipper's shoulder, and turned him +round, following him forward. + +"Take a man, Mr Leigh, and search that dog-hole." + +Hilary Leigh was astounded, for knowing what he did he expected that the +lieutenant would have instantly divined what seemed patent to him--that +Sir Henry Norland was trying, for some reason or another, to get back to +England, and that although the lugger was commanded by an Englishman, +she was undoubtedly a French _chasse maree_ from Saint Malo. + +But the lieutenant had got it into his head that he had overhauled a +smuggling vessel laden with what would turn into prize-money for himself +and men, and the thought that she might be bound on a political errand +did not cross his mind. + +"I'll search fully," said Leigh; and bidding the sailor with the long +pigtail stay where he was, the young officer bent down and crept in +under the half-deck just as the fainting girl recovered. + +As she caught sight of Hilary she made a snatch at his hand, and in a +choking voice exclaimed: + +"Oh, Hilary! don't you know me again? Pray, pray save my poor father. +Oh, you will not give him up?" + +The young man's heart seemed to stand still as the dilemma in which he +was placed forced itself upon him. He was in his majesty's service, and +in the king's name he ought to have called upon this gentleman, a +well-known Jacobite, to surrender, and tell the lieutenant who he was. + +On the other hand, if he did this unpleasant duty he would be betraying +a dear old companion of his father, a man who had watched his own career +with interest and helped him through many a little trouble; and, above +all, he would be, as the thought flashed upon him, sending Adela's +father--his own old companion's father--to the scaffold. + +These thoughts flashed through his mind, and with them recollections of +those delightful schoolboy days that he had passed at the Old Manor +House, Sir Henry's pleasant home, in Sussex, when boy and girl he and +Adela had roamed the woods, boated on the lake, and fished the river +hard by. + +"No," he muttered between his teeth; "I meant to be a faithful officer +to my king; but I'd sooner jump overboard than do such dirty work as +that." + +There was an angry look in the young girl's eyes; and as Hilary read her +thoughts he could not help thinking how bright and beautiful a woman she +was growing. He saw that she believed he was hesitating, and there was +something scornful in her gaze, an echo, as it were, of that of her +grey-haired, careworn father, whose eyebrows even seemed to have turned +white, though his dark eyes were fiery as ever. + +There was no doubt about it; they believed that he would betray them, +and there was something almost of loathing in Adela Norland's face as +her hood fell back, and the motion she made to place her hands in her +father's brought her head out of the shadow into the bright morning +light. + +"Thank ye, ma'am," said Hilary in a rough, brisk voice; "I was just +going to ask you to move. You'd better come in, Tom Tully, there's a +lot of things to move. P'r'aps this gentleman will stand outside." + +"Ay, ay, sir," growled Tom Tully, as Hilary darted one meaning look at +the proscribed man. + +"Look here, sir," continued Hilary, as he heard the lieutenant +approaching, "you may just as well save us the trouble by declaring what +you have hidden. We are sure to find it." + +"Got anything, Mr Leigh?" said the lieutenant briskly. + +"Nothing yet, sir. Have you?" + +"Not a tub, or a package." + +"If you imagine, sir, that this boat is laden with smuggled goods you +may save yourselves a great deal of trouble, for there is nothing +contraband on board, I feel sure." + +"Thank you," said the lieutenant politely, and with a satirical laugh; +"but you'd hardly believe it, my dear sir, when I tell you that dozens +of skippers and passengers in boats have said the very same thing to me, +and whenever that has been the case we have generally made a pretty good +haul of smuggled goods. Go on, my lads; I can't leave a corner +unsearched." + +Sir Henry gave his shoulders a slight shrug, and turned to draw his +daughter's hood over her head. + +"You'll excuse my child, gentlemen," he said coldly. "She is very weak +and ill." + +"Oh! of course," said Hilary; "we've searched here, sir; she can lie +down again." + +Adela uttered a low sigh of relief, and she longed to dart a grateful +look at the young officer, but she dared not; and knowing that in place +of looking pale and ill a warm flush of excitement was beaming in her +cheeks, she hastily drew her hand closer over her face, and let her +father place her upon a rough couch of dry nets. + +"Heaven bless him!" muttered Sir Henry to himself; "but it was a +struggle between friendship and duty, I could see." + +Meanwhile the lugger was ransacked from end to end, three more men being +called from the cutter for the purpose. Tubs were turned over, spare +sails and nets dragged about, planks lifted, bunks and lockers searched, +but nothing contraband was found, and all the while the skipper of the +lugger and his crew stood staring stupidly at the efforts of the king's +men. + +"Labour in vain, Leigh," said the lieutenant at last. "Into the boat +there. Confound that scoundrel! I wish he was overboard." + +The lieutenant did not say what for, but as soon as the men were in the +boat he turned to the skipper: + +"Look ye here, my fine fellow, you've had a narrow escape." + +"Yes," said the man stolidly, "I thought you'd have hit us." + +The lieutenant did not condescend to reply, but climbed over the side +into the cutter's boat, and motioned to Leigh to follow, which he did, +not daring to glance at the passengers. + +"Are you quite done, officer?" growled the skipper. + +No answer was given, and as the boat reached the side of the cutter the +sails of the lugger were being hoisted, and she began to move quickly +through the water at once. + +"Lay her head to the eastward," said the lieutenant sourly; "and look +here, Leigh, don't you rouse me up again for one of your mare's nests, +or it will be the--" + +"Worse for you," Hilary supposed, but he did not hear the words, for the +lieutenant was already down below, and the young officer took the glass +and stood watching the lugger rapidly growing distant as the cutter +began to feel the breeze. + +A curious turmoil of thought was harassing the young man's brain, for he +felt that he had been a traitor to the king, whose officer he was, and +it seemed to him terrible that he should have broken his faith like +this. + +But at the same time he felt that he could not have done otherwise, and +he stood watching the lugger, and then started, for yes--no--yes--there +could be no mistake about it, a white handkerchief was being held over +the side, and it was a signal of amity to him. + +Quite a couple of hours had passed, and the lugger had for some time +been out of sight round the headland astern, when all at once the +lieutenant came on deck to where his junior was pacing up and down. + +"Why, Leigh," he exclaimed, "I did not think of it then; but we ought to +have detained that _chasse maree_." + +"Indeed, sir; why?" + +"Ah! of course it would not occur to you, being so young in the service; +but depend upon it that fellow was a Jacobite, who had persuaded those +dirty-looking scoundrels to bring him across from Saint Malo, or some +other French port, and he's going to play spy and work no end of +mischief. We've done wrong, Leigh, we've done wrong." + +"Think so, sir?" + +"Yes, I'm sure of it. I was so intent on finding smuggled goods that I +didn't think of it at the time. But, there: it's too late now." + +"Yes, sir," said Leigh quietly, "it's too late now." + +For he knew that by that time the fugitives must be in Shoreham harbour. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +THE LIEUTENANT'S BARGAIN. + +Three days of cruising up and down on the lookout for suspicious craft, +some of which were boarded, but boarded in vain, for, however suspicious +they might appear at a distance, there was nothing to warrant their +being detained and taken back into port. + +Hilary used to laugh to himself at the impudence of their midge of a +cutter firing shots across large merchantmen, bringing them to, and +making them wait while the cutter sent a boat on board for their papers +to be examined. + +It gradually fell to his lot to perform this duty, though if it happened +to be a very large vessel Lieutenant Lipscombe would take upon himself +to go on board, especially if he fancied that there would be an +invitation to a well-kept cabin and a glass of wine, or perhaps a +dinner, during which Hilary would be in command, and the cutter would +sail on in the big ship's wake till the lieutenant thought proper to +come on board. + +The men sang songs and tied one another's pigtails; Hilary Leigh fished +and caught mackerel, bass, pollack, and sometimes a conger eel, and for +a bit of excitement a little of his majesty's powder was blazed away and +a cannonball sent skipping along the surface of the water, but that was +all. + +Hilary used sometimes to own to himself that it was no wonder that Mr +Lipscombe, who was a disappointed man, should spend much time in +sleeping, and out of sheer imitation he once or twice took to having a +nap himself, but twice settled that. He had too much vitality in his +composition to sleep at abnormal times. + +"Hang it all, Billy Waters," he said one day, after a week's sailing up +and down doing nothing more exciting than chasing fishing-luggers and +boarding trading brigs and schooners, "I do wish something would turn +up." + +"If something real don't turn up, sir," said the gunner, "I shall be +certain to fire across the bows of a ship, from its always being my +habit, sir, and never hit a mark when I want it." + +"Here, hi! hail that fishing-boat," he said; "I've fished till I'm +tired, and can't catch anything; perhaps we can get something of him." + +He pointed to a little boat with a tiny sail, steered by its crew of one +man by means of an oar. The boat had been hanging about for some time +after pulling off from the shore, and its owner was evidently fishing, +but with what result the crew of the cutter could not tell. + +"He don't want no hailing, sir; he's hailing of us," said Billy. + +It was plain enough that the man was manoeuvring his cockleshell about, +so as to get the cutter between it and the shore, and with pleasant +visions in his mind of a lobster, crab, or some other fish to vary the +monotony of the salt beef and pork, of which they had, in Hilary's +thinking, far too much, he leaned over the side till the man allowed his +boat to drift close up. + +"Heave us a rope," he said. "Got any fish?" + +"Yes. I want to see the captain." + +"What for?" + +"You'll see. I want the captain. Are you him?" + +"No; he's down below." + +"I want to see him. May I come aboard?" + +"If you like," said Hilary; and the man climbed over the side. + +He was a lithe, sunburnt fellow, and after looking at him for a few +moments with a vague kind of feeling that he had seen him before, Hilary +sent a message below, and Mr Lipscombe came up with his hand before his +mouth to hide a yawn. + +"Are you the captain?" said the man. + +"I command this ship, fellow. What is it?" + +"What'll you give me, captain, if I take you to a cove where they're +going to run a cargo to-night?" + +"Wait and see, my man. You take us there and you shall be rewarded." + +"No, no," said the man laughing; "that won't do, captain. I'm not going +to risk my life for a chance of what you'll give. I want a hundred +pounds." + +"Rubbish, man! Ten shillings," said Lipscombe sharply. + +"I want a hundred pounds," said the man. "That there cargo's going to +be worth two thousand pounds, and it's coming in a fast large French +schooner from Havre. I want a hundred pounds, or I don't say a word." + +A cargo worth two thousand pounds, and a smart French schooner! That +would be a prize indeed, and it made the lieutenant's mouth water; but +he still hesitated, for a hundred pounds was a good deal, perhaps more +than his share would be. But still if he did not promise it they might +miss the schooner altogether, for in spite of his vigilance he knew that +cargoes were being run; so he gave way. + +"Very well then, you shall have your hundred pounds." + +"Now, captain?" + +"Not likely. Earn your wages first." + +"And then suppose you say you won't pay me? What shall I do?" + +"I give you my word of honour as a king's officer, sir." + +The man shook his head. + +"Write it down," he said with all the low cunning of his class. The +lieutenant was about to make an angry reply, but he wanted to take that +prize, so he went below and wrote out and signed a memorandum to the +effect that if, by the informer's guidance, the French schooner was +taken, he should be paid one hundred pounds. + +Lipscombe returned on deck and handed the paper to the fisherman, who +took it and held it upside down, studying it attentively. + +"Now you read it," he said to Hilary; who took it, and read it aloud. + +"Yes," said the fellow, "that's it. Now you sign it." + +Hilary glanced at his superior, who frowned and nodded his head; and the +young man went below and added his signature. + +"That'll do," said the man smiling. "Now look here, captain, as soon as +I'm gone you sail right off out of sight if you can, and get her lying +off the point by about ten o'clock--two bells, or whatever it is. Then +you wait till a small lugger comes creeping off slowly, as if it was +going out for the night with the drift-nets. I and my mates will be +aboard that lugger, and they'll drop down alongside and put me aboard, +and I'll pilot you just to the place where you can lie in the cove out +of sight till the schooner comes in. If I come in my little boat the +boys on shore would make signals, and the schooner would keep off, but +if they see us go as usual out in our lugger they'll pay no heed. But +don't you come in a bit nigher than this. Now I'm off!" + +Lieutenant Lipscombe stood thinking for a few minutes after the man had +gone, stealing over the side of the cutter farthest from the shore, so +that when his boat drifted by it was not likely that his visit on board +would have been seen. + +Then turning to Hilary: + +"What do you think of it, Leigh?" + +"It may be a ruse to get us away." + +"Yes, it may be, but I don't think it is. 'Bout ship, there!" he +shouted; and the great boom of the mainsail slowly swung round, and they +sailed nearly out of sight of land by sundown, when the helm was once +more rammed down hard, the cutter careened round in a half circle, and +as the white wings were swelling, they made once more for the coast. + +It was about nine o'clock of a deliciously soft night, and the moist +sweet air that came off the shore was sweetly fragrant of flowers and +new-mown hay. The night was cloudy, and very dusky for the time of +year, a fact so much in their favour, and with the watch on the alert, +for the lieutenant would not call the men to quarters in case the +informer did not come, he and Hilary leaned over the side, gazing at the +scattered lights that twinkled on the shore. + +An hour and a half had passed away, and the time, which a church clock +ashore had struck, ten, seemed to have far exceeded this hour, when, as +they all watched the mist which hung between them and the invisible +shore, a light was suddenly seen to come as it were out of a bank of +fog, and glide slowly towards them, but as if to go astern. + +The cutter had a small lamp hoisted to the little masthead, and the +lieutenant knew that this would be sufficient signal of their +whereabouts, and so it proved, for the gliding light came nearer and +nearer, and soon after a voice they both recognised hailed them. + +"Cutter ahoy!" + +"Ahoy!" + +The light came on nearer and nearer, and at last they could dimly make +out the half-hoisted sails of a small fishing lugger, which was run +cleverly enough close alongside, her occupants holding on by boathooks. + +"Mind what you are doing there," cried the lieutenant sharply; "jump +aboard, my man." + +"All right, captain." + +"Go down and get my sword, Leigh," whispered the lieutenant; "and put on +your own." + +It was as if just then an idea had occurred to him that there might be +treachery, and the thought seemed to be communicated to Hilary, who ran +down below, caught up the two swords from the hooks where they hung upon +the bulkhead, and was on his way up, when the lieutenant came down upon +him with a crash, there was the rattling on of the hatch, the trampling +of feet, and a short scuffle, and as Hilary leaped over his prostrate +officer, and, sword in hand, dashed up at the hatch, it was to find it +fastened, for they had been cleverly trapped, and without doubt the +cutter was in the smuggler's hands. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +IN COMMAND. + +Hilary Leigh was only a boy, and he acted boyishly at that moment, for +in his rage and mortification he first of all struck at the hatch with +his fist, and then shouted to the people on deck. + +"Here, hi! you sirs, open this hatch directly." + +But as he shouted he knew that his order was absurd, and tucking the +lieutenant's sword under his arm he buckled on his own before leaping +down to where his leader lay. + +"Are you much hurt, sir?" he asked; but there was no answer. + +"I've got a orfle whack side o' the head, sir," growled Tom Tully. + +"So've I, sir," said another man. + +"Serve you right too, for not keeping a good lookout," cried Hilary +savagely; "here, it's disgraceful! A king's ship taken by a set of +smuggling rascals. Look alive, there, my lads. Here, you marines, be +smart. Where's Billy Waters?" + +"Here, sir," cried that worthy. + +"Serve out the arms smart, my man. Two of you carry the lieutenant into +the cabin. Steady there! He isn't dead." + +For two of the men had been seen, by the dim light of a horn lantern, to +seize their commanding officer in the most unceremonious way, to lug him +into the cabin. + +By this time the 'tween decks of the cutter was alive with dimly-seen +figures, for in a vessel of this description the space devoted in a +peaceful vessel to the storage of cargo was utilised for the convenience +of the comparatively large crew. + +"Heave those hammocks out of the way," cried Hilary next; and this being +done, he stood there with twenty well-armed men awaiting his next +orders--orders which he did not give, for the simple reason that he did +not know what to do. + +It was a ticklish position for a lad of his years, to find himself +suddenly in command of a score of fighting men, one and all excited and +ready for the fray, as, schooled by drill and discipline, they formed +themselves into a machine which he was to set in motion; but how, when, +and where? + +There was the rub, and in the midst of a dead silence Hilary listened to +the trampling of feet overhead. + +It was a curious scene--the gloomy 'tween decks of the cutter, with the +group of eager men standing about awaiting their young officer's orders, +their rough, weatherbeaten faces looking fierce in the shadowy twilight, +for the lanterns swinging fore and aft only seemed to make darkness +visible; and as the trampling went on, evidently that of men wearing +heavy fisher-boots, the steps were within a few inches of the heads of +the crew. + +"Pair o' pistols, sir," said a low, gruff voice; and Hilary started, for +the gunner had come up quite silently. "Shall I shove 'em in your belt, +sir?" + +"Yes," said Hilary sharply; and the gunner thrust the barrels of the two +heavy, clumsy weapons into the young officer's sword-belt, where they +stuck in a most inconvenient way. + +"Both loaded, sir, and cocked," said the gunner quietly. Hilary nodded, +and stood thinking. + +It was an awkward time for quiet thought, for he knew that the men were +anxiously awaiting some order; but, for the reasons above given, no +order came, and the force of his position came with crushing violence +upon the young officer's head. + +He knew that the lieutenant was to blame for not being prepared for an +attack, however little it might be anticipated; but at the same time he +would have to share the lieutenant's disgrace as second officer--the +disgrace of a well manned and armed king's ship falling into the hands +of a pack of smugglers. + +He knew, too, that if he had proposed taking precautions, Lieutenant +Lipscombe would have laughed at him, and refused to take his advice; but +he would have felt more at rest if he had made the suggestion. + +But the mishap had happened, and according to the old proverb it was of +no use to cry over spilt milk. What he felt he had to do now was to +find a cow and get some more. + +But how? + +By the sounds on deck it was evident that the cutter had been seized by +quite a strong party, and it was no less certain that they would not +have made so desperate a move if they had not some particular venture on +the way. What Hilary felt then was that he must not only turn the +tables on the attacking party, but try and make a valuable capture as +well. + +But again--how? + +He could not answer the question, but as he tried to solve the +difficulty the feeling was strong upon him--could he manage to do this +before the lieutenant recovered? + +The excitement produced by this idea was such that it drove away all +thoughts of peril and danger, and he could think of nothing but the dash +and daring of such an exploit. + +As he thought, his hand gripped the hilt of his sword more tightly, and +he whispered an order to the men: + +"Close round." + +The crew eagerly pressed up to him, and he spoke. + +"We've got to wipe out a disgrace, my lads--hush! don't cheer, let them +think we are doing nothing." + +"Ay, ay, sir," came in a low growl. + +"I say, my lads, we've got to wipe out a disgrace, and the sooner the +better. One hour ought to be enough to get on deck and drive these +scoundrels either overboard or below. Then I think there'll be some +prize-money to be earned, for they are sure to be running a cargo +to-night. Silence! No cheering. Now then, to work. Waters, how are +we to get up the hatch?" + +"Powder, sir," said the gunner laconically. + +"And blow ourselves to pieces." + +"No, sir, I think I can build up a pile of hammocks and fire +half-a-dozen cartridges atop of it, and blow the hatch off without +hurting us much below." + +"Try it," said Hilary shortly. "You marines, come aft into the cabin +and we'll get the ventilators open; you can fire through there." + +The four marines and their corporal marched into the cabin, where a +couple kneeled upon the little table, and two more stood ready to cover +them, when the folly of attempting to blow off the hatch became apparent +to Hilary; for he saw that he would do more harm to his own men than +would warrant the attempt. + +"Get axes," he said. + +This was done, and the gunner brought out a long iron bar used in +shifting the long gun, but he muttered a protest the while that there +was nothing like the powder. + +"Silence there," cried Hilary. "Waters, pass that bar to Tully, and you +with your men go forward and keep the fore-hatch. If they open it and +try to come down to take us in the rear when we begin to break through +here, up with you and gain the deck at all costs. You understand?" + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +"I'll send you help if you get the hatch open. Go on!" + +The gunner and half-a-dozen men went forward and stood ready, while at a +sign from the young officer the dimly-seen figure of Tom Tully took a +couple of steps up the cabin-ladder, and there he stood with the bar +poised in his bare arms ready to make his first attack upon the wooden +cover as soon as the order reached his ears. + +Just then a rattling noise was heard, and the hatch was evidently about +to be removed. The next moment it was off, and the light of a lantern +flashed down, showing that half-a-dozen musket barrels had been thrust +into the opening, while about them flashed the blades of as many swords. + +There was a dead silence below, for Hilary and his men were taken by +surprise, and though the hatch was now open there was such a terrible +display of weapons in the opening that an attempt to rush up seemed +madness. + +"Below there!" cried a harsh voice; "surrender, or we fire." + +"Is Hilary Leigh there?" cried another voice, one which made the young +man start as he recognised that of Sir Harry Norland. + +"Yes, sir, I am here," he said after a moment's pause. + +"Tell your men to surrender quietly, Mr Leigh, and if they give their +word not to attempt rescue or escape they will have two of the cutter's +boats given to them, and they can row ashore." + +"And what about the cutter, Sir Henry?" said Hilary quietly. + +"She is our lawful prize," was the reply. + +"And no mistake," said the rough, harsh voice, which Hilary recognised +now as that of the apparently stupid skipper of the _chasse maree_. + +"Come up first, Mr Leigh," said Sir Henry; "but leave your arms below. +I give you my word that you shall not be hurt." + +"I cannot give you my word that you will not be hurt, Sir Henry, if you +do not keep out of danger," cried Hilary. "We are all coming on deck, +cutlass in one hand, pistol in the other. Now, my lads! Forward!" + +Madness or no madness he made a dash, and at the same moment Tom Tully +struck upwards with his iron bar, sweeping aside the presented muskets, +half of which were fired with the effect that their bullets were buried +in the woodwork round the hatch. + +What took place during those next few moments Hilary did not know, only +that he made a spring to mount the cabin-ladder and got nearly out at +the hatch, but as Tom Tully and another man sprang forward at the same +moment they hindered one another, when there was a few moments' interval +of fierce struggling, the sound of oaths and blows, a few shots were +fired by the marines through the cabin skylight, and then Hilary found +himself lying on the lower deck under Tom Tully, listening to the +banging down of the cabin-hatch. + +"Are you much hurt, sir?" said one of the men. + +"Don't know yet," said Hilary, as Tully was dragged off him. "Confound +the brutes! I'll serve them out for this. Is any one killed?" + +"I ain't," growled Tom Tully, with his hand to the back of his head. +"But that there slash went half through my tail, and I've got one on the +cheek." + +Tom Tully's wound on the cheek proved to be quite a slight cut, and the +other man was only stunned, but the injury to his pigtail was more than +he could bear. + +"Of all the cowardly games as ever I did come acrost," he growled, "this +here's 'bout the worst. Think o' trying to cut off a sailor's pigtail! +It's worse than mutiny!" + +"Hold your tongue, you stupid fellow!" cried Hilary, who could not help +feeling amused even then. "Why, don't you see that your tail has saved +your head?" + +"Who wanted his head saved that way?" growled Tom Tully. "It's +cowardly, that's what it is! I don't call it fair fighting to hit a man +behind." + +"Silence!" exclaimed Hilary; and as the trampling went on overhead he +tried to make out what the enemy were doing. + +He was startled to find Sir Henry on board, but though he looked upon +him as a friend, he felt no compunction now in meeting him as an enemy +who must take his chance. Betraying him when a fugitive was one thing, +dealing with him as one of a party making an attack upon a king's ship +another. + +A chill of dread ran through him for a moment as he thought of the +possibility of Sir Henry's daughter being his companion, but a second +thought made him feel assured that she could not be present at a time +like this. + +"And Sir Henry would only think me a contemptible traitor if I +surrendered," he said to himself; and then he began to make fresh plans. + +He stepped into the cabin for a moment or two, to find that the +lieutenant was lying in his bed place, perfectly insensible, while the +marines, with their pieces in hand, were waiting fresh orders. + +The difficulty was to give those orders, and turn which way he would +there was a pair of eyes fixed upon him. + +He had never before understood the responsibility of a commanding +officer in a time of emergency, and how great a call there would be upon +him for help, guidance, and protection. One thing, however, he kept +before his eyes, and that was the idea that he must retake the cutter, +and how to do it with the least loss of life was the problem to be +solved. + +In his extremity he called a council of war under the big lantern, with +Billy Waters, the corporal of marines, and the boatswain for +counsellors, and took their opinions. + +"Well, sir, if it was me in command I should do as I said afore," said +Billy Waters cheerfully. "A lot o' powder would rift that there +cabin-hatch right off; and them as guards it." + +"Yes, and kill the lieutenant and half the men below," said Hilary. +"What do you say, corporal?" + +"I think bayonets is the best things, sir," replied the corporal. + +"Yes," exclaimed Hilary, "if you've got a chance to use them. What do +you say, bo'sun?" + +"Well, your honour, it seems as how we shall get into no end of a pickle +if we let these here smugglers capter the _Kestrel_, so I think we'd +best go below and scuttle her. It wouldn't take long." + +"Well, but, my good fellow, don't you see that we should be scuttling +ourselves too?" cried Hilary. + +"Oh! no, sir, I don't mean scuttle ourselves. I only mean the cutter. +She'd soon fill. We'd go off in the boats." + +"How?" + +The boatswain did not seem to have taken this into consideration at all, +but stood scratching his head till he scratched out a bright thought. + +"Couldn't we let them on deck know as we're going to scuttle her, sir, +and then they'd sheer off, and as soon as they'd sheered off we wouldn't +scuttle her, but only go up and take possession." + +"Now, Jack Brown, how can you be such a fool?" cried Hilary, +impatiently. "They're sharp smugglers who have seized the _Kestrel_, +and not a pack of babies. Can't you suggest something better than +that?" + +"Well, sir, let's scuttle her, and let them know as she's sinking, and +as soon as they've sheered off stop the leaks." + +"Oh! you great bullet-head," cried Hilary angrily. "How could we?" + +"Very sorry, sir," growled the man humbly; "I don't know, sir. I can +trim and bend on sails, and overhaul the rigging as well as most +bo'suns, sir, but I never did have no head for figgers." + +"Figures!" cried Hilary, impatiently. "There, that'll do. Hark! What +are they doing on deck?" + +"Seems to me as if they're getting all sail set," growled the boatswain. + +"And they'll run us over to the coast of France," cried Hilary +excitedly. "We shall be prisoners indeed." + +He drew his breath in between his teeth, and stamped on the deck in his +impotent rage. + +"There!" he said, at last, as the crew stood impatiently awaiting the +result of their consultation. "It's of no use for me to bully you, my +lads, for not giving me ideas, when I can find none myself. You are all +right. We'll try all your plans, for the scoundrels must never sail the +_Kestrel_ into a French port with us on board. Waters, we'll blow up +the hatchway--but the fore-hatchway, not the cabin. Corporal, you and +your lads shall give them a charge with bayonets. And lastly, if both +these plans fail Jack Brown and the carpenter shall scuttle the little +cutter; we may perhaps save our lives in the confusion." + +It was a sight to see the satisfied grin that shone out on each of the +rough fellows' faces, upon finding that their ideas were taken. It was +as if each had grown taller, and they smiled at each other and at the +young officer in a most satisfied way. Hilary did not know it; but that +stroke of involuntary policy on his part had raised him enormously in +the estimation of the crew; and the little council being dissolved, it +was wonderful with what alacrity they set to work. + +For the gunner's plan was at once adopted, and in perfect silence a bed +of chests was raised up close beneath the fore-hatchway, whose ladder +was cautiously removed. On this pile were placed hammocks, and again +upon these short planks, so that the flat surface was close up to the +square opening that led from the forecastle on deck. + +"You see, sir, the charge won't leave much room to strike sidewise," +said the gunner, as he helped to get all ready, ending by emptying the +bags of powder that formed four charges for the long gun. These he +rolled up in a handkerchief, tied it pretty tightly, and before putting +it in place he made a hole in it, so that some of the powder would +trickle out on to the smooth plank. + +This being done, he laid a train from it to the end of the plank, made a +slow-match with some wet powder and a piece of paper, and finished by +raising the planks by stuffing blankets under them at Hilary's +suggestion, till the powder charge was right up in the opening of the +hatch, surrounded by the coamings, and the planks rested up against the +deck. + +"If that there don't fetch 'im off, I'm a Dutchman," said Billy Waters. +"Here, just you keep that there lantern back, will you," he cried to the +corporal of marines; "we don't want her fired before her time." + +"Yes, that will do," cried Hilary. "There, stand by, my lads, and the +moment the charge is fired make a dash for it with the ladder, and up +and clear the deck whether I lead you or no." + +There was something in those words that the men could not then +understand, but they did as the gunner declared all to be ready. + +"Hush! silence, my lads," cried Hilary. "Away aft, and all lie down. +Now, Waters, give me the lantern." + +"I'll fire the train, sir. I'm gunner," said the man. + +"No, no," replied Hilary, "that is my task." + +"But, if you please, sir, you might get hit, and then--" + +"Silence, sir! I'll fire the train," cried Hilary, sternly. "Away aft +with the men; and look, Mr Waters, my good fellow, if I go down I trust +to you to retake the cutter." + +"All right, sir," said the gunner. "Well, sir, if you will do it, +here's my last words: open your lantern and just touch the end of the +paper, then close and run aft. One touch does it; so go on, and good +luck to you!" + +The young officer nodded and took the lantern, while the gunner joined +the men as far aft as they could go. There was something very strange +and unreal to him as he took a couple of steps or so forward, and +listened to the noise of men above, hesitating for the moment as he +thought of the life he was about to destroy, and mentally praying that +Sir Harry Norland might not be near. Then duty reasserted itself, and, +not knowing whether he might not be about to destroy the vessel, and +with it his own life, he slowly opened the door of the lantern. + +What was it to be--life and liberty, or death and destruction? He could +not say, but feeling that he ought to stick at nothing to try and retake +the cutter, he held the flame of the wretched purser's dip in the +lantern to the powder-besmeared paper, and there was on the instant an +answering burst of tiny sparks. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +A MISSING ENEMY. + +As the slow-match began to sputter Hilary drew back, closed the door of +the lantern, and walked backwards aft, towards where the men were +gathered. The desire was strong upon him to run and rush right into the +far corner of the cabin; but he was a king's officer, and the men looked +up to him for example, so he told himself that he could not show the +white feather. + +Fortunately he was able to keep up his dignity and retreat in safety to +where the men were crouching down, and, joining them, he too assumed a +reclining position upon the deck, and watched the sparkling of the piece +of paper in the darkness of the forepart of the cutter. + +Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle, with plenty of scintillation; like some +little firework made for their amusement, but no sign of the train being +fired. + +On deck there was an ominous silence, as if the smugglers had received +warning of the coming danger, and they too were watching for the +explosion. + +More sparkling and more bright flashes of light, and yet the train did +not catch. Never had moments seemed to Hilary so long before, and he +felt sure that the slow-match had not been connected with the train, as +it must have fired before now. + +Then as he waited he wondered what would be the effect of the explosion, +and whether it would do more harm than blow off the hatch. He hoped +not, for Sir Henry's sake; and there were moments during that terribly +lengthy time of watching when he hoped that after all the plan had +failed, for it seemed too terrible, and he would gladly have run forward +and dashed the light aside. + +They were lightning like, these thoughts, for it really was but a +question of very few moments before there was a flash, a hissing noise, +a bright light, and then it was as though they had all been struck a +violent blow with something exceedingly soft and elastic, and at the +same moment there was a dull heavy roar. + +Simultaneously the lower deck was filled with the foul dank choking +fumes of exploded gunpowder, the thick smoke was blinding, and the men +crouched in their places for the moment forgetful of their orders till +they heard the voice of Hilary Leigh shouting to them to come on, and +they leaped to their feet and followed. + +It was a case of blindman's-buff; but the quarters below were narrow, +and after a little blundering the two men who had charge of the ladder +forced aside some of the heap of chests, hammocks and planks, placed the +steps in position, and, sword in one hand, pistol in the other, the +young officer sprang up. The gunner followed, and in less than a minute +the whole crew were over the shattered coamings of the hatchway and on +deck, ready to encounter the enemy. + +The change from the stifling fumes below to the soft night-air was +delightful, and the men leaped along the deck after their young leader, +their cutlasses flashing in the faint light cast by the lanterns swung +aloft and astern; but no enemy was to be seen. + +They dashed aft right to the taffrail, and back along the starboard +side, and away to the bowsprit; but the deck was without an enemy. + +"Why, they're gone!" cried Hilary, in astonishment, as he now realised +the meaning of the silence over his head when he was awaiting the +explosion. "Here, hi! Waters, Brown, what does this mean? Quick! go +to the helm, Brown!" he shouted; "we're going through the water at an +awful pace. Quick! quick! down--down hard!" he roared. But it was too +late; the wheel was lashed, and before the slightest effort could be +made to check the cutter's way, she glided, with heavy sail set, over +half a dozen long rollers, and then seemed to leap upon the beach, which +she struck with so heavy a thud that the little vessel shuddered from +stem to stern, and pretty well the whole crew were thrown upon the deck. + +The causes of the enemy forsaking the cutter were plain enough now. +They did not want her, and if they did it would have been without the +crew, who would have been a cause of risk and trouble to them. If they +could put her _hors de combat_ it would do just as well, and to this end +all the sail had been hoisted and sheeted home, the wheel lashed, and +with the unfortunate cutter running dead for the beach the party who had +seized her had quietly gone over the side while Hilary and his men were +plotting their destruction, and knowing full well they had nothing to +fear till next tide floated her off--if ever she floated again--they +proceeded to carry out their plans. + +The men struggled to their feet once more as the great sail flapped, +while a wave that seemed bent on chasing them struck below the cutter's +taffrail, and the spray leaped on board. + +Fortunately for them it was calm and the tide fast falling, or the +gallant little _Kestrel_ would have flown her last flight. As it was, +it was open to doubt whether she would ever spread her long wings again +to skim the sea, for the rising tide might bring with it a gale, and +before she could be got off her timbers might be torn into matchwood. + +It was a rapid change from danger to danger. But a few minutes back +they risked sinking the vessel by the explosion of gunpowder, believing +her to be in the hands of the enemy who had cleverly compassed her +defeat, and now they were cast ashore. + +Hilary Leigh was seaman enough, however, to know what to do without +consulting the boatswain, and giving his orders rapidly he stopped the +heeling over and beating of the _Kestrel_ upon the sand by relieving her +of her sail, in the midst of which he was startled by the voice of Mr +Lipscombe. + +"Good heavens, Mr Leigh!" he exclaimed, angrily, "what does this mean? +I go and lie down for a few minutes, leaving you in charge of the +cutter, and I come up and find her ashore. Brown, Waters! where are +you, men? Have you been mad, asleep, or drunk? Oh, my head! Good +gracious, why, what's this--blood?" + +He staggered, and seemed about to fall, but Hilary caught his arm. + +"I am glad to see you better, sir," he cried; "but had you not better +lie down?" + +"Better?" he said--"better?" + +"Yes, sir; don't you remember?" + +"Remember? Remember?" he said, staring. + +"Yes, sir, the smugglers; they knocked us down and took possession of +the ship." + +"Yes, of course, yes," said the lieutenant eagerly. "I remember now. +Of course, yes, Leigh. But--but where are they now?" + +"That's just what I should like to know, sir," said Leigh, sharply; +"we've got rid of them, but they ran the little _Kestrel_ ashore." + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +EXPLORING. + +Fortunately for the little _Kestrel_ the morning breeze was soft and the +sea as smooth as a mirror, and all the crew had to do was to await the +tide to float them off from where they were lying high and dry, with the +keel driven so deeply in the sand that the cutter hardly needed a +support, and the opportunity served for examining the bottom to see if +any injury had been sustained. + +Lieutenant Lipscombe appeared with a broad bandage round his head, for +his head had been severely cut in his fall, and the pain he suffered did +not improve his already sore temper. + +For though he said nothing, Hilary Leigh could see plainly enough that +his officer was bitterly annoyed at having been mastered in cunning and +so nearly losing his ship. He knew that to go into port to repair +damages meant so close an investigation that the result might be the +loss of his command. So, after an examination of the injuries, which +showed that the whole of the coamings of the hatchway were blown off and +the deck terribly blackened with powder, the carpenter and his mate were +set to work to cut out and piece in as busily as possible. + +"Nothing to go into port for, Leigh, nothing at all. The men will soon +put that right; but it was very badly managed, Leigh, very. Half that +quantity of powder would have done; the rest was all waste. Hang it +all! what could you have been thinking about? Here am I disabled for a +few minutes, and you let a parcel of scoundrels seize the cutter and run +her ashore, and then, with the idea of retaking her, you go and blow up +half the deck! My good fellow, you will never make a decent officer if +you go on like this." + +"Well, that's grateful, certainly," thought Hilary; and the desire came +upon him strongly to burst out into a hearty laugh, but he suppressed it +and said quietly: + +"Very sorry, sir; I tried to do all for the best." + +"Yes; that's what every weak-headed noodle says when he has made a +blunder. Well, Leigh, it is fortunate for you that I was sufficiently +recovered to resume the command; but of all the pickles which one of his +majesty's ships could be got into, this is about the worst. Here we are +as helpless as a turned turtle on a Florida sandspit." + +"Well, sir, not quite," replied Hilary smiling; "we've got our guns, and +the crew would give good account of--" + +"Silence, sir! This is no laughing matter," cried the lieutenant +angrily. "It may seem very droll to you, but if I embody your conduct +of the past night in a despatch your chance of promotion is gone for +ever." + +Hilary stared, but he had common sense enough to say nothing, while the +lieutenant took a turn up and down the deck, which would have been a +very pleasant promenade for a cripple with one leg shorter than the +other; but as the cutter was a good deal heeled over, it was so +unpleasant for Lieutenant Lipscombe, already suffering from giddiness, +the result of his wound, that he stopped short and stood holding on by a +stay. + +"Most extraordinary thing," he said; "my head is always perfectly clear +in the roughest seas, but ashore I turn as giddy as can be. But there; +don't stand staring about, Leigh. Take half-a-dozen men and make a bit +of search up and down the coast. See if you can find any traces of the +smuggling party. If you had had any thought in you such a thing might +have been proposed at daybreak. It will be hours before we float." + +"Yes, sir, certainly," exclaimed Leigh, rather excitedly, for he was +delighted with the idea. "Shall I arm the men, sir?" + +"Arm the men, sir! Oh, no: of course not. Let every man carry a swab, +and a spoon stuck in his belt. Goodness me, Mr Leigh, where are your +brains? You are going to track out a parcel of desperadoes, and you ask +me if you shall take the men armed." + +"Very sorry, sir," said Hilary. "I'll try and do better. You see I am +so sadly wanting in experience." + +The lieutenant looked at him sharply, but Hilary's face was as calm and +unruffled as the sea behind him, and not finding any chance for a +reprimand, the lieutenant merely made a sign to him to go, walking +forward himself to hurry on the carpenter, and then repassing Hilary and +going below to his cabin. + +"Skipper's got his legs acrost this mornin', sir," said Billy Waters, +touching his hat. "Hope you'll take me with you, sir." + +"I should like to have you, Waters, and Tom Tully. By the way, how is +he this morning? He got hurt." + +"Oh, he's all right, sir," said the gunner grinning. "He got a knock, +sir, but he didn't get hurt. Nothin' hurts old Tom. I don't believe +he's got any feeling in him at all." + +"Now, if I propose to take them," thought Hilary, "Lipscombe will say +they sha'n't go. Here he comes, though. I shall catch it for not being +off." + +He made a run and dropped down through the damaged hatchway, alighting +amidst the carpenter's tools on the lower deck, ran aft to his cabin, +obtained sword and pistols, and then mounted to the deck to find the +lieutenant angrily addressing Waters and Tully. + +For no sooner had Hilary disappeared, and the gunner made out that the +chief officer was coming on deck, than he turned his back, busied +himself about the breeching of one of the guns, and shouting to Tom +Tully: + +"Going to send you ashore, matey?" + +"No," growled Tully; "what's on?" + +"Oh! some wild-goose hunt o' the skipper's. I don't mean to go, and +don't you if you can help it. There won't be a place to get a drop o' +grog. All searching among the rocks." + +"Gunner!" + +"Yes, your honour." + +Billy Waters' pigtail swung round like a pump-handle, as he lumped up +and pulled his forelock to his angry officer. + +"How dare you speak like that, sir, on the deck of his majesty's vessel? +How dare you--you mutinous dog, you? Go forward, sir, and you, too, +Tom Tully, and the cutter's crew, under the command of Mr Leigh, and +think yourself lucky if you are not put under punishment." + +"Very sorry, sir. Humbly beg pardon, sir," stammered the gunner. + +"Silence, sir! Forward! Serve out cutlasses and pistols to the men, +and I'll talk to you afterwards." + +Billy Waters chuckled to himself at the success of his scheme, and after +a word or two of command, Hilary's little party, instead of jumping into +the cutter and rowing ashore, dropped down over the side on to the +sands, and went off along the coast to the west. + +"What's going to be done first, sir?" said the gunner. + +"Well, Waters, I've just been thinking that we ought first to try and +find some traces of the boats." + +"Yes, sir; but how? They're fur enough away by now." + +"Of course; but if we look along the shore here about the level that the +tide was last night I daresay we shall find some traces of them in the +sands, and that may give us a hint where to search inland, for I'll be +bound to say they were landing cargo somewhere." + +"I'll be bound to say you're right, sir," said Waters, slapping his leg. +"Spread out, my lads, and report the first mark of a boat's keel." + +They tramped on quite five miles over the sand and shingle, and amidst +the loose rocks, without seeing anything to take their attention, when +suddenly one of the men some fifty yards ahead gave a hail. + +"What is it, my lad?" cried Hilary, running up. + +"Only this here, sir," said the man, pointing to a long narrow groove in +the sand, just such as might have been made by the keel of some large +boat, whilst a closer inspection showed that the sand and shingle had +been trampled by many feet. + +"Yes, that's a boat, certainly," said Hilary, looking shorewards towards +the cliffs, which rose like a vast ramp along that portion of the coast. + +There was nothing to be seen there; neither inlet nor opening in the +rock, nor depression in the vast line of cliffs. Why, then, should a +boat be run ashore there? It looked suspicious. Nothing but a fishing +lugger would be likely to be about, and no fishing lugger would have any +reason for running ashore here. Except at certain times of the tide it +would be dangerous. + +"It's the smugglers, Billy," cried Hilary eagerly; "and there must be +some way here up the rock. Hallo! what have you got there?" he +exclaimed, as the gunner, true to his instinct, dropped upon his knees +and scraped the sand away from something against which he had kicked his +foot. + +"Pistol, sir," was the reply; and the gunner brushed the sand off the +large clumsy weapon, and wiped away the thin film of rust. + +"And a Frenchman," said Hilary, examining the make. + +"Frenchman it is, sir, and she ar'n't been many hours lying here." + +"Dropped by some one last night," said Hilary. "Hurrah! my lads, we've +struck the scent." + +Just then Tom Tully began to sniff very loudly, and turned his head in +various directions, his actions somewhat resembling those of a great +dog. + +"What yer up to, matey?" cried Waters. "Ah! I know, sir. He was +always a wunner after his grog, and he's trying to make out whether +they've landed and buried any kegs of brandy here." + +"Oh, nonsense!" cried Hilary; "they would not do that. Come along, my +lads. One moment. Let's have a good look along the rocks for an +opening. Can any of you see anything?" + +"No, sir," was chorused, after a few minutes' inspection. + +"Then now let's make a straight line for the cliff, and all of you keep +a bright lookout." + +They had about a couple of hundred yards to go, for the tide ran down +very low at this point, and as they approached the great sandstone +cliffs, instead of presenting the appearance of a perpendicular wall, as +seen from a distance, all was broken up where the rock had split, and +huge masses had come thundering down in avalanches of stone. In fact, +in several places it seemed that an active man could climb up to where a +thin fringe of green turf rested upon the edge of the cliff; but this +did not satisfy Hilary, who felt convinced that such a place was not +likely to be chosen for the landing of a cargo. + +No opening in the cliff being visible, he spread his men to search right +and left, but there was no sand here; all was rough shingle and broken +_debris_ from the cliff with massive weathered blocks standing up in all +directions, forming quite a maze, through which they threaded their way. + +"There might be a regular cavern about somewhere big enough to hold a +dozen cargoes," thought Hilary, as he searched here and there, and then +sat down to rest for a few minutes, and wiped the perspiration from his +forehead, when it suddenly occurred to him that they had been hours away +from the cutter, and that if he did not soon make some discovery he had +better return. + +"And I don't like to go back without having done something," he thought. +"Perhaps if we keep on looking we may make a find worth the trouble, +and--what's that?" + +Nothing much; only a little bird that kept rising up from a patch of +wiry herbage at the foot of the cliff, jerking itself up some twenty or +thirty feet and then letting itself down as it twittered out a pleasant +little song. + +Only a bird; but as he watched that bird, he did not know why, it +suddenly went out of sight some twenty feet or so up the rock, and while +he was wondering it came into sight again and fluttered downwards. + +"Why, there must be a way through there," he cried, rising and gazing +intently at the face of the rock, but seeing nothing but yellowish +sandstone looking jagged and wild. + +"No, there can't be," he muttered; "but I'll make sure." + +Climbing over three or four large blocks, he lowered himself into a +narrow passage which seemed to run parallel with the cliff, but doubled +back directly, and in and out, and then stopped short at a perpendicular +mass some twenty feet high. + +"Leads nowhere," he said, feeling very hot and tired, and, turning to go +back disappointed and panting, he took another look up at the lowering +face of the cliff to see now that a large portion was apparently split +away, but remained standing overlapping the main portion, and so like it +that at a short distance the fracture could not be seen. + +"There's a way round there for a guinea," thought Hilary, "but how to +get there? Why, of course, one must climb over here." + +"Here" was a rugged piece of rock about fifty feet back from the _cul de +sac_ to which he had reached, and placing his right foot in a chink and +drawing himself up he was soon on the top with a rugged track before him +to the face of the cliff; but as he took a step forward, meaning to +investigate a little, and then summon his men, a low chirping noise on +his right took his attention, and going cautiously forward he leaned +towards a rock to see what animal it was, when something came like a +black cloud over his head and he was thrown violently down. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +HILARY LEIGH FINDS HIMSELF IN AN UNDIGNIFIED POSITION. + +"That's a boat-cloak, and the brute's sitting on me," said Hilary Leigh +to himself as he vainly struggled to get free and shout for help. He +did utter a few inarticulate noises, but they were smothered in the +folds of the thick cloak, and he felt as if he were about to be +smothered himself. Getting free he soon found was out of the question, +so was making use of the weapons with which he was armed, for his wrists +were wrenched round behind his back and his elbows firmly lashed. So +were his ankles, and at the same time he felt the pistols dragged out of +his belt and his sword unhooked and taken away. + +"Well, I've discovered the smugglers' place and no mistake," he thought; +"but I might just as well have left it alone. Oh, this is too bad! +Only last night in trouble, and now prisoner! I wonder what they are +going to do?" + +He was not long left in doubt, for he suddenly felt himself roughly +seized and treated like a sack, for he was hauled on to some one's back +and borne along in a very uncomfortable position, his legs being banged +against corners of the rock as if he were being carried through a very +narrow place. + +This went on for a few minutes, during which he was, of course, in utter +darkness, and panting for breath. Then he was allowed to slide down, +with a bump, on to the rock. + +"They're not going to kill me," thought Hilary, "or they would not have +taken so much trouble. I wish I could make Billy Waters hear." + +He tried to shout, but only produced a smothered noise, with the result +that some one kicked him in the side. + +"That's only lent, my friend," thought Hilary. "It shall be paid back +if ever I get a chance. What now? I am trussed; are they going to +roast me?" + +For just then he felt a rope was passed round him, and a slip-knot drawn +tight under his arms. Then there was a sudden snatch, and he was raised +upon his feet, steadied for a moment by a pair of hands, the rope +tightened more and more, and he felt himself being drawn up, rising +through the air, and slowly turning round, one elbow rasping gently +against the rock from time to time. + +"Well, I'm learning some of their secrets," thought Hilary, "even if +they are keeping me in the dark. This is either the way up to their +place, or else it's the way they get up their cargoes." + +"Yes, cargoes only," he said directly, as he heard indistinctly a gruff +voice at his elbow, some one being evidently climbing up at his side. +"I hope they won't drop me." + +In another minute he was dragged sidewise and lowered on to the rock, a +change he gladly welcomed, for the rope had hurt him intolerably, and +seemed to compress his chest so that he could hardly breathe. + +"Well, this is pleasant," he thought, as he bit his lip with vexation. +"The lads will have a good hunt for me, find nothing, and then go back +and tell Lipscombe. He will lie on and off for an hour or two, and then +go and report that I have deserted or gone off for a game, or some other +pleasant thing. Oh, hang it all! this won't do. I must escape somehow. +I wish they'd take off this cloak." + +That seemed to be about the last thing his captors were disposed to do, +for after he had been lying there in a most painfully uncomfortable +position for quite an hour, every effort to obtain relief being met with +a kick, save one, when he felt the cold ring of a pistol muzzle pressed +against his neck under the cloak, he was lifted by the head and heels, +some one else put an arm round him, and he was carried over some rugged +ground, lifted up higher, and then his heart seemed to stand still, for +he felt that he was going to be allowed to fall, and if allowed to fall +it would be, he thought, from the top of the cliff. + +The feeling was terrible, but the fall ridiculous, for it was a distance +of a foot on to some straw. Then he felt straw thrown over him--a good +heap--and directly after there was a jolting sensation, and he knew he +was in a cart on a very rugged road. The sound of blows came dull upon +his ear, and a faint hoarse "Go on!" And in spite of his pain, misery, +and the ignorance he was in respecting his fate, Hilary Leigh began to +laugh with all the light-heartedness of a lad, as he mentally said: + +"Oh, this is too absurd! I'm in a donkey-cart, and the fellow who is +driving can't make the brute go." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +LIEUTENANT LIPSCOMBE LAYS DOWN THE LAW. + +"Say, lads, I'm getting tired of this here," said Tom Tully, bringing +himself to an anchor on a patch of sand; "I'm as hot as I am dry. +Where's our orsifer?" + +"I d'no," said another. "Ahoy! Billy Waters, ahoy-y-y!" + +"Ahoy!" came from amongst the rocks; and the gunner plodded up wiping +his face, and another of the little party came at the same time from the +other direction. + +"Where's Muster Leigh?" said Tom Tully. + +"Isn't he along of you?" said Waters. + +"No, I ar'n't seen him for ever so long." + +Notes were compared, as the hailing brought the rest of the party +together, and it was agreed on all sides that Hilary had gone in amongst +the rocks close by where they were standing. + +"I know how it is," growled Tom Tully, "he's having a caulk under the +lee of one of these here stones while we do all the hunting about; and I +can't walk half so well as I used, after being shut up aboard that there +little cutter." + +"Oh, no, he wouldn't go to sleep," said the gunner. "He's close here +somewhere. I hope he's had better luck than we, for I ar'n't found +nothing; have you?" + +"No, no," arose on all sides. + +"Why, there ain't nothin' to find," growled Tom Tully. "I wish I was +aboard. You're chief orsifer when he ar'n't here, Billy Waters. Give +the order and let's go back." + +"What, without Mr Leigh?" said the gunner; "that's a likely tale, that +is. Here, come on lads, and let's find him. Ahoy!" + +"Ahoy!" came back from the rocks. + +"There he is," said one of the men. + +"No, my lads, that's only the ecker," said Billy Waters. "Hark ye-- +Ahoy!" + +"Ahoy!" came back directly. + +"Hoy--hoy--hoy-y-y!" shouted the gunner again. + +"Hoy--hoy-y-y!" came back. + +"Mis' Leigh, ahoy!" roared the gunner. + +"Leigh--hoy!" was the response. + +"Told you so, my lads; he ar'n't about here. Let's go further on. Now +then, Tom Tully, we must have off some o' that there tail if it's so +heavy it keeps you anchored down. Get up, will you?" + +The sailor got up unwillingly, and in obedience to the gunner's orders +they began now, in place of searching for traces of the smugglers, to +look for their missing officer, scattering along, as fate had it, +farther and farther from the spot where he had disappeared, no one +seeing a face watching them intently through the thin wiry strands of a +tuft of grass growing close up under the cliff. + +The heat was now intense, for the sun seemed to be reflected back from +the face of the rocks, and the men were regularly fagged. + +They shouted and waited, and shouted again, but the only answer they got +was from the echoes; and at last they stood together in a knot, with +Billy Waters scratching his head with all his might, and they were a +good half mile now from where Hilary had made his discovery and stepped +into a trap. + +"Well, this here _is_ a rummy go," exclaimed the gunner, after looking +from face to face for the counsel that there was not. "Let's see, my +lads; it was just about here as he went forrard, warn't it?" + +"No," growled Tom Tully; "it were a good two-score fathom more to the +east'ard." + +"Nay, nay, lad; it were a couple o' cables' length doo west," said +another. + +"I think it were 'bout here," said Tom Tully; "but I can't find that +there track o' the boat's keel now. What's going to be done?" + +"Let's go aboard again," growled Tom Tully. "I'm 'bout sick o' this +here, mates." + +"But I tell yer we can't go aboard without our orsifer," cried the +gunner. "'Taint likely." + +"He'd go aboard without one of us," growled Tom Tully, "so where's the +difference?" + +"There's lots o' difference, my lad. We can't go aboard without him. +But where is he?" + +"Having a caulk somewhere," said Tully gruffly; "and I on'y wish I were +doing of that same myself. If we stop here much longer we shall be +cooked like herrings. It's as hot as hot." + +"I tell you he wouldn't desert us and go to sleep," said the gunner +stubbornly. "Mr Leigh's a lad as would stick to his men like pitch to +a ball o' oakum." + +"Then why don't he?" growled Tom Tully in an ill-used tone. "What does +he go and sail away from conwoy for?" + +"He couldn't have got up the cliffs," mused the gunner; "'cause there +don't seem to be no way, and he couldn't have gone more to west'ard, +'cause we must have seen him. There ain't been no boats along shore, +and he can't have gone back to the cutter. I say, my lads, we've been +and gone and got ourselves into a reg'lar mess. What's the skipper +going to say when he sees us? You see we can't tell him as the +youngster's fell overboard." + +"No," growled Tom Tully; "'cause there ar'n't no overboard for him to +fall. I'm right, I know; he's having a caulk." + +"Tell yer he ain't," roared Waters fiercely; "and if any one says again +as my young orsifer's doing such a thing as to leave his men in the +lurch and go to sleep on a hot day like this, he'll get my fist in his +mouth." + +"Sail ho!" cried one of the men; and looking in the indicated direction, +there was the cutter afloat once more, and sailing towards them, quite a +couple of miles away, and as they looked there was a little puff of +white smoke from her side, and a few seconds after a dull report. + +"Look at that now;" cried Billy Waters, "there's the skipper got some +one meddling with my guns. That's that Jack Brown, that is; and he +knows no more about firing a gun than he do 'bout Dutch. There was a +dirty sort of a shot." + +"That's a signal, that is, for us to come aboard," growled Tom Tully. + +"Well, nobody said it warn't, did they?" cried Waters, who was regularly +out of temper now. + +"No," growled Tom Tully, "on'y wishes I was aboard, I do." + +"Then you ain't going till you've found your orsifer, my lad." + +"Hah!" said Tom Tully, oracularly. "Shouldn't wonder if he ar'n't +desarted 'cause the skipper give him such a setting down this morning." + +"Now just hark at this here chap," cried the gunner, appealing to the +others. "He'd just go and do such a dirty thing hisself, and so he +thinks every one else would do the same. Tom Tully, I'm 'bout ashamed +o' you. I shouldn't ha' thought as a fellow with such a pigtail as +you've got to your headpiece would say such a thing of his orsifer." + +"Then what call's he got to go and desart us for like this here, +messmet?" growled Tom Tully. "I don't want to say no hard things o' +nobody, but here's the skin off one o' my heels, and my tongue's baked; +and what I says is, where is he if he ar'n't gone?" + +That was a poser; and as after another short search there was a second +gun fired from the cutter, and a boat was seen to put off and come +towards them, there was nothing for them but to go down to the water and +get into the boat, after Billy Waters had taken bearings, as he called +it, of the place where the young officer had left them, setting up +stones for marks,--which, however, through the deceptive nature and +similarity of the coast in one part to another, were above half a mile +from the true spot,--and suffer themselves to be rowed aboard. + +"The skipper's in a fine temper," said one of the crew. "Where's Muster +Leigh?" + +"Ah! that's just what I want to know," said Waters, ruefully. "He'll be +down upon me for losing on him--just as if I took him ashore like a dog +tied to a string. How did you get the cutter off?" + +"Easy as a glove," was the reply. "We just took out the little anchor +and dropped it over, and when the tide come up hauled on it a bit, and +she rode out as easy as a duck. But he's been going on savage because +Muster Leigh didn't come back. Has he desarted?" + +The gunner turned upon him so fierce a look, and made so menacing a +movement, that the man shrank away, and catching what is called a crab +upset the rower behind him, the crew for the moment being thrown into +confusion, just as the lieutenant had raised his spyglass to his eye and +was watching the coming off of the boat. + +"What call had you got to do that, Billy?" cried the man, rubbing his +elbows. "There'll be a row about that. Here, give way, my lads, and +let's get aboard." + +The men made the stout ashen blades bend as they forced the boat through +the water, and at the end of a few minutes the oars were turned up, laid +neatly over the thwarts, and the bowman held on with the boathook while +the search party tumbled on board, the sides of the cutter being at no +great height above the water. + +The lieutenant was there, with his glass under his arm, his head tied up +so that one eye was covered, and his cocked hat was rightly named in a +double sense, being cocked almost off his head. + +"Disgraceful, Mr Leigh!" he exclaimed furiously. "You deserve to be +court-martialled, sir! Never saw a boat worse manned and rowed, sir. I +never saw from the most beggarly crew of a wretched merchantman worse +time kept. Why, the men were catching crabs, sir, from the moment they +left the shore till the moment they came alongside. Bless my +commission, sir! were you all drunk?" + +He had one eye shut by the old accident, as we have intimated, and the +injury of the previous night had so affected the other that he saw +anything but clearly, as he kept stamping up and down the deck. + +"Do you hear, sir? I say were you all drunk?" roared the lieutenant. + +"Please your honour," said the gunner, "we never see a drop of anything +except seawater since we went ashore." + +"Silence, sir! How dare you speak?" roared the lieutenant. +"Insubordination and mutiny. Did I speak to you, sir? I say, did I +speak to you?" + +"No, your honour, but--" + +"If you say another word I'll clap you in irons, you dog!" cried the +lieutenant. "A pretty state of affairs, indeed, when men are to answer +their officers. Do you hear, there, you mutinous dogs! If another man +among you dares to speak I'll clap him in irons." + +The men exchanged glances, and there was a general hitching up of +trousers along the little line in which the men were drawn up. + +"Now then, sir. Have the goodness to explain why you have been so long, +and why all my signals for recall have been disregarded. Silence, sir! +don't speak till I've done," he continued, as one of the men, who had +let a little tobacco juice get too near the swallowing point, gave a +sort of snorting cough. + +There was dead silence on board, save a slight creaking noise made by +the crutch of the big boom as it swung gently and rubbed the mast. + +"I call upon you, Mr Leigh, sir, for an explanation," continued the +lieutenant. "Silence, sir! Not yet. I sent you ashore to make a +search, expecting that your good sense would lead you to make it brief, +and to get back in time to assist in hauling off the cutter which you +had run ashore. Instead of doing this, sir, you race off with the men +like a pack of schoolboys, sir, larking about among the rocks, and +utterly refusing to notice my signals, sir, though they have been +flying, sir, for hours; and here have I been obliged to waste his +majesty's powder, sir, and foul his majesty's guns, sir." + +Here, as the lieutenant's back was turned, Billy Waters shook his great +fist at Jack Brown, the boatswain, going through sundry pantomimic +motions to show how he, Billy Waters, would like to punch Jack Brown, +the boatswain's head. To which, waiting until the lieutenant had turned +and had his back to him, Jack Brown responded by taking his leg in his +two hands just above the knee and shaking it in a very decisive manner +at the gunner. + +"And what is more, sir," continued the lieutenant, "you had my gunner +with you." + +Billy Waters, who had drawn back his fist level with his armpit in the +act of striking an imaginary blow at the boatswain, stopped short as he +heard himself mentioned, and the lieutenant continued his trot up and +down like an angry wild beast in a narrow cage and went on: + +"And, sir, I had to intrust the firing of that gun to a bungling, +thick-headed, stupid idiot of a fellow, who don't know muzzle from vent; +and the wonder is that he didn't blow one of his majesty's liege +subjects into smithereens." + +The lieutenant's back was now turned to Billy Waters, who as he saw Jack +Brown's jaw drop placed his hands to his sides, and lifting up first one +leg and then the other, as if in an agony of spasmodic delight, bent +over first to starboard and then to larboard, and laughed silently till +the tears ran down his cheeks. + +"I say, sir--I say," continued the lieutenant, pushing up his bandage a +little, "that such conduct is disgraceful, sir; and what is more, I +say--" + +The lieutenant did not finish the sentence then, for in him angry +excitement he had continued his blind walk, extending it more and more +till he had approached close to where the carpenter had sawn out several +of the ragged planks torn by the previous night's explosion, and as he +lifted his leg for another step it was right over the yawning opening +into the men's quarters in the forecastle below. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +BLIND PROCEEDINGS. + +It would have been an ugly fall for the lieutenant, for according to the +wholesome custom observed by most mechanics, the carpenter had turned +the damaged hatchway into a very pleasant kind of pitfall, such as the +gentle mild Hindoo might have dug for his enemy the crafty tiger, with +its arrangements for impaling whatever fell. + +In this case Chips had all the ragged and jagged pieces of plank +carefully stuck point upwards, with a couple of augers, a chisel or two, +and a fair amount of gimlets and iron spike-like nails, so that it would +have been impossible for his officer have fallen without receiving one +or two ugly wounds. + +Just in the nick of time, however, Jack Brown, the boatswain, darted +forward and gave the lieutenant a tremendous push, which sent him clear +of the opening in the deck, but in a sitting position under the bulwark, +against which his head went with a goodly rap. + +"Mutiny, by Jove!" he roared, in astonished fury. "Marines, fix +bayonets! Run that scoundrel through." + +"Beg your honour's pardon," began Jack Brown, offering his hand to +assist the astonished commander to rise. + +"It's a lie, sir! How dare you say it was an accident?" cried the +lieutenant, struggling up and readjusting the handkerchief tied round +his injured head, and his cocked hat over that. "It's mutiny, sir, rank +mutiny. You struck your officer, sir, and you'll be shot. Corporal, +take this man below. In irons, sir, in irons." + +"But your honour would have gone through the hole squelch on to the +lower deck," growled Jack Brown in an injured tone. + +"Silence, sir," roared the lieutenant. "Corporal, do your duty." + +"All right, corpy, I'm coming," said the boatswain, as the marine laid +his hand upon his arm. "But the skipper may fall overboard and drown +hisself next time, afore I gives him a helping hand." + +"Mutiny! mutiny!" cried the lieutenant. "Do you hear, Mr Leigh? The +ship's crew are in open mutiny, and uttering threats. Fetch my pistols, +sir," he cried, drawing his sword. "Cut down the first man who utters +another word. Do you hear, Mr Leigh? Quick! my pistols!" + +"If you please, your honour," began Billy Waters, pulling his forelock +and giving a kick out behind. + +"Si-lence!" roared the lieutenant. "Here, marines, come on my side. +I'll cut down the next man who dares to speak. Have you got the +pistols, Mr Leigh?" + +Of course there was no answer. + +"I say, have you got my pistols, Mr Leigh?" cried the lieutenant again. + +Still there was silence, and in his fury the lieutenant thrust the +bandage up from over his inflamed eye, and tried to see what was going +on. + +Truth to speak, he was as blind as an owl in broad sunshine; but in his +irritable frame of mind he would not own it, even to himself, and +pushing the bandage higher he tilted off his cocked hat, which fell with +a bang on the deck, and in trying to save his hat he struck himself on +the jaw with the hilt of his sword, and dropped that in turn, to fall +with a ringing noise on the whitened planks. + +"Confusion!" he exclaimed as the corporal picked up hat and sword in +turn, and handed them to the irate officer, whose temper was in no wise +sweetened by this last upset. "Ha! thank you, Mr Leigh, you are very +polite all at once," he cried sarcastically, as he stared at the +corporal, who stood before him drawn up stiff as a ramrod, but +representing nothing but a blurred figure before the inflamed optic of +the lieutenant. "Well, sir! Now, sir! perhaps you will condescend to +give some explanation of your conduct. Silence, there! If any man of +this crew dares to speak I'll cut him down. Now, Mr Leigh, I call upon +you for an explanation." + +No answer, of course. + +"Do you hear what I say, sir?" + +The corporal did not stir or move a muscle. + +"Once more, sir, I demand why you do not explain your conduct," cried +the lieutenant. + +The corporal drew himself up a little tighter, and his eyes were fixed +upon the bright blade quivering in the lieutenant's hand. + +"Speak, sir. It's mutiny by all the articles of war," roared the +lieutenant, taking a step forward, seizing the corporal by the collar, +and presenting at his throat the point of the sword. + +"Mind my eyes, your honour," cried the corporal, flinching; "I ain't Mr +Leigh." + +"Where is he then?" cried the astonished lieutenant. + +"Your honour won't cut me down if I speak?" said the corporal. + +"No, no," said the lieutenant, lowering the point of his sword; "where +is Mr Leigh?" + +"Ain't come aboard, sir." + +"Not come aboard? Here, Waters!" + +The gunner trotted forward, pulled his forelock and kicked out his right +leg behind. + +"Where is Mr Leigh?" + +The gunner pulled his forelock again, kicked out his left leg, and as he +bobbed his head, his pigtail went up and came down again flop between +his shoulders as if it were a long knocker. + +"I say, where is Mr Leigh? You mutinous scoundrel, why don't you +speak?" + +"Honour said you'd cut me down if I did." + +"Rubbish! Nonsense! Tell me, where is Mr Leigh?" + +"Don't know, your honour." + +"Don't know, sir? What do you mean?" + +"Please your honour, we'd found tracks, as we thought, of the smugglers' +lugger, and then Mr Leigh lost us. No; I mean, your honour, we lost +him. No, he lost--I say, Tom Tully, my lad, which way weer it?" + +Tom Tully grunted, gave his trousers a hitch, and looked at the +lieutenant's sword. + +"Well, sir, do you hear?" cried the lieutenant; "how was it?" + +"Stow all cuttin's down," grumbled Tom Tully, putting his hand behind so +as to readjust the fall of his pigtail. + +"Will--you--speak--out--you--ras-cal?" cried the lieutenant. + +"Don't know, your honour," growled Tom Tully; "only as Muster Leigh went +off." + +"There, I thought as much!" cried the lieutenant. "Deserted his men, +and gone off." + +"Please your honour, I don't think as--" + +"Silence!" cried the lieutenant, so fiercely that Billy Waters gave up +the young officer's defence, and shut his teeth together with a loud +snap like that of a trap. + +"All hands 'bout ship!" cried the lieutenant. "He'll be coming back +presently, and signalling for a boat to fetch him off, but he shall come +on to Portsmouth and make his report to the admiral." + +The great mainsail swung over to the other side, and the breeze +favouring, the squaresail was set as well, and the _Kestrel_, so late +helpless on shore, began to skim over the surface of the water at a +tremendous rate, while the lieutenant, having given his orders as to +which way the cutter's head should be laid, went down to the cabin to +bathe his painful eye, having told one of the men to bring him some warm +water from the galley. + +The man he told happened to be Tom Tully, and as he stood by, ready to +fetch more if it should be wanted, the bathing seemed to allay the +irritation, so that the commander grew less angry, and condescended to +ask a few questions. Then he began to think of the _Kestrel_ having +been ashore, the state of her deck about the fore-hatchway, and the late +encounter, all of which he would have to minutely describe to the +admiral if he ran into harbour to report Hilary Leigh's evasion. + +Then, as he grew more comfortable, he began to think that perhaps, after +all, the young man had not run off. Furthermore, as he owned that he +was an indefatigable young officer, he came to the conclusion that +perhaps Leigh might have discovered further traces of the smugglers, +and, if so, it would be wrong to leave him in the lurch, especially as a +good capture might be made, and with it a heap of prize-money. + +"And besides, I'll give fifty pounds to run up against that scoundrel +who led me into that trap." + +A little more bathing made the lieutenant see so much more clearly, +mentally as well as optically, that he went on deck and repeated his +former orders of "'Bout ship," with the result that the _Kestrel_ was +once more gently gliding along off the cliff-bound stretch of land where +Hilary Leigh had fallen into strange hands. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +IN THE DARK. + +Hilary's burst of merriment was of very short duration. There is, no +doubt, something very amusing to a young naval officer in the fact of +his being made a prisoner, and carried off in a donkey-cart; but the +pleasure is not of a lasting kind. + +At the end of a few moments Hilary's mirth ceased, and he grew very +wrathful. He was exceedingly hot and in no little pain, and in addition +his sensations were such that he began to wonder whether he should live +to reach his destination, where ever that might be, without being +stifled. + +For the folds of the cloak were very tight about his head, and the straw +on which he lay let him settle down into a hole, while that above shook +down more closely and kept out the air. + +For a few minutes a horrible sensation of dread troubled him, and he +uttered a hoarse cry; but, making a struggle to master his fear, he grew +more calm, and though he was exceedingly hot and the effort was painful, +he found he could breathe, and after a final effort to relieve himself +of his bonds he lay still, patiently waiting for his release. + +The road seemed to grow rougher and rougher, and he felt that he must be +going along some out-of-the-way by-lane, full of tremendous ruts, for +sometimes one wheel would be down low, sometimes the other; and every +now and then the cart seemed to stick fast, and then followed the sound +of blows. + +Whenever there came this sound of blows the cart began to echo back the +noise with a series of tremendous kicks; for it soon became evident that +this was no patient, long-suffering donkey, but one with a spirit of its +own, and ready to resist. + +On again, and then another stick-fast. + +Whack! whack! whack! went a stick, and clatter, clatter came the +donkey's heels against the front of the cart, in such close proximity to +Hilary's head that he began to be alarmed for the safety of his skull, +and after a good dead of wriggling he managed to screw himself so far +round that when the next assault took place with the stick and battering +with the donkey's heels the front boards of the cart only jarred against +Hilary's arm. + +Another term of progress, during which the road seemed better, and they +appeared to get along some distance before there was another jerk up and +another jerk down, and then a series of jumps as if they were going +downhill; and then the cart gave a big bump and stuck fast. + +The driver shouted and banged the donkey, and the donkey brayed and +battered the front of the cart, and once more, in spite of his pain and +discomfort, Hilary lay under the straw and laughed as he pictured +accurately enough the scene that was taking place in that narrow lane. + +For he was in a rutty, little-used track, in a roughly-made, springless +cart, drawn by a big, ragged, powerful jackass, which every time the +cart stuck, and his driver used the light ash stick he carried, laid +down his ears, bared his teeth, and kicked at the front of the cart, +which was rough with indentations and splinters, the result of the +prowess of the donkey's heels. + +On again--stop again--jolt here--jolt there--more blows and kicking, and +Hilary still lying there half stifled beneath the straw; but his youth +and abundant vitality kept him up, so that he lay listening to the +battles between the donkey and his driver; then he thought of his men, +and wondered whether they had made a good search for him; then he began +to think of the lieutenant, and wondered what he would say when the men +went back and reported his absence; lastly, he began to wonder whether +Mr Lipscombe would come with the _Kestrel_ and try to find him. + +"Not much good to come with the cutter," he thought as drew a long +breath; "he would want a troop of light horse if I'm being taken inland, +as it seems to me I am." + +Then he began to wonder what would be done with him, whether Sir Henry +Norland knew of his capture. Perhaps it was by Sir Henry's orders. + +"Well, if it is," he said, half aloud, "if he don't behave well to me he +is no gentleman." + +He began musing next about Adela, and thought of how she had altered +since the old days when Sir Henry was a quiet country gentleman, and had +not begun to mix himself up with the political questions of the day. + +"Oh!" said Hilary at last, "this is horribly tiresome and very +disgusting. I don't know that I should have much minded being made +prisoner by a French ship, and then sent ashore, so long as they treated +me well; but to be kidnapped like this by a beggarly set of smugglers is +too bad." + +"Well," he thought, "I don't see that I shall be very much better off if +I make myself miserable about my condition. I can't escape just at +present; they are evidently not going to kill me. That's not likely. +Why should they? So I shall just make the best of things, and old +Lipscombe must grumble as long as he likes." + +Phew! It was very hot, and he was very weary. The kicking of the +donkey and the sound of the blows had ceased to amuse him. He was so +sore with the jolting that he told himself he could not get any worse. +And still the cart went on, jolt, jolt, till a curious sensation of +drowsiness came over him, and before he was aware that such a change was +approaching he dropped off fast asleep, to make up for the wakefulness +and excitement of the past night, the long and arduous walk of that +morning, and the exhaustion produced by the jolting and shaking to which +he had been subjected at intervals for the past two hours. During that +time he had striven very hard to guess in which direction he was being +taken, and wished he had known a little more of the locality inland, his +geographical knowledge being confined to the points, bays, cliffs, +villages, churches, and ports along the coast. + +It was no slow dozing off and re-awaking--no softly passing through a +pleasant dreamy state into a light sleep, for Nature seemed to say, with +stern decision, that his body and mind had borne as great a strain as +was good for either; and one moment he was awake, feeling rather drowsy; +the next he was gone--plunged deep down in one of those heavy, dreamless +sleeps in which hours pass away like moments, and the awakened sleeper +wonders at the lapse of time. + +Nature is very kind to her children, whether they are old or young; and +during those restful times she builds up what the learned folks call +tissue, and strengthens mind and muscle, fitting the said children for +the wear and tear that is to go on again the next day, and the next. + +Hilary awoke with a start, and so deep had been his sleep that it was +some little time before he could recall what had taken place. + +At first he thought he was in his berth on board the _Kestrel_, for it +was intensely dark, but on stretching out his hands he could touch +nothing, so it could not be there, where his elbows struck the side, and +not many inches above his head there was the top. + +No, it could not be there. Where was he then? + +Asleep and dreaming, he believed the next minute; and then all came back +with a leap--his capture, the swing off the cliff, the straw in the +donkey-cart, and that was where he was now, only the donkey was standing +still, for there was no jolting, and it had ceased to kick the front +board of the cart. + +He had either been asleep or insensible, he knew, and-- + +"Hullo! they've untied my arms," he exclaimed; "and it isn't so hot as +it was. They must have taken off the cloak." + +Yes; the cloak was gone and his arms were free. So were his legs. + +No; his legs were securely tied, but the straw over his head had been +taken away. + +He lay perfectly still for a few minutes, thinking, and with his eyes +trying in all directions to pierce the thick black darkness by which he +was surrounded, but without avail. + +"I wonder where I am," he thought, as, after forcing his mind to obey +his will, he went over in review all the adventures that had befallen +him from the time he left the ship till he was jolting along in that +donkey-cart, half-suffocated in the boat-cloak and straw. + +Then there came a dead stoppage. He could get no farther. He knew he +must have gone to sleep, and the probabilities were that the cart had +been backed into some shed, the donkey taken out, and he had been left +to finish his sleep. + +"I wish I knew what time it was," thought Hilary. "How dark it is, to +be sure. I wonder where the donkey is; and--hullo! where are the sides +of the cart?" + +He felt about, but could touch only straw; and on stretching his hands +out farther, it was with no better result. + +He listened. + +Not a sound. + +Strained his eyes. + +All was blacker than the blackest night. + +What should he do? Get up? Crawl about? Shout? + +He could not answer his own questions; and as he lay there wondering +what would be best, that strange feeling of confusion that oppresses the +strongest of us in the dark when we are ignorant of where we are, came +upon him, and he lay there at last with the perspiration gathering in +big drops upon his brow. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +AN UNPLEASANT AWAKENING. + +Did you ever suffer from that unpleasant bodily disorder--sleep-walking? +Did you ever wake up and find yourself standing undressed in the cold-- +somewhere--you can't tell where, only that you are out of bed and on the +floor? You are confused--puzzled--and you want to know what is the +matter. You know you ought to be in bed, or rather you have a vague +kind of belief that you ought to be in bed, and you want to be back +there, but the question directly arises--where is the bed? and for the +life of you you cannot tell. You hold out your hands, and they touch +nothing. You try in another direction--another, and another, with the +same result, and, at last with one hand outstretched to the full extent, +you gradually edge along sidewise till you touch something--wall, +wardrobe, door, and somehow it feels so strange that you seem never to +have touched it before; perhaps you never have, for in daylight one does +not go about one's room touching doors and walls. + +Of course the result is that you find your bed at last, and that it is +close to you, for you stretched your hands right over it again and +again; but all the same it is a very singular experience, and the +accompanying confusion most peculiar, and those who have ever had such +an awakening can the better understand Hilary Leigh's feelings as he lay +there longing for the light. + +"Well," he exclaimed at last, after vainly endeavouring to pierce the +darkness, and to touch something else but straw and the stones upon +which it had been heaped, "if any one had told me that I should be such +a coward on waking up and finding myself in the dark, I should have hit +him, I'm sure I should. But it is unpleasant all the same. Oh, I say, +how my legs ache!" + +This took his attention from his position, and he sat up and then drew +up his legs. + +"Well, I must be stupid and confused," he muttered impatiently. "Why do +I sit here and let my legs ache with this rope tied round them when I +might take it off?" + +This was better still; it gave him something to do; and he at once +attacked the tight knots, which proved so hard that he pulled out his +pocket-knife, which had not been taken away. But the rope might be +useful for escape! So he closed his knife, and with all a sailor's +deftness of fingers attacked the knots so successfully that he at last +set his legs free, and, coiling up the rope, tucked it beneath the +straw. + +"Murder!" he muttered, drawing in his breath; for now that his legs were +freed they seemed to ache and smart most terribly. They throbbed, and +burned, and stung, till he had been rubbing at them for a good +half-hour, after which the circulation seemed to be restored to its +proper force, and he felt better; but even then, when he tried to stand +up they would hardly support his weight, and he was glad to sit down +once more and think. + +The darkness was terrible now that he had no longer to make any effort, +and the silence was worse. He might have been buried alive, so solemn +and still did all seem. + +But Hilary soon shook off any weak dread that tried to oppress him, and +rising at last he found that he could walk with less pain, and +cautiously leaving the heap of straw upon which he had been lying, he +began to explore. + +Slowly and carefully he thrust out one foot and drew the other to it, +feeling with his hands the while, till they came in contact with a wall +that was roughly plastered. + +That was something tangible; and gradually feeling his way along this he +came to an angle in the wall, starting off in another direction. + +This he traced, and at the end of a few paces came to another angle. +Then again another, and in the next side of what was a stone-floored, +nearly square apartment, he felt a door. + +There was the way out, then. The door was not panelled, but of slant +bevelled boards, crossed by strong iron hinges, and--yes--here was the +keyhole; but on bending down and looking through, he could feel a cold +draught of air, but see no light. + +"There must be a window," he thought; and to find this he searched the +place again as high as he could reach, but without avail; and at last he +found his way back to the heap of straw, and threw himself down in +disgust. + +"Well, I sha'n't bother," he muttered. "I'm shut up here just as if I +was in prison. I've been to sleep, and I've woke up in the dark, +because it's night; and that's about the worst of it. I don't see +anything to mind. There's no watch to keep, so I sha'n't be roused up +by that precious bell; and as every sailor ought to get a good long +sleep whenever he can, why here goes." + +Perhaps Hilary Leigh's thoughts were not quite so doughty as his words; +but whatever his thoughts were, he fought them down in the most manful +way, stretched himself out upon the straw, and after lying thinking for +a few minutes he dropped off fast asleep, breathing as regularly and +easily as if he had been on board the _Kestrel_, and rocked in the +cradle of the deep. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +A MORE PLEASANT AWAKENING, WITH A HUNGRY FIT. + +"Tchu weet--tchu weet--tchu weet! Come to tea, Jack! Come to tea, +Jack! Come to tea, Jack! Whips Kitty! Whips Kitty! Whips Kitty! +Tcho-tcho-tcho!" + +Hilary Leigh lay half awake, listening to the loud song of a thrush, +full-throated and joyous, whistling away to his mate sitting close by in +her clay cup of a nest upon four pale greenish-blue spotted eggs; and as +he heard the notes he seemed to be in the old bedroom at Sir Henry +Norland's, where he used to leave his window open to be called by the +birds. + +Yes, he was back in the old place, and here was the rich, ruddy, golden +light of the sun streaming in at his window, and through on to the +opposite wall; and it was such a beautiful morning that he would jump up +and take his rod, and go down to the big hole in the river. The tench +would bite like fun on a morning like this. There were plenty of big +worms, too, in the old watering-pot, tough as worms should be after a +good scouring in a heap of wet moss. Just another five minutes and he'd +get up, and when he met Adela at breakfast he could brag about what a +good one he was at early rising, and show her all the beautiful tench, +and-- + +"Hallo! Am I awake?" + +There was no mistake about it. He was wide awake now, and it was years +ago that he used to listen to the birds in his old bedroom at Sir Henry +Norland's; and though a thrush was whistling away outside, and the +rising sun was streaming in at a window and shining on the opposite +wall, where he was now Hilary Leigh did not know, only that he was +seated on a heap of straw, and that he was in what looked like a part of +an old-fashioned chapel, with a window high up above his reach. + +"I feel as if I had been asleep for about a week," muttered Hilary, "and +I'm so hungry that if they, whoever they are, don't soon bring me some +breakfast I shall eat my boots." + +"Why, they must have carried me in here while I was asleep," he thought; +and then, "Hallo, old fellow!" he cried, laughing, "there you are, are +you?" + +For just then, completely eclipsing the thrush in power, a donkey-- +probably, he thought, the one that brought him there--trumpeted forth +his own resonant song, the song that made the savage Irishman exclaim +that it was "a wonderful bird for singing, only it seemed to have a +moighty cowld." And if there had been any doubt before what donkey it +was, Hilary's mind was set at rest, for as the bray ended in a +long-drawn minor howl there came two or three sharp raps, just as if the +jackass has relieved his feelings with these good kicks, as was the +case, up against the boards of the shed in which he was confined. + +"Well, this is a rum set-out," said Hilary, getting up, and then bending +down to have a rub at his legs, which still suffered from the +compression of the cord. "Hang it all! what a mess my uniform is in +with this chaffy straw!" + +He set to and brushed off as much as he could, and then began to inspect +the place in which he was imprisoned, to find that the ideas he had +formed of it in the dark were not far wrong, inasmuch as there was a +plastered wall, a stone floor, an ancient-looking door with a big +keyhole, through which he could see nothing, and the Gothic window with +iron bars across, and no glass to keep out the air. + +"Well, if any fellow had told me about this I should have said he was +inventing. I suppose I'm a prisoner. I wonder what Lipscombe thinks of +my not coming back. Well, I can't help it; and he must come with some +of our men to cut me out." + +"Come to tea, Jack! Come to tea, Jack! Whips Kitty! Whips Kitty! +Whips Kitty!" + +"Yes, I'll come to tea," said Hilary, as the thrush sang on; "but how am +I to come? Oh! I say, I am so precious hungry. I could eat the +hardest biscuit and the toughest bit of salt beef that ever a fellow put +between his teeth. They might bring me some prog." + +Hilary was well rested by his sleep, and felt as active as a young goat +now, so running to the door he tried it again, to find it shut fast, and +no chance of getting it open. So he turned at once to the window, and +looked around for something to enable him to reach it, but looked in +vain, for there was nothing to be seen. + +"Never mind; here goes!" he cried; and walking back to the opposite wall +he took a run and a jump, and succeeded in getting his hands upon the +old stone sill, but only to slip back again. + +He repeated his efforts several times, but in vain; and at last finding +this was hopeless, unless for the time being he had been furnished with +the hind-legs of a kangaroo, he took out his pocket-knife, opened it, +and began to cut a notch in the wall. + +It was the soft sandstone of the district, and he was not long in +carving a good resting-place for one foot; and this he followed up, +cutting another niche about a foot higher. + +"I'm making a pretty mess," he muttered as he looked down; "serve 'em +right for shutting me up." + +On he went carving away with the big jack-knife, which was an offering +made by Billy Waters, and his perseverance was at last rewarded by his +contriving a series of niches in the stone wall by whose means he +climbed up sufficiently high to enable him to reach the iron bars, when +he easily drew himself up to the broad sill, upon which he could sit, +and with one arm through the bars, make himself pretty comfortable and +enjoy the view. + +His first glance, though, was at the iron bars embedded in the stone, +and he came to the conclusion that, given enough time, he could pick +away the cement and make his escape; but as it would be a matter of time +he thought that perhaps it would be better to defer it until he knew +where he was. + +"Looking due east," said Hilary, as he began taking observations; "then +the sea must be to the right, over those hills; and out here to the +left--my word, what a pretty place! Why, it is like a park!" + +For gazing to the left, or northward, his eye ranged over the lovely +undulating Sussex Weald, with its park-like, well-wooded hills and +valleys, now in the first blush of their summer beauty, the leafage all +tender green, and the soft meadowlike pastures gilded with the dazzling +yellow of the over-abundant crowfoot. + +There was a thick dew upon the grass, which sparkled like myriads of +diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires in the morning sun. Here was a patch +of vivid blue where the wild hyacinths were peering out from the edge of +a wood which, farther in, was tinted with the delicate French-white of +the anemones; the cuckoo-flowers rose with their pale lavender turrets +of bloom above the hedgeside herbage, and the rich purple of the spotted +orchis was on every side. + +There was a cottage here, a mossy-roofed barn there, all green and +yellow; and a tile roofed and sided farmhouse peered from an apple +orchard all pink blossoms farther on; and dotted about were the patches +like pinky snow lying thick amongst the trees, telling of golden and +ruddy russet apples in the days to come. + +Here and there the land dipped down sharply into woody ravines, from out +of whose depths there were reflected back the brilliant flashes of the +sun where the little streamlets trickled down towards one that was +broader, and opened out into quite a little lake, with a hoary-looking +building at one end, where something seemed to be in motion, and, making +a telescope of his hands, he could just discern that it was a great +wheel, from which the water was falling in splashes that glistened and +sparkled in the sun. Far away the hills seemed of a pale misty blue, +near at hand they were of a golden green, and as he drank in with his +eyes the beauty of the scene beneath the brilliant blue sky Hilary Leigh +exclaimed: + +"Oh! how I could enjoy all this, if I were not so jolly hungry!" + +He forgot his hunger the next moment, for he caught sight of a couple of +tiny white tails seeming to run up a sandy bank, their owners, a pair of +brown rabbits, making for their holes as if ashamed of having been seen +by daylight after eating tender herbage all the night. Far above them +the bird that gave its name to the cutter was hovering in the air, +seemingly motionless at times, as it poised itself over something that +tried to hide itself in the grass. + +The proceedings of the kestrel interested Hilary to no small extent as +he saw it stoop, rise, hover again, and end by making a dash down like +an arrow, and then skim along the ground and fly away without its prey. + +"Like our dash after the smugglers," he said to himself; and then he +looked closer home, to see that where he was formed part of a very +ancient house, one of whose mossy-roofed, ivy-grown gables he could just +make out by pressing his cheek very hard against the iron bars. Beside +it was an orchard full of very old lichened trees, with patches of green +moss about their boles, and beyond this there seemed to be a garden in a +very neglected state, while surrounding all was a wide black moat. + +"I wonder whether there's a bridge," thought Hilary, as he looked at the +smooth dark water, dotted with the broad leaves of the yellow +water-lily, and amidst the herbage of whose banks a sooty-looking +water-hen was walking delicately upon its long thin green toes, darting +its crimson-shielded head forward and flicking its white black-barred +tail at every step. + +"It's very nice to be growing a man," mused Hilary; "but how I could +enjoy being a boy again! I'll be bound to say there's heaps of fish in +that great moat, for it looks as deep as deep." + +It was not above twenty yards from him at the nearest end, where it +curved round the place that formed his prison, and from his elevated +position he could command a good view. + +"There, I said so!" he exclaimed; "I can see the lily leaves moving. +There's a big tench pushing about amongst the stems. Smack! That was a +great carp." + +The water moved in a series of rings in the spot whence the loud +smacking noise had come, and as Hilary excitedly watched the place a +faint nibbling noise reached his ear. After looking about he saw what +produced the sound, in the shape of a pretty little animal, that seemed +to be made of the softest and finest of black velvet. It had crawled a +little way up a strand of reed, and was nibbling its way through so +rapidly that the reed fell over with a light splash in the water, when +the little animal followed, took the cut end in its teeth, and swam +across the moat, trailing the reed, and disappearing with it under some +overhanging bushes, where it probably had its hole. + +"I could be as happy as a king here," thought Hilary, "if I could go +about as I liked. Why, there's a snake crawling out in the sun on that +patch of sand, and--phew! what a whopper! a ten-pounder, if he's an +ounce!" he cried, as, simultaneously with the flashing out of a shoal of +little silvery fish from the black surface of the moat there was a rush, +a swirl, a tremendous splash, and the green and gold of a large pike was +seen as it threw itself out of the water in pursuit of its prey. + +"I wonder whether they've got any fishing-tackle here," he cried +excitedly. "How I could enjoy a week or two at this place! Why, +there'd be no end of fun, only one would want a companion. Birds' nests +must swarm, and one might get rabbits and hares, and fish of an +evening." + +He stopped short, for an acute pang drew his attention to an extremely +vulgar want. + +"Oh, I say, what a boy I am still!" he said, half aloud. "Here I am, +half starved for want of food. I'm a king's officer taken prisoner by a +pack of dirty smugglers, and I'm keeping up my dignity as a gentleman in +the king's service by thinking about chasing water-rats and fishing for +carp and pike. 'Pon my word I'm about ashamed of myself. What a +beautiful magpie, though!" he continued, staring out of the window; "I +never saw one with so large a tail. Why, there are jays, too calling in +the wood. Yes, there they go--char, char, char! One might keep 'em +aboard ship to make fog-signals in thick weather. My word, how this +does bring back all the old times! I feel as boyish and as bright and-- +Oh! I say, are you going to starve a fellow to death? I can't stand +this. Ahoy! Is there any one here? Ahoy! Pipe all hands to +breakfast, will you? Ahoy!" + +He placed one hand to the side of his face and shouted with all his +might, and as he ceased-- + +"Haw-w! hee-haw! hee-haw! hee-haw! hee-haw! haw-haw! haw-haw-wk!" came +from a short distance, as if in answer to his hail, followed directly by +half a dozen lively kicks. + +"Sweet, intelligent beast!" cried Hilary. "What, are you hungry too? +Surely they have not left us to starve, my gentle friend in misfortune." + +Growing too hungry and impatient to be interested any longer by the +beauty of the scene, Hilary shouted again several times, but without +obtaining an answer. He startled some pigeons, though, from somewhere +upon the roof, and they circled round a few times before settling down +again, and beginning to sing, "Koo-coo-coo-cooo! koo-coo-coo-cooo!" over +and over again. + +He leaped down, went to the door, and hammered and kicked and shouted +till his toes were tender and his throat hoarse; but in answer to his +kicks came hollow echoes, and to his shouts the donkey's brays, and at +last he threw himself sulkily down upon the straw. + +"I'm not going to stop here and be starved to death," he exclaimed +angrily; "there's no one in the place, that's my opinion, and they've +stuffed me in here while they get out of the country." + +He jumped up in a fury and went and kicked at the door again, but the +mocking echoes were the only response, and, tired of that, he shouted +through the keyhole, ran, jumped, and clambered to the window, as he +took out his knife, opened it, and began to dig at the stonework to +loosen the bars, when the donkey brayed once more. + +"Be quiet, will you," roared Hilary, "or I'll kill you, and eat you +afterwards." + +As he said this he burst out laughing at the ludicrous situation, and +this did him good, for he felt that it would be best to be patient. + +So there he sat, listening for some sound to indicate the presence of a +human being, but hearing nothing, longing intensely the while for some +breakfast; and just as he was conjuring up visions of a country-house +meal, with hot bread, delicious butter, and yellow cream, he detected in +the distance the cooking of home-made bacon, and as if to add poignancy +to the keen edge of his hunger, a hen began loudly to announce that +somewhere or other there was a new-laid egg. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +BREAKFAST UNDER DIFFICULTIES. + +"Well, this beats everything I've had to do with," said Hilary, as the +hours glided by, and he began to suffer acutely. Visions of delicious +country breakfasts, for which he had longed, had now given place to the +humblest of desires, for he felt as if he would have given anything for +the most mouldy, weevilly biscuit that ever came out of a dirty bag in a +purser's locker. He had fasted before now, but never to such an extent +as this, and he sat upon his straw heap at last, chewing pieces to try +and relieve his pain. + +He had worked at the iron bars for a time, but had now given it up, +finding that he would be knifeless long before he could loosen a single +bar; besides, that gnawing hunger mastered everything else, and in place +of the active the passive state had set in: with a feeling of obstinate +annoyance against his captors he had determined to sit still and starve. + +The probabilities are that Hilary's obstinate determination would have +lasted about an hour; but he was not called upon to carry it out, for +just about noon, as he guessed, he fancied he heard a voice, and jumping +up he ran to the window and listened. + +Yes, there was no mistake about it. Some one was singing, and it was in +sweet girlish tones. + +"Ahoy! I say there!" shouted Hilary at the invisible singer, who seemed +to be right away on the other side of the garden; and the singing +stopped on the instant. "Is any one there?" + +There was not a sound now, and he was about to cry out once more when he +caught a glimpse of a lady's dress, and a little slight figure came +cautiously through the trees, looking wonderingly about. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Hilary, thrusting out his arm and waving his hand, +"Addy! Addy! Here!" + +The figure came closer, showing the pleasant face and bright wondering +eyes of Sir Henry Norland's daughter, who came timidly on towards the +building where Hilary was confined. + +"Don't you know me, Addy?" he cried. + +"Hilary! you here?" + +"Yes, for the present; and I've been kicking and shouting for hours. Am +I to be starved to death?" + +"Oh, Hilary!" she cried. + +"Well, it seems like it. I haven't had a morsel since yesterday +morning. Get me something, there's a dear girl--bread, meat, tea, +coffee, anything, if it's only oats or barley." + +"Wait a minute," cried the girl, turning to go. + +"You mustn't be longer, or I shall be dead," shouted Hilary as she ran +off; and then, dropping from the window, the young fellow executed a +figure out of the dance of delight invented for such occasions by Dame +Nature to aid young people in getting rid of their exuberance, stopped +short, pulled out a pocket-comb, and carefully touched up his hair, +relieving it from a number of scraps of straw and chaff in the process. + +"A nice Tom o' Bedlam I must have looked," he said to himself. "No +wonder she didn't know me." + +"Hil! Hil!" + +"Ahoy!" he shouted, scrambling up to the window and slipping down again, +to try the next time more carefully and on regaining the window-sill +there was the bright, eager-looking girl beneath, with a jug of milk and +a great piece of bread. + +"This was all I could get now, Hil," she said, her eyes sparkling with +pleasure. + +"All!" he cried. "New bread and new milk! Oh, Addy, it's lovely! +There's nothing I like better for breakfast, and our cow on board won't +milk and our oven won't bake. Give us hold: I'm ravenous for the +feast." + +Hilary reached one arm down and Adela Norland reached one arm up, but +when they had strained to the utmost a good six feet intervened between +Hilary's hand and the slice of bread. + +"Oh, I say, how tantalising!" he cried, giving a shake at the bars. +"Make haste, Addy, and do something. Isn't there a ladder?" + +"No," she said, shaking her head. "I'll get a chair." + +"Two chairs wouldn't do it," cried Hilary, who, sailor-like, was pretty +ready at ideas. "Here, I know. Get a long stick; put the bread and +milk down first." + +She placed the jug on the ground, and was about to run off. + +"Cover your handkerchief over them first," cried Hilary, "or I can't +bear to sit and look at them." + +"I won't be a minute," cried the girl; and she ran off, leaving the +young sailor in the position of that mythical gentleman Tantalus, +waiting her return. + +The minute had reached two when a peculiar grunting noise was heard, +and, to Hilary's horror, an exceedingly pendulous, narrow-backed pig +came snuffing and rooting into sight, turning over stones with its huge +pointed snout, investigating clods of earth, pushing aside pieces of +wood, and all the while making an ill-used grunting squeaking noise, as +if protesting against the long period that had elapsed since it was fed. + +"Well, of all the ugly, hungry-looking brutes I ever saw," said Hilary, +as he gazed down at the pig, "you are about the worst. Why, you are not +fit to cut up and salt for a ship's company, which is saying a deal. +Umph! indeed! Get out you ugly--Oh, murder! the brute's coming at my +breakfast! Addy, Addy, quick! Yah! Pst! Get out! Ciss! Swine! +Co-chon! Boo! Bah-h-h! Oh, if I'd only got something to throw at the +wretch! Quick, Addy, quick!" + +His sufferings were bad enough before, but now they were agonising, for, +treating the loud objurgations of the prisoner with the greatest +contempt, after raising its snout sidewise and gazing up at him with one +little eye full of porcine wisdom, and flapping one of its ears the +while, the pig came to the conclusion that Hilary could only throw words +at it such as would not injure its pachydermatous hide, and then with a +contemptuous grunt it came on. + +Nearer and nearer to the breakfast came the pig, twiddling its miserable +little tail about, investigating here and turning over there; and more +frantic grew the prisoner. He abused that unfortunate pig with every +sentence, phrase, and term he could remember or invent, but the animal +paid not the slightest heed. + +"Au, you thick-skinned beast," he cried; "if I were only down there with +a stick!" + +But he was not down there with a stick, and the pig evidently knew, +though as yet he did not know of the breakfast lying on the ground so +invitingly close, or it would have disappeared at once. Still, there +was no doubt that before many minutes had passed it would be gone if +Adela did not return, and at last Hilary pulled off a shoe, and as the +animal came now in a straight line for the bread, he took careful aim +and hit the intruder on the nose. + +The pig uttered an angry squeal, and jumped back; but as the shoe lay +motionless, it concluded that it was probably something thrown it to +eat, and in this belief it approached the foot-guard, turned it over, +thrust its nose right inside, and lifted it up, flung it off its snout, +and proceeded to taste the leather, when, to Hilary's horror, the bread +met the ugly little pink eyes. + +The pig uttered a squeal of pleasure, and dropped the shoe. Hilary +uttered a yell of horror, and threw the fellow shoe, and the pig made +for the bread, just as, armed with a long stick, Adela came round the +corner, saw the position, and rushed at the intruder, whom a blow from +the stick drove grunting away. + +"Oh, I am glad you came," cried Hilary. "You were only just in time." + +"The nasty thing," cried the lady, picking up the bread. "Had he +touched it?" + +"No," said Hilary pointedly; "_she_ had. But pray make haste." + +"Oh, what fun!" cried Adela, sticking the point of the stick into the +bread, and then, with the weight at the end making the wand bend like a +fishing-rod, she held it up bobbing and bowing about to Hilary, who +caught at it eagerly, and took a most frightful bite out of one side, +leaving a model for the arch of a bridge perfectly visible to the young +lady. + +"What lovely bread!" said Hilary, with his mouth full. Another model +arch made in the bread. + +"I was so precious hungry." + +"I can see you were," cried Adela laughing. + +"But I say," said Hilary, with his mouth full; "this is just like +feeding a wild beast in a cage." + +"But however did you come to be here?" cried the girl. + +"Can't talk till I've been fed a little more," replied Hilary. "I say, +Addy, dear, how about that milk?" + +"That's what I was thinking," said the girl; "I can't push that up to +you on the stick." + +"No," said Hilary, munching away. "What are we to do?" + +"I don't know, Hil." + +"I do." + +He took another tremendous bite, which made the two arches into one by +the destruction of the model pier, laid the bread down on the +window-sill, and was about to leap down, when he remembered something. + +"I beg your pardon," he said politely; "would you mind picking up my +shoes on the end of that stick, and passing them up?" + +"Oh, Hilary!" + +"I was obliged to shy them at the pig to save my breakfast. Thank you," +he continued, as she laughingly picked up a shoe on the end of the stick +and passed it up. "Now the other. Thanks," he added, dropping them +inside his prison. "Now I want that milk." + +As Adela picked up the jug the sailor dropped back after his shoes, put +them on, ran to his straw bed, munching away the while, and drew out the +cord that had been used to bind his legs. + +"How useful a bit of line always is!" he muttered as he climbed back to +the window-sill, held on with one arm through the bars, and took another +tremendous bite from the bread, nodding pleasantly the while at his old +friend. + +"Why, Hil, how hungry you must have been!" she said. "Let me run and +get some butter." + +"How hungry I am, you mean," he said. "Addy, dear, I feel now just like +what wolves must feel when they eat little children and old women. I'll +never speak disrespectfully of a wolf again. Why, I could have eaten +you." + +"Oh, what nonsense!" + +"I don't know so much about that," he said; "but never mind about the +butter; let me have some of that milk. Look here, tie one end of this +cord round the handle of the jug, and then I'll haul it up." + +He lowered down one end of the cord and watched her carefully, munching +busily the while, as she cleverly tied the end to the jug handle, and +then held the vessel of milk up so that he should not have so far to +haul. + +"Steady," said Hilary, with his mouth unpleasantly full; and he softly +drew the cord tight, but only to find that the want of balance would +pull the jug so much on one side that half the milk would be spilled. + +"That won't do," he said; "and I can't wait for you to tie the cord +afresh; besides, I don't think you could do it right. I say, Addy, +drink some of it, there's a good girl; it would be a pity to spill any." + +Adela hesitated a moment, and then placed the jug to her lips, Hilary +watching her attentively the while. + +"Steady," he cried excitedly; "steady! Don't drink it all." + +"Oh, Hilary," said the girl laughing, "what a greedy boy you are! +You're just as bad as you used to be over the cider." + +"Can't help it," he said. "There, drink a little more. You don't know +how bad I am." + +"Poor fellow!" she said feelingly; and having drunk a little more she +again held up the jug, which he drew rapidly to the window, but not +without spilling a good deal. + +"Hah!" he exclaimed as he got hold of the vessel. "Good health." + +He drank long and with avidity; and then setting down the jug once more, +partook of some bread, looking down the while at his little benefactor, +and ending by saying: + +"Why, Addy, what a nice girl you have grown!" + +"Have I!" she said laughingly. "And what a great big fellow you have +grown; and oh, Hilary," she said, with her face becoming serious, "thank +you--thank you for being so very, very kind to us the other day." + +"Yes," he said, "and this is the way you show it. Now I'm better, and I +want to know how you came here." + +"Oh, this is a very old house--a Place they call it--where papa and I +have been staying for some time. Poor papa is obliged to be in hiding." + +"And who lives here?" + +"Well, Hilary, perhaps I ought not to say," she said sadly. + +"Tell me, then, how far are we from the sea?" + +"About eight miles." + +"Only eight miles? Well, how did I come here?" + +"I don't know. I want to know." + +"Am I a prisoner?" + +"It seems like it." + +"But where's everybody? I haven't heard a soul about till you came." + +"They are not up yet," said Adela, glancing over her shoulder. "They +have been out all night, Hilary." + +"Oh, then, I'm in a regular smuggler's den, I suppose. What place is +this I am in?" + +"The old chapel, Hilary. They say it's haunted, and for the moment, +when I saw you, I was frightened." + +"What! are there ghosts here?" said Hilary, glancing inside. + +"Yes, they say one walks there sometimes." + +"I only wish he had walked here last night, and left the door open," +said Hilary. "But I say, Addy, how funny that we should meet again like +this." + +"Yes, isn't it, Hilary? And yet," said the girl thoughtfully, "it is +not funny, but sad, for the days are not so happy now as they were when +we played together years ago." + +"And we've both grown so," said Hilary thoughtfully. "But look here," +he exclaimed, as a sudden thought struck him. "I want to see somebody. +I'm not going to be made a prisoner here in my own country. I'm not +cross with you, Addy, but I must have this set right. Where is Sir +Henry?" + +As he asked the question a distant voice was heard calling the young +girl's name, and she turned, ran, and was out of sight in an instant. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +A TEMPTING OFFER. + +Hilary sat upon the window-ledge and listened, but he heard no further +sound; so, coming to the conclusion that though he was extremely +indignant he was also still uncommonly hungry, he drained the jug of +milk, and went on steadily until he had finished his bread, after which, +feeling better, he let himself down from the ledge, which was anything +but a comfortable place, and began walking up and down the little +chapel. + +For a few minutes he was too indignant to do more than think about his +position; and he kept on muttering about "A gross case of kidnapping!" +"Cowardly scoundrels!" "Insult to king's officer!" and a few more such +expressions; but having partaken of food he felt easier and soon had +another good look round the place. + +It was only a portion of the old chapel, and had evidently been patched +and used for different purposes of late years, so that its old religious +character was to a great extent gone. + +"I don't think it would be so very hard to get out," he said to himself, +"if a fellow made up his mind to it, and--hallo! here's some one coming +at last." + +His quick ears had detected footsteps, followed by the unlocking of a +door; then the steps passed over a boarded floor in some empty echoing +room. + +Then he heard voices, and the unlocking of another door, when the voices +and steps sounded plainer, and he began to understand how it was that +his shouts had not been heard, for the people, whoever they were, now +seemed to come down along a stone passage before they stopped at and +unlocked the door of his prison. + +As the heavy old door was thrown open Hilary saw two things--one which +made him very cross, the other which made him very glad. + +The sight that roused his anger was Sir Henry Norland, in elegant +half-military costume, with high riding boots and spurs; the other was a +rough, ill-looking man, carrying a tray, on which was bread, a cold +chicken, and what seemed to be a flask of French wine. + +Certainly Hilary had just partaken of food, but a draught of milk and +some bread seemed only provocatives to fresh eating in the case of a +young growing fellow who had been fasting for considerably more than +twenty-four hours. + +"Set the tray down, Allstone," said Sir Henry. "Don't wait," he +continued; "I'll lock the door after me when I come out." + +"The skipper said I was to keep charge of the young lad," said the man, +surlily. + +"Keep charge, then," said Sir Henry sharply, "but wait outside." + +The man scowled and withdrew, whereupon Sir Henry held out his hand. + +"Well, Hilary," he said, "you and I seem to meet under strange +conditions." + +"May I ask, Sir Henry," cried Hilary sharply, and without looking at the +extended hand, "why I am seized, bound, and kidnapped in this +disgraceful way?" + +"Certainly, my dear boy," said Sir Henry; "but let me tell you at once +that I had nothing whatever to do with it." + +"Who had, then?" cried Hilary, with the blood flaming in his cheeks. + +"That I cannot exactly answer; but from what I can learn it seems that +you were found prying rather too closely into the affairs of some +friends of mine, and they pounced upon you and carried you off." + +"Yes, and I'll pounce upon some of them," cried Hilary, "and carry them +off." + +"When you get your liberty," said Sir Henry with a smile. + +"Yes; when I get my liberty," cried Hilary; "and that sha'n't be long +first. Even now my commander will be searching for me." + +"Very likely, Hilary," said Sir Henry; "but you must be very hungry. I +have only just learned of your being here, and that you had not been +attended to. The habits of my friends here are somewhat nocturnal, and +hence they are irregular by day. Come, sit down, man, and eat. We +campaigners are not so particular as some people." + +He seated himself upon the straw as he spoke, and looked up so frankly +and with such friendly eyes at the young man, that Hilary was slightly +softened. + +"Adela is here," he said. + +"Yes, I know; I have seen her this morning, Sir Henry." + +"Seen her! Oh, yes, I see--from the window. But come, fall to." + +Hilary glanced at the chicken and the bread, and felt disposed to resent +his rough treatment, especially as just then the donkey brayed loudly, +and fired off a salute of kicks against the side of the shed where he +was confined; but there was a specially tempting brown side to that +chicken, which looked tender and seductive, and Hilary argued that he +should not be able to stand long upon his dignity if he starved himself, +so he seated himself tailor-fashion beside the tray, and began to carve. + +"You'll take some, Sir Henry?" he said sulkily. + +"With pleasure," was the reply; and Sir Henry allowed himself to be +helped, Hilary's carving being of a very primitive kind, but he managed +to hack off a leg and a wing, and passed them to Sir Henry, who, in +return, cut some bread, and poured out a glass of wine. + +The chicken came fully up to its looks, and those who discussed it were +very busy for some little time. + +"There is only one glass," said Sir Henry. "Will you drink first, +Hilary?" + +"No, Sir Henry. After you." + +"But I stand in the place of your host," said Sir Henry smiling. +"However, I will set you the example after the good old custom, so as to +show you that the wine is not drugged." + +"His majesty King Charles of England!" said Sir Henry, drinking a hearty +draught before wiping his lips on a French cambric handkerchief. Then +he refilled the glass and passed it to Hilary. + +"His majesty King George the Second of England," said Hilary taking the +glass, "and down with the Pretender!" + +He said this defiantly, as he gazed full in Sir Henry's eyes; but the +latter only smiled. + +"You foolish boy," he said lightly; "how little you know what you are +saying." + +"I know that I am speaking like a loyal officer of the king, Sir Henry, +and that if I did my duty I should arrest you at once on a charge of +high treason." + +"And get my head chopped off, eh, Hilary? Rather comical that would be, +my boy, for a prisoner to arrest his visitor, and keep him in prison +with him; but how would you manage to give him up to the law?" + +Hilary bit his lip. Certainly it did seem laughable for him, a +prisoner, to talk in such a way as that, and he felt vexed, and looked +uneasily at his visitor; but he brightened up directly as he felt that +he had shown his loyalty to the king he served. + +"So you believe in the Dutchman, Hilary?" + +"I don't understand you, Sir Henry," said the young man. + +"I say you believe in the Dutchman--the man you call George the Second-- +the Pretender." + +"I do not believe in the Pretender," exclaimed Hilary quickly. + +"Don't quibble, my boy," said Sir Henry smiling. "You call my sovereign +the Pretender, and that is what I call the man you serve. Good heavens, +boy! how could you devote your frank young life to such a service?" + +Hilary had finished all he wanted of the chicken, and he sat and gazed +in the baronet's face. + +"Well," said the latter, "what are you thinking?" + +"I was thinking, Sir Henry, how much better it would be if we were both +to speak out frankly. Now, what do you mean?" + +"What do I mean?" said Sir Henry thoughtfully. + +He stopped and remained thinking. + +"I'll tell you what you mean, Sir Henry, if you like," said Hilary. +"You have come here now, secure in your power, if you like to call it +so, and you are going to try and win me over by soft words to join the +other cause." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Sir Henry, changing his ground. "I did not say +anything to make you think such a thing as that." + +Hilary saw that he had made a mistake, and he, too, withdrew his +argumentative position. + +"Perhaps I am wrong then," he said. + +"Presumably, Hilary. Why, my good boy, of what value would you be to +us? I said what I did only out of compassion." + +This nettled Hilary, who, boylike, had no little idea of his importance +in the world. + +"Oh, no, my dear boy, I only felt a little sorry; and as to being in my +power, really I have no power whatever here. I am, as I told you, only +a visitor." + +"On the Pretender's business," said Hilary sharply. + +"I did not say so," replied Sir Henry quietly. "But come, suppose we +two enemies, in a political sense, leave off fencing and come, down to +the matter of fact. Hilary, my boy, I am very grateful to you for your +reticence the other day. You saved my life." + +"I am very glad I served you, Sir Henry; but I hope I shall never be +placed in such a situation again. If I am, sir, I shall be obliged to +give you up." + +"From a stern sense of duty," said Sir Henry laughing. "Well, now I +want to serve you in turn, Hilary. What can I do for you?" + +"Have me immediately set at liberty, Sir Henry." + +"Ah! there you ask an impossibility, my boy. You know what you are +supposed to have discovered?" + +"Yes." + +"And if you are set at liberty you will of course bring the _Kestrel_ +abreast of a certain part of the shore and land your men?" + +"Of course." + +"Then is it likely, my dear boy, that these people here will give you +the opportunity? No; I am ready to help you in remembrance of old days; +and if you will give your word of honour as a gentleman not to go more +than five hundred yards in any direction from this old place I dare say +I can get for you that length of tether." + +"I'm to promise not to escape?" + +"Most decidedly; and if you do I dare say I can manage for your life to +pass far more agreeably than in your close quarters on board the cutter, +with a peremptory, bullying officer." + +"Lieutenant Lipscombe is my officer, and a gentleman, Sir Henry." + +"Lieutenant Lipscombe is your officer, and he is no gentleman, Hilary +Leigh," said Sir Henry warmly. "But we will not discuss that. As I was +saying, I daresay I can manage to make your life pass pretty pleasantly +here. Adela will be your companion, and you can be boy and girl +together again, and spend your time collecting and fishing and boating +on the little river. It will be pleasant for both of you. All you will +have to do will be to hear, see, and say nothing. Better still--don't +hear, don't see, and say whatever you like. I will take care that a +snug room is provided for you, and you will have your meals with us. +Now what do you say?" + +"What is to become of my duty to my ship?" + +"A prisoner of war has no duties." + +"But I am not a prisoner of war, Sir Henry." + +"Indeed, my boy, that you are, most decidedly. You and yours make war +on the gentlemen who fetch brandy and lace from the French coast." + +"And followers of the Pretender," said Hilary sharply. + +"I accept your correction, my boy--and followers of his most gracious +majesty King Charles Edward." + +"Stuff!" cried Hilary. + +"Every man according to his lights, my boy. But as I was saying, your +people make war against these people, and they generally act on the +defensive. Sometimes they retaliate. This time they have taken a +prisoner--you." + +"Yes, hang them!" cried Hilary. + +"No, no," laughed Sir Henry, "don't do that. No yardarm work, my boy. +You see we do not offer to hang you; on the contrary, I offer you a +comfortable happy life for a few months on parole." + +"A few months!" cried Hilary. + +"Perhaps a year or two. Now what do you say?" + +"No!" cried Hilary quickly. + +"Think, my boy. You will be kept a very close prisoner, and it will be +most unpleasant. We want to use you well." + +"And you nearly smother me; you drag me here in a wretched donkey-cart; +and you nearly starve me to death." + +"On chicken and wine," said Sir Henry smiling. "Come, Hilary, your +parole." + +"No, Sir Henry," cried the young man, "I'll give no parole. I mean to +get away from here, and I warn you that as soon as I do I'll bring +brimstone and burn out this miserable wasps' nest; so get out of the +way." + +"Then I must leave you to think it over, Hilary. There," he continued, +rising, "think about it. I'll come and see you this evening." + +"Stop, Sir Henry," cried the young man, leaping up in turn; "this is an +outrage on an officer in the navy. In the king's name I order you to +set me at liberty." + +"And in the king's name I refuse, Master Hilary." + +"Then I shall take it," cried Hilary, making for the door, which he +reached and flung open, but only to find himself confronted by three +rough, sailor-looking fellows. + +"You see," said Sir Henry smiling. "Allstone, take away that tray. +Good-bye for the present, Hilary. I will see you to-night." + +He went out of the door, which was slammed to and locked, and Sir Henry +Norland said to himself: + +"I like the lad, and it goes against me to make him break faith; but it +must be done. My cause is a greater one than his. Once on our side, he +could be of immense service. He will have to be won over somehow, poor +fellow. Let's see what a day or two's caging will do." + +Meanwhile Hilary was angrily walking up and down his prison, wroth with +Sir Henry, with himself, and with fate, for placing him in such a +position, to ameliorate which he climbed up to the window-sill and gazed +out at the sunny meads. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +ANOTHER CRUISE ASHORE. + +Lieutenant Lipscombe made up his mind half a dozen times over that he +would run into port and send in a despatch detailing Hilary Leigh's +desertion; and each time that he so made up his mind, and had the +cutter's head laid in the required direction, his eye became so painful +that the cook had to supply hot water from the galley, and the worthy +officer went below to bathe the injured optic. + +Each time as the inflammation was relieved the lieutenant unmade his +mind, and decided to wait a little longer, going on deck again to +superintend the repairs Joe Smith, the carpenter, familiarly known as +"Chips," was proceeding with in the damaged deck. + +There was a great deal to do and the carpenter was doing that great deal +well, but at his own pace, for "Chips" was not a rapid man. If he had a +hole to make with gimlet or augur he did not dash at it and perhaps bore +the hole a quarter or half an inch out of place, but took his +measurements slowly and methodically, and no matter who or what was +waiting he went steadily on. + +There was enough in the composition of "Chips" to make anyone believe +that he had descended from a family in the far-off antiquity who were +bears; for he was heavy and bearlike in all his actions, especially in +going up or coming down a ladder, and his caution was proverbial amongst +the crew. + +So deliberately were the proceedings now going on that Lieutenant +Lipscombe grew hot every time he went on deck, and the hotter the +commander became the cooler grew "Chips." + +The lieutenant stormed and bade him make haste. + +"You are disgracefully slow, sir," he exclaimed. + +"Chips" immediately found that his saw or chisel wanted sharpening, and +left off to touch up the teeth of the one with a file, and the edge of +the other on a stone well lubricated with oil. + +The lieutenant grew more angry, and the carpenter looked at him in the +calmest possible way, till in despair, seeing that he was doing no good, +but only hindering progress, Lieutenant Lipscombe went aft to his cabin +and bathed his eye. + +"Lookye here," said Billy Waters the day after Hilary's disappearance, +"I hope, my lads, I'm as straightforrard a chap as a man can be, and as +free from mut'nous idees; but what I want to know is this: why don't we +go ashore and have another sarch for our young orsifer?" + +"That's just what I says," exclaimed Tom Tully. + +"No, you don't, Thomas," cried the gunner sharply. "You did nothing but +grumble and growl all the blessed time we was ashore, and say as our +young orsifer had cut on some games or another. I put it to you, lads; +now didn't he?" + +"That's a true word," said one of the men, and several others agreed. + +"Yes," growled Tom Tully; "but that was when I weer hot and wanted to +stow some wittles below, and my feet was as sore as if they'd been +holystoned or scraped with a rusty nail. I'm ready enough now." + +"Then I think we ought to go. I don't like the idee o' forsakin' of +him." + +"Pass the word there for the gunner," cried the corporal of marines. +"Captain wants him in his cabin." + +Billy Waters pulled himself together, straightened his pigtail, and +hauling up his slack, as he called it--to wit, giving the waistband of +his trousers a rub up with one arm in front and a hitch up with one arm +behind, he went off aft, and came back at the end of a quarter of an +hour to announce that a fresh search was to be made for Mr Leigh, and +that they were to go ashore as soon as it was dusk. + +"What's the good o' going then?" said the boatswain. "Why not go now?" + +"That's just what I was a-thinking," said Billy Waters; "but I s'pose +the skipper knows best." + +Preparations were made and arms served round. The boat was to go under +command of the gunner, and each man was supplied with a ration of +biscuits, to be supplemented by a tot of grog before starting, which was +to be just at dark, and the men, being all eager to find their young +officer, who was a great favourite, lounged about waiting the order, a +most welcome one on account of the grog; but just as the grog was being +mixed in its proper proportions the gunner was sent for to the cabin, +where the lieutenant was still bathing his eye. + +"Has that grog been served out, Waters?" + +"No, your honour; it's just a-going to be done." + +"Go and stop it." + +"Stop it, your honour? The men's grog?" + +"Go and stop it, I say," cried the lieutenant irascibly. "I shall not +send the expedition to-night." + +Billy Waters went back and gave the order in the hearing of the +assembled crew, from whom a loud murmur arose--truth to tell more on +account of the extra tot of grog than the disappointment about searching +for Hilary; but the latter feeling dominated a few minutes later, and +the men lay about grumbling in no very pleasant way. + +"I say it's a shame, that's what I says it is," growled Tom Tully, "and +it ought to be reported. For half a button I'd desart, and go and look +for him myself--that's about what I'd do." + +Just then Chips, who had knocked off work for the night, struck in +slowly, laughing heartily the while: "Why don't you say as you won't go, +my lads? He's sure to send you then." + +"That's a good 'un," said Tom Tully. + +"Ah! to be sure," said the boatswain. "I'm a officer, and can't do it; +but if I was you, seeing as we ought to fetch young Mr Leigh back +aboard, I should just give three rattling good cheers." + +"What good would that do?" said Billy Waters dubiously. + +"Why, then the skipper would send for one of us to know what's the +matter. `Ship's crew mutinous, sir; says they wouldn't have gone ashore +if they'd been ordered.'" + +"Well?" said Billy Waters, "I don't see that that would have been no +good neither." + +"Why, don't you see? Soon as you says that he claps on his sword, takes +his pistols, and orders you all into the boat; and says he, `If you dare +to come back without Mr Leigh I'll string one of you up to the +yardarm.'" + +"That's it," chorussed several of the men. + +"Yes," said Billy Waters; "but suppose we do come back without him, and +he do string us up--how then?" + +"Ah! but he won't," said the boatswain. "Men's too scarce." + +"Well, I wouldn't have gone ashore in the boat," said one man. + +"Nor I", "Nor I," chorussed half-a-dozen; and then they stopped, for the +lieutenant had approached unseen, caught the words, and in a fit of fury +he shouted to the boatswain: + +"Here, my sword--from the cabin!" he cried. "No; stop. Pipe away the +boat's crew. You, Waters, head that expedition!" And then, as if moved +to repeat the boatswain's words, he continued, "And don't you men dare +to come back without Mr Leigh." + +The men had got their own way; but though they waited patiently for the +rest of the lieutenant's order respecting the extra tot of grog, that +order did not come, and they had to set off without it. + +They were in capital spirits, and bent well to their oars, sending the +boat surging through the water, and chattering and laughing like so many +boys as soon as they were out of hearing. No wonder, for there is +something exceedingly monotonous in being cooped up day after day on +board ship, especially if it be a very small one; and there is no wonder +at Jack's being fond of a run ashore. + +The evening was coming on very dark, and a thick bank of clouds was +rising in the west, gradually blotting out the stars one by one, almost +before they had had time to get well alight. + +"Pull steady, my lads," said the gunner. "Save a little bit of breath +for landing." + +"All right, matey," said one of the men; and they rowed steadily, each +stroke of an oar seeming to splash up so much pale liquid fire, while +the boat's stem sent it flashing and sparkling away in an ever-diverging +train. + +"Now then, lads, steady," said Billy Waters, who seemed to have suddenly +awakened to the fact that he ought to be more dignified, as became the +officer in command. "We don't want to go for to let everybody ashore +know we're coming." + +There was silence then, only broken by the splash of the water from the +oars, and a dismal creaking noise of wood upon wood. + +"Shove a bit o' grease agen that there thole-pin o' yours, Tom Tully. +Your oar'll rouse all the smugglers along the coast." + +"Ar'n't no grease," growled Tom. + +"Then why didn't you get a bit out of a lantern afore you come aboard?" + +"'Cause nobody didn't tell me," growled Tom, who ceased rowing and +splashed the space between the thole-pins with a few drops of water, +when the noise ceased. + +"Steady, my lads, steady!" said Billy Waters, giving a pull at the +rudder, so as to run the boat more west towards where the cliff rose +high and black against the darkening sky. + +"Yer see--" began Tom Tully, and then he stopped. + +"Not werry far," said the man pulling behind him. + +"Well, what do you see, old Tommy?" said Billy Waters. "Give it woice." + +"Yer see," began Tom Tully, "I'm a chap as allus gets bullied as soon as +he opens his mouth." + +"Soon as what chap opens his mouth?" said the gunner. + +"Why, ar'n't I a-telling of you?--me," growled Tom Tully. + +"Well, what's the matter now?" said the gunner. + +"Well, I was a-wondering what we was going for ashore." + +"Now, just hark at this here chap!" said the gunner indignantly. + +"That's what I says," growled Tom Tully; "directly I opens my mouth I +gets a bullying. I allus gets told I'm a-grumbling." + +"Well, come now," said the gunner, "speak out will you? What's the +matter?" + +"Oh, I don't want to speak out unless you like," said Tom. + +"Yes, come, out with it, and don't let's have no mutinous, onderhanded +ways," cried the gunner importantly. + +"Well, what I want to know is, what we're a-going for ashore?" + +"Now just hark at him," cried the gunner, "grumbling again. Why, ar'n't +we going to look after our young orsifer?" + +"Then why didn't we come in the daytime, and not wait until it was +getting so pitch dark as you can't see your hand afore your eyes?" + +Billy Waters scratched his head. + +"Well, it is getting dark, old Tommy, sartinly," he said apologetically. + +"Dark as Davy Jones's locker," growled Tom. "I wants to find Muster +Leigh as much as anybody, but you can't look if you can't see." + +"That's a true word anyhow," said one of the men. + +"It's my belief as our skipper's pretty nigh mad," continued Tom, giving +a vicious jerk at his oar, "or else he wouldn't be sending us ashore at +this time o' night." + +"Well, it is late, Tommy," said the gunner; "but we must make the best +on it." + +"Yah! There ar'n't no best on it. All we can do is to get ashore, sit +down on the sand, and shout out, `Muster Leigh, ahoy!'" + +"There, it ar'n't no use to growl again, Tom Tully," said Billy Waters, +reassuming his dignified position of commanding officer. "Give way, my +lads." + +The men took long, steady strokes, and soon after the boat glided right +in over the calm phosphorescent waves, four men leaped out as her bows +touched the sand, and as the next wave lifted her, they ran her right +up; the others leaped out and lent a hand, and the next minute the boat +was high and dry. + +"Now then, my lads," cried the gunner, "what I propose is that we try +and find our landmarks, and as soon as we have hit the place where +Master Leigh left us we'll all hail as loud as we can, and then wait for +an answer." + +Tom Tully growled out something in reply, it was impossible to say what, +and leaving one man to act as boatkeeper, they all set off together +along the shore. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +ATTACK AND DEFEAT. + +Tom Tully had marked down a towering portion of the cliff as being over +the spot where they had lost sight of their young officer, and, as it +happened, that really was pretty close to the place, so, trudging on in +silence after giving a glance in the direction where the cutter lay, now +seen only as a couple of lights about a mile from the shore, they soon +reached the rocks, where the gunner called a halt. + +"Now, my lads," he said, "get all of a row, face inwards, and make ready +to hail. We'll give him one good `_Kestrel_ ahoy!' and that'll wake him +up, wherever he is. Hallo! stop that chap! There, he's dodged behind +that big stone." + +The men wanted no further inducement than the sight of some one trying +to avoid them. + +In an instant the quiet stolid row of men were dashing here and there +among the rocks in chase of a dark figure, which, from a thorough +knowledge of the ground, kept eluding them, darting between the rocks, +scrambling over others; and had he had to deal with a couple of pursuers +he would have escaped at once, but he had too many on his track, and +fortune was rather against him, so that several times over he ran right +upon one or other of the party and was nearly taken. + +The activity of the young man, for such he seemed to be, was something +marvellous; and again and again he made a tremendous leap, scrambled +over the rocks, and escaped. The last time, however, he dropped down in +a narrow place that formed quite a _cul-de-sac_, and right in front of +Tom Tully. + +"What! have I got you?" cried the great stolid fellow; and he made a +dash forward, straddling out his legs as if on board ship, when, to his +intense astonishment, his quarry bent down, dashed at him, ducked +between his knees, struggling through, and throwing the great sailor +headlong flat upon his face. + +The shout Tom Tully gave brought up Billy Waters; and as the stranger +recovered his feet to escape in a fresh direction, he ran right into the +gunner's arms, to be held with a grip like iron. + +The man had his arms free, however, and putting his fingers into his +mouth he gave vent to a piercing whistle, close to the gunner's ear. + +"Oh, that's it, is it?" said Billy Waters. "Well, my lad, I sha'n't let +you go any the more for that. Here, lend a hand my lads, and lash his +wristies and elbows together. We've got him, and we'll keep him till we +get back Muster Leigh. Now then, Tom Tully, you hold him while I lash +his wristies. That's your style. I say, he won't get away once I--Look +at that!" + +Tom Tully had, as he thought, taken a good hold of the prisoner, when +the man gave himself a sudden wrench, dived under the gunner's arm, and +was gone. + +"Well, of all--" began Tom Tully. + +"Why didn't you hold him?" cried the gunner. + +"I thought he was a man and not a slippery eel," cried Tom Tully. "He's +for all the world like one o' them big congers Muster Leigh caught off +Hastings." + +"Yes," cried the gunner, "but he did hold 'em when he caught 'em. Look +out, my lads! he come your way." + +The men were well on the alert this time, and one of them, in spite of +the darkness, saw which way the prisoner had taken, that being none +other than the narrow passage between the rocks which Hilary had found. + +He saw him go down here, and then caught sight of him as he climbed over +the rock. + +"This way," shouted the sailor as he scrambled over after the escaping +man, got into the chasm on the other side, and then following him, just +in time to hear a dull, heavy thud, and his mate staggered back against +him half stunned by a heavy blow. + +Just then there was a sharp whiz; and he felt the wind of a blow aimed +at him from the rocks above his head, to which he replied by lugging out +his hanger and dealing a vigorous blow at his unseen enemy, but without +effect. + +"Here, this way," he shouted. "Waters! Tom Tully! Here they are." + +A sturdy "Ahoy!" came in response, just as the first man began to +scramble to his feet and stood rubbing his head. + +"Where away?" cried Billy Waters. + +"Here ho!" replied both the men in the narrow pass; and beading the rest +of the party, the gunner, after another hail or two, scrambled over and +joined the two first men, every one of the party now having his +unsheathed cutlass in his hand. + +"Well," cried the gunner excitedly, "where are they?" + +"Close here," said the man who had received the blow. "One of 'em hit +me with a handspike." + +"And some one cut at me from up above on the rocks," cried the other. + +The gunner held up his hand to command silence, and then listened +attentively. + +"Why there ar'n't no one," he cried in tones of disgust. "You Joe +Harris, you run up again a rock; and as for you, Jemmy Leeson, you've +been asleep." + +The two men indignantly declared that they had spoken the truth; but +with an impatient "Pish!" the gunner went forward along the narrow way. + +"Here, come along," he said; and as the words left his lips those behind +heard a heavy blow, and Billy Waters came hastily back. + +"That ain't fancy," said one of the men, "unless Billy hit his head +again the rocks." + +"It warn't my head," whispered the gunner drawing in his breath, and +trying to suppress the pain. "It caught me right on the left shoulder. +I shall be all right directly, my lads, and we'll give it 'em. I'll bet +that's how they sarved poor Master Leigh; and we've dropped right into +the proper spot. Just wait till I get my breath a bit." + +"Think it's the smugglers?" said Tom Tully. + +"Sartain," was the reply. "I wish we had a lantern or two. But never +mind. If we can't see to hit them, they can't see to hit us; so it's +broad as it's long." + +"We shall want the pistols, shan't we?" said one of the men. + +"Pistols? no," cried the gunner. "Stick to your whingers, lads. It's +no use to fire a piece without you can take good aim, and you can't do +that in the dark--it's only waste of powder. Now, then, are you ready?" + +"Ay, ay," was whispered back in the midst of the ominous silence that +prevailed. + +"Then look here," cried the gunner, "I shall go in at 'em roosh; and if +they downs me, don't you mind, lads, but keep on; go over me at once and +board the place." + +"Lookye here," growled Tom Tully, "I'm 'bout as hard as iron; they won't +hurt me. Let me go fust, capten." + +As he spoke the great fellow spat in his hand before taking a tighter +grip of his weapon, and making a step forward. + +"Just you keep aft, will yer, Tom Tully, and obey orders?" said the +gunner, seizing the great fellow by the tail and dragging him back. +"I'm skipper here, and I'm going to lead. Now, lads, are you all +ready?" + +"Ay, ay," was the reply. + +"Then I ar'n't," said the gunner. "That crack pretty nigh split my +shoulder. Now I am. Close up, and hit hard. We're all right, my lads; +they're smugglers, and they hit us fust." + +The gunner made a dash forward, and, as they had expected, a concealed +enemy struck a tremendous blow at him; but Billy Waters was a sailor, +and accustomed to rapid action. By quickness of movement and ready wit +he avoided the blow, which, robbed of a good deal of its force, struck +Tom Tully full in the chest, stopping him for a moment, but only serving +to infuriate him, as, recovering himself, he dashed on after the gunner. + +A sharp fight ensued, for now, as the sailors forced their way on, they +found plenty of antagonists. Most of them seemed to be armed with stout +clubs like capstan-bars, with which they struck blow after blow of the +most formidable character from where they kept guard at various turns of +the narrow passage, while the sailors could not reach them with their +short cutlasses. + +It was sharp work, and with all their native stubbornness the little +party fought their way on, attacking and carrying yard after yard of the +passage, forcing the smugglers to retreat from vantage ground to vantage +ground, and always higher and higher up the rocks. + +The attacking party were at a terrible disadvantage, for the place was +to them like a maze, while the smugglers kept taking them in the rear, +and striking at them from the most unexpected positions, till the +sailors were hot with a rage that grew fiercer with every blow. + +At the end of ten minutes two of the men were down, and the gunner and +Tom Tully panting and breathless with their exertions; but far from +feeling beaten they were more eager than ever to come to close quarters +with their antagonists, for, in addition to the fighting spirit roused +within them, they were inflamed with the idea of the large stores of +smuggled goods that they would capture: velvets and laces and silks in +endless quantities, with kegs of brandy besides. That they had hit +accidentally upon the party who had seized Mr Leigh they had not a +doubt, and so they fought bravely on till they reached a narrower pass +amongst the rocks than any they had yet gone through. So narrow was it +that they could only approach in single file, and, hemmed in as they +were with the rocks to right and left, the attack now resolved itself +into a combat of two--to wit, Billy Waters and a great broad-shouldered +fellow who disputed his way. The men who backed up the big smuggler +were apparently close behind him; but it was now too dark to see, and, +to make matters worse for the gunner, there was no room for him to swing +his cutlass; all he could do was to make clumsy stabs with the point, or +try to guard himself from the savage thrusts made at him with the +capstan bar or club by the smuggler. + +This went on for some minutes without advantage on either side, till, +growing tired, Billy Waters drew back for a moment. "Now, my lads," he +whispered, "I'm going to roosh him. Keep close up, Tom Tully, and nail +him if I go down." + +Tom Tully growled out his assent to the order given to him, and the next +moment the gunner made a dash forward into the darkness, striking +sharply downwards with his cutlass, so sharply that the sparks flew from +the rock, where his weapon struck, while on recovering himself for a +second blow he found that it, too, struck the rock, and Billy Waters +uttered a yell as he started back, overcome with superstitious horror on +finding himself at the end of the narrow rift, and quite alone. + +"What's the matter, matey?" growled Tom Tully; "are you hurt?" + +"No. Go and try yourself," said the gunner, who was for the moment +quite unnerved. + +Tom Tully squeezed by, and, making a dash forward, he too struck at the +rock, and made the sparks fly, after which he poked about with the point +of his cutlass, which clinked and jingled against the stones. + +"Why, they ar'n't here!" he cried. "Look out!" + +Every one did look out, but in vain. They were in a very narrow passage +between two perpendicular pieces of rock, and they had driven the +smugglers back step by step into what they expected to find to be a +cavern crammed with treasure; but now that the end was reached they +could feel nothing in the dark but the flat face of the rock, and this +seemed to slope somewhat over their heads, and that was all. + +Billy Waters' surprise had now evaporated along with his alarm, and +pushing to the front once more he set himself to work to find how the +enemy had eluded them. + +They could not have gone through the rock, he argued, and there was no +possible way that he could feel by which they had climbed up. Neither +was ascent possible by scaling the rock to right or left, unless they +had had a ladder, and of that there did not seem to have been any sign. + +For a few moments the gunner stood as if nonplussed. Then an idea +occurred to him. + +Taking a pistol from his belt he quickly drew out the bullet and a +portion of the powder before flashing off the other over some which he +laid loose upon the rock. + +This lit up the place for the moment, but revealed nothing more than +they knew before, and that was that they were walled in on either side +by rock, and that a huge mass rose up in front. + +"It's a rum 'un," growled Tom Tully; and then again, "It's a rum 'un. I +say, Billy Waters, old mate, what's gone o' them chaps?" + +The gunner felt ready to believe once more that there was something "no +canny" about the affair, but he shook off the feeling, and began +searching about once more for some sign or other of his enemies; but he +sought in vain, and at last he turned to his companions to ask them what +they had better do. + +Such a proceeding would, however, be derogatory to his dignity, he +thought, so he proceeded to give his opinion on the best course. + +"Look here, my lads," he said in a whisper; "it seems to me that we +ought to have come on this trip by daylight." + +"That ere's what I said," growled Tom Tully. + +"All right, Tommy, only don't be so precious proud of it," said the +leader. "I says we ought to have come on this trip by daylight." + +"As I says afore, that's what I did say," growled Tom Tully again; but +this time his superior officer refused to hear him, and continued: + +"As we didn't come by daylight, my lads, we ought to have had lanterns." + +"Ay, ay," said one of the men. + +"So I think," said the gunner; "we'd best go back and get the lanterns, +so as to have a good search, or else come back and do the job by +daylight." + +"Ay, ay," was chorussed by three of the party. + +"Yes, it's all very well to say `Ay, ay,' and talk about lanterns and +daylight," growled Tom Tully; "but I don't like going off and leaving +one's work half done. I want to have a go at that chap as fetched me a +crack with a handspike, and I shan't feel happy till I have; so now +then, my lads." + +"What's the good o' being obst'nit, Tommy?" said his leader. "No one +wants to stop you from giving it to him as hit you, only just tell me +where he is." + +"That ar'n't my job, Billy Waters," cried the big fellow; "that's your +job. You leads, and I does the fighting. Show him to me and I'll make +him that sore as he shall wish he'd stopped at home." + +"Come on, then, and let's get the lanterns, and come back then," said +the gunner. "It ar'n't no use to be knocking ourselves about here in +the dark. Come on." + +He tried to lead the way back as they had come, each man cutlass in +hand, and well on the alert in case of attack; but nothing interposed to +stop them as they scrambled and clambered over the rocks till they got +to the open shore once more, just as, in front of them and out in the +pitchy blackness, there was a flash, a report, and then the wall of +darkness closed up once more. + +"Oh! ah, we're a-coming," said Billy Waters, who, now that the +excitement was over, began to feel very sore, while his companions got +along very slowly, having a couple of sorely-beaten men to help. +"Anybody make out the ship's lights?" + +"I can see one on 'em," growled Tully. + +"And where's our boat?" cried the gunner. "Jim Tanner, ahoy!" + +"Ahoy!" came in a faint voice from a distance. + +"There he is," said Billy Waters. "Come, my lads, look alive, or we +shall have the skipper firing away more o' my powder. I wish him and +Jack Brown would let my guns alone. Now then, Jim Tanner, where away?" + +"Ahoy!" came again in a faint voice, and stumbling on through the +darkness, they came at last upon the boatkeeper, tied neck and heels, +and lying in the sand. + +"Who done this?" cried the gunner. + +"I dunno," said the man; "only cast me loose, mates." + +This was soon done, the man explaining that a couple of figures suddenly +jumped upon him out of the darkness, and bound him before he could stand +on his defence. + +"Why, you was asleep, that's what you was," cried the gunner angrily. +"Nice job we've made of it. My! ar'n't it dark? Now, then, where's +this here boat? Bring them two wounded men along. D'yer hear?" + +"Oh, it ar'n't been such a very bad time," growled Tom Tully; "we did +have a bit of a fight!" + +"Fight? ay! and didn't finish it. Now, then, Tom Tully, where's that +boat? Can you see her?" + +"Yes; here she is," growled the big sailor; "and blest if some one +ar'n't took away the oars; and--yes that they have. No getting off +to-night, lads; they've shoved a hole in her bottom." + +"What!" cried Billy Waters, groping his way to the boat; and then, in a +hoarse, angry voice, "and no mistake. She's stove-in!" + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +A FEW IDEAS ON ESCAPE. + +Hilary Leigh felt very angry at being shut up in his prison, but the +good breakfast with which he had been supplied went some way towards +mollifying him, and as he sat upon the window-sill he felt that Sir +Henry would much like to win him over to his side. + +"And he is not going to do it," he said half aloud. + +It was a lovely day, and as he sat there gazing out at the view, he +thought he had never seen anything so beautiful before. It was +wonderful, too, how a comfortable meal had improved his appreciation of +what he saw. + +But even then there were drawbacks. A rough and narrow stone seat, upon +which you can only sit by holding on tightly to some rusty iron bars, +does go against the full enjoyment of a scene, especially if you know +that those rusty iron bars prevent you from going any farther. + +So before long Hilary grew weary of his irksome position, and, letting +himself down, he had a walk along each side of the old chapel, striding +out as fast as he could, till he fancied he heard his old playmate +outside, when he pounded up to the window again, but only to be +disappointed. + +This went on hour after hour, but still Adela did not come, and as the +afternoon wore on he began to think it extremely cruel and +unsympathising. + +"She knows I'm shut up here like a bird in a cage, and yet she does not +come to say a single word to cheer me." + +The side where the window was seemed darkened now, for the sun had got +well round to the west, and as he climbed up for another good look out +the landscape seemed to wear fresh charms, exciting an intense longing +to get out and ramble over the sunshine-flooded hills, or to lie down +beneath the shaded trees. + +He was accustomed to a prison life, as it were, being shut up so much +within a little sloop; but that wooden prison was always on the move, +and never seemed to oppress him as did the four dull walls of his +present abode. + +"I shall wear out the knees of my breeches in no time, if I'm to be kept +in here long," he said, as he was in the act of making a run and a jump +for another look out; but he stopped short just in the act, for he +fancied he heard the rattle of a key, and directly after he knew he was +not deceived, for there was a heavy step, then another, and then a key +was placed in the big door. + +"Well, this is being made a prisoner, and no mistake. Hallo, handsome!" +he cried aloud, as the forbidding-looking man addressed by Sir Henry as +Allstone entered the place with another looking little more amiable, and +both were bringing something in the shape of food. + +"What?" said the man surlily. + +"I said `Hallo, handsome!'" cried Hilary. "Have you come to let me +out?" + +The man uttered a low hoarse chuckle, which sounded like a laugh, but +his face did not move a muscle, and he looked as if he were scowling +heavily. + +"We'll carry you out some day, my young buck," he said, "feet foremost. +There's a little burying-ground just outside the place here." + +"Thank you," replied Hilary. "Is that meant for a joke?" + +"Joke? No, I never joke. Here I've brought you something to eat, and +you won't get any more till to-morrow." + +He set the rough tray he carried on the floor, and the man who was with +him did the same, after which they both stood and stared at the +prisoner. + +"Send him away," said Hilary suddenly, and he pointed to the fresh man. + +"What for?" + +"I want to talk to you." + +Allstone gave his head a jerk and the man went outside. "Look here," +said Hilary, "how long are you going to keep me here?" + +"Till the skipper is tired of you, I suppose, or till Sir Henry's gone." + +"And then you'll let me go?" + +"Oh, yes," said the man grimly. "We shall let you go then." + +There was another hoarse chuckle, which appeared very strange, for it +did not seem to come from the man, who scowled at him in the same heavy, +morose way. + +"Oh! come! you're not going to frighten me into the belief that you can +kill me, my man," cried Hilary. "I'm too old for that." + +"Who's to know if we did?" said the fellow. + +"Why, you don't suppose that one of his majesty's officers can be +detained without proper search being made. You'll have the crew of my +ship over here directly, and they'll burn the place about your ears." + +"Thankye," said the man. "Is that all you want to say?" + +"No. Now look here; I'll give you five guineas if you'll let me go some +time to-night. You could break through that window, and it would seem +as if I had done it myself." + +For answer the man turned upon his heel and stalked out of the place +without a word. + +"Get out, you rude boor!" cried Hilary, as the door slammed and the key +turned. "Kill me and bury me! Bah! I should like to see them do it." + +A faint noise outside made him scale the window once more; but there was +no sign of Adela, so he returned. + +"Well, they're not going to starve me," he said to himself, as he looked +at the plates before him, one containing a good-looking pork pasty, the +others a loaf and a big piece of butter, while a large brown jug was +half full of milk. + +There was a couple of knives, too, the larger and stronger of which he +took and thrust beneath the straw. + +"What a piggish way of treating a fellow!" he muttered. "No chair, no +table; not so much as a stool. Well, I'm not very hungry yet, and as +this is to last till to-morrow I may as well wait." + +He stood thinking for a bit, and then the idea of escaping came more +strongly than ever, and he went and examined the door, which seemed +strong enough to resist a battering-ram. + +There was the window as the only other likely weak place, but on +climbing up and again testing the mortar with the point of his knife, +the result was disheartening, for the cement of the good old times +hardened into something far more difficult to deal with than stone. In +fact, he soon found that he would be more likely to escape by sawing +through the bars or digging through the stone. + +"Well, I mean to get out if Lipscombe don't send and fetch me; and I'll +let them see that I'm not quite such a tame animal as to settle down to +my cage without some effort;" and as he spoke he looked up at the +ceiling as being a likely place to attack. + +He had the satisfaction of seeing that it was evidently weak, and that +with the exercise of a little ingenuity there would be no difficulty in +cutting a way through. + +But there was one drawback--it was many feet above his head, and +impossible of access without scaffold or ladder. + +"And I'm not a fly, to hold on with my head downwards," he said, half +aloud. + +He slowly lowered himself from the window-sill, and had another good +look at the walls, tapping them here and there where they had been +plastered; but though they sounded hollow, they seemed for the most part +to be exceedingly thick, and offered no temptation for an assault. + +He stood there musing, with the place of his confinement gradually +growing more gloomy, and the glow in the sky reminding him of how +glorious the sea would look upon such an evening. + +There were a few strands of straw lying about, and he proceeded to kick +them together in an idle fashion, his thoughts being far away at the +time, when a sudden thought came to him like a flash. + +The place was paved with slabs of stone, and it had been the chapel of +the old mansion; perhaps there were vaults underneath, or maybe cellars. + +The more he thought, the more likely this seemed. The old builders in +that part of England believed in providing cool stores for wine and +beer. In many places the dairy was underground, and why might there not +be some place below here from which he could make his escape? + +He stamped with his foot and listened. + +Hollow, without a doubt. + +He tried in another part, and another; and no matter where, the sound +was such as would arise from a place beneath whose floor there was some +great vault. + +"That'll do," he said to himself, with a half-laugh. "I'm satisfied; so +now I'll have something to eat." + +The evening was closing in as he seated himself upon the straw and began +his meal, listening the while for some sign of the presence of Adela +under his prison window, but he listened in vain. There was the evening +song of the thrush, and he could hear poultry and the distant grunting +of his friend the pig. Now and then, too, there came through the window +the soft cooing of the pigeons on the roof, but otherwise there was not +a sound, and the place might have been deserted by human kind. + +"So much the better for me," he said, "if I want to escape;" and having +at last finished his meal, he placed the remains on one side for use in +the morning, and tried to find a likely stone in the floor for +loosening, but he had to give up because it was so dark, and climbed up +once more to the window to gaze out now at the stars, which moment by +moment grew brighter in the east. + +There was something very soft and beautiful in the calm of the summer +night, but it oppressed him with its solitude. In one place he could +see a faint ray of light, apparently from some cottage window; but that +soon went out, and the scene that had been so bright in the morning was +now shrouded in a gloom which almost hid the nearest trees. + +Now and then he could hear a splash in the moat made by fish or +water-vole, and once or twice he saw the star-bejewelled surface twinkle +and move as if some creature were swimming across; but soon that was all +calm again, and the booming, buzzing noise of some great beetle sweeping +by on reckless wing sounded quite loud. + +"It's as lively as keeping the middle watch," said Hilary impatiently. +"The best thing I can do is to go to sleep." + +Hilary Leigh was one not slow to act upon his convictions, and getting +down he proceeded to make himself as snug a nest as he could in the +straw, lay down, pulled some of it over him, to the great bedusting of +his uniform, and in five minutes he was fast asleep. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +BILLY WATERS FINDS IT OUT. + +"Well," said Billy Waters, "of all the cowardly, sneaking tricks anybody +could do, I don't know a worse one than staving in a man's boat. Yah! a +fellow who would do such a thing ought to be strung up at the yardarm, +that he ought!" + +"Every day," growled Tom Tully. "Well, matey, how is we to get aboard?" + +"What's the good of asking me?" cried Billy Waters, who was regularly +out of temper. "Leave that gun alone, will yer?" he roared as there was +another flash and a report from the cutter. "It's enough to aggravate a +hangel, that it is," he continued. "No sooner have I left the cutter, +and my guns that clean you might drink grog out of 'em, than the skipper +and that Jack Brown gets fooling of 'em about and making 'em foul. They +neither of 'em know no more about loading a gun than they do about being +archbishops; but they will do it, and they'll be a-busting of 'em some +day. Firing again, just as if we don't know the first was a recall! +Here, who's got a loaded pistol?" + +"Here you are, matey," said Tom Tully. + +"Fire away, then, uppards," said the gunner; "and let 'em know that we +want help." + +The flash from the pistol cut the darkness; there was a sharp report, +and the gunner fired his own pistols to make three shots. + +"There," he said, replacing them in his belt. "That'll make him send +another boat, and if that there Jacky Brown's in it I shall give him a +bit of my mind." + +There was a long pause now, during which the weary men sat apart upon +the sands, or with their backs propped against the sides of the damaged +boat, but at last there came a hail out of the darkness, to which Tom +Tully answered with a stentorian "Boat a-hoy-oy!" + +"Who told you to hail, Tom Tully?" cried the gunner. "I'm chief orsifer +here, so just you wait until you are told." + +Tom Tully growled, and the gunner walked down to where the waves beat +upon the shingle just as the regular plash-plash of the oars told of the +coming of the boat from the cutter with the boatswain in command, that +worthy leaping ashore, followed by half a dozen men. + +"What's on?" he cried. "Have you found Muster Leigh?" + +"No." + +"What did you signal for?" + +"Boat. Ourn's stove-in, and we've got knocked about awful." + +"What! by the smugglers?" + +"Ay, my lad. They beat us off." + +"Then, now there's reinforcements, let's go and carry all afore us." + +"It's all very fine for you, coming fresh and ready, to talk," said the +gunner; "but it ar'n't no use, my lad--we're reg'lar beat out. They got +away somehow, and you want daylight to find 'em." + +"Then you may go up the side of the cutter first, my lad, that's all +I've got to say," said the boatswain. "You don't catch me facing the +skipper to-night." + +It was a close pack to get all the men on board, but it was successfully +accomplished, the stove-in boat taken in tow, and the side of the cutter +reached at last, where, as the boatswain had vaguely hinted, there was a +storm. Billy Waters was threatened with arrest, and he was abused for +an hour for his clumsy management of the expedition. + +"A child would have managed it better, sir," cried the lieutenant; "but +never was officer in his majesty's service worse served than I am. Not +one subordinate have I on whom I can depend; I might just as well get a +draught of boys from the guardship, and if it was not for the men and +the marines I don't know what I should do. Pipe down." + +The men were piped down, glad enough to get something to eat, and then +to crawl to their hammocks, out of which they rolled in the morning +seeming little the worse for their engagement, the injured men being +bruised pretty severely, though they would not own to their hurts, being +too eager, as they put it, to go and pay their debts. + +For quite early the cutter began to sail in pretty close to the shore, +the carpenter busy the while in getting a fresh plank in the bottom of +the stove-in boat, having it ready by the time the lieutenant mustered +his men and told them off into the boats, leaving the boatswain in +command of the cutter and leading the expedition himself. + +The men fancied once or twice that they could see people on the cliffs +watching their movements, but they could not be sure, and as the boats +grated on the shingle the rocks looked as desolate and deserted as if +there had not been a soul there for years. + +The men were well-armed, and ready to make up for their misadventure of +the previous night, and Billy Waters being sent to the front to act as +guide he was not long in finding out the narrow entrance amongst the +rocks, but only to be at fault directly after, on account of places +looking so different in broad daylight to what they did when distorted +by the shadowy gloom. + +He had come to the head-scratching business, when a rub is expected to +brighten the intellect, and felt ready to appeal to his companions for +aid and counsel when he suddenly recollected that they had clambered +over a rock here, and this he now did, shouting to his companions to +come on, just as the lieutenant was approaching to fulminate in wrath +upon his subordinate's ignorance. + +"Here you are," he cried, and one after the other the men tumbled down +the rock, following him through each well-remembered turn--spots +impressed upon them by the blows they had received, until they were +brought to a standstill in a complete _cul-de-sac_, through a passage so +narrow that one man could have held it against a dozen if there had been +anything to hold. + +The lieutenant squeezed his way past the men till he stood beside his +subordinate. + +"Well, why have you brought us here?" he exclaimed. + +"This here's the place where we chased 'em to, your honour," said the +gunner, "and then they disappeared like." + +"But you said it was so dark that you could not see any one." + +"Yes, your honour, we couldn't hardly see 'em; but they disappeared all +the same." + +"Where? How?" + +"Some'eres here, your honour." + +"Nonsense, man! The rock's thirty feet high here, and they could not go +up that." + +"No, your honour." + +"Then where did they go?" + +"That's what none of us can't tell, your honour." + +"Look here, Waters," said the lieutenant in a rage; "do you mean to tell +me that you have let me lead his majesty's force of marines and sailors +to the attack of a smugglers' stronghold, and then got nothing more to +show than a corner in the rocks?" + +Billy Waters scratched his head again and looked up at the face of the +rock, then at the sides, and then down at his feet, before once more +raising his eyes to his commander. + +"Now, sir!" exclaimed the latter, "what have you to say?" + +Billy Waters appealed to the rocks again in mute despair, but they were +as stony-faced as ever. + +"Do you hear me, sir?" cried the lieutenant. "The fact of it is that +you all came ashore, got scandalously intoxicated, and then began +fighting among yourselves." + +"No, we didn't," growled Tom Tully from somewhere in the rear. + +"Who was that? What mutinous scoundrel dared to speak like that?" cried +the lieutenant; but no one answered, though the question was twice +repeated. "Very good, then," continued the lieutenant; "I shall +investigate this directly I am back on board. Waters, consider yourself +under arrest." + +"All right, your honour," said the gunner; "but if I didn't get a crack +on the shoulder just about here from some one, I'm a Dutchman." + +"Ay, ay," was uttered in chorus; and the members of the previous night's +party stared up at the rocks on all sides, in search of some evidence to +lay before their doubting commander; but none being forthcoming, they +reluctantly followed him back to the open shore, where, as there was +nothing to be seen but rocks, sand, and stones, and the towering cliff, +they proceeded back to the boats. + +"Fools! idiots! asses!" the lieutenant kept muttering till they +embarked, the gunner and Tom Tully being in one boat, the lieutenant in +the other, which was allowed to get well on ahead before the occupants +of the second boat ventured to speak, when Tom Tully became the +spokesman, the gunner being too much put out by the rebuff he had met +with to do more than utter an occasional growl. + +"Lookye here, my lads," said Tully; "arter this here, I'll be blessed." + +That was all he said; but it was given in so emphatic a tone, and +evidently meant so much, that his messmates all nodded their heads in +sage acquiescence with his remark. Then they looked at each other and +bent steadily to their oars, in expectation of what was to take place as +soon as they got on board. + +By the time they were three-quarters of the way Billy Waters had +somewhat recovered himself. + +"I've got it," he exclaimed. + +"Got what?" said three or four men at once. + +"Why that 'ere. I see it all now. Them chaps lives atop o' the cliff +when they ar'n't afloat, and they've got tackle rigged up ready, and +what do they do but whip one another up the side o' the rock, just as +you might whip a lady out of a boat up the side of a three-decker." + +Tom Tully opened his mouth and stared at the gunner in open admiration. + +"Why, what a clever chap you are, Billy!" he growled. "I shouldn't ha' +thought o' that if I'd lived to hundred-and-two." + +"I see it all now plain enough, mates," continued the gunner. "I was +hitting at that chap one minute in the dark, and then he was gone. He'd +been keeping me off while his mates was whipped up, and then, when his +turn came, up he goes like a bag o' biscuit into a warehouse door at +Portsmouth, and I'll lay a tot o' grog that's what's become of our young +orsifer." + +"Hark at him!" cried Tom Tully, giving his head a sidewise wag. "That's +it for sartain; and if I wouldn't rather sarve under Billy Waters for +skipper than our luff, I ar'n't here." + +"You'd best tell him, then, as soon as we get on board," said one of the +men. + +"What! and be called a fool and a hidiot!" cried the gunner. "Not I, my +lads. I says let him find it out for hisself now, for I sha'n't tell +nothing till I'm asked." + +In this spirit the crew of the second boat reached the side of the +cutter, went on board, the boats were hoisted up, and Billy Waters had +the pleasure of finding himself placed under arrest, with the great +grief upon his mind that his guns were left to the tender mercies of the +boatswain, and a minor sorrow in the fact that his supply of grog was +stopped. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +IN THE MIDDLE WATCH. + +How long Hilary had been asleep he did not know, but he was aroused +suddenly by something touching his face, and he lay there wide awake on +the instant, wondering what it meant. + +And now for the first time the hardship of his position came with +renewed force. He was accustomed to a rough life on board ship, where +in those days there were few of the luxuries of civilisation, but there +he had a tolerably comfortable bed. Here he had straw, and the absence +of a coverlet of any description made him terribly cold. + +The cold chill did not last many seconds after his awaking, for he felt +a strange sensation of heat come over him; his hands grew moist, and in +a state of intense excitement he lay wondering what it was that had +touched his face. + +He could not be sure, but certainly it felt like a cold, soft hand, and +he waited for a renewal of the touch, determined to grasp at it if it +came again. + +He was as brave as most lads of his age, but as he lay there, startled +into a sudden wakefulness, it was impossible to help thinking of Adela's +words spoken that morning and his own light remarks, and for a time he +felt in a strange state of perturbation. + +All was perfectly still, and it was so dark that he could not for some +time make out the shape of the window against the night sky; but inside +his prison there was a faint light, so faint that it did not make the +wall visible, and towards this he strained his eyes, wondering whence it +came. + +"Why, what a coward I am!" he said to himself, as he made an effort to +master his childish fears. "Ghosts, indeed! What nonsense! I'm worse +than a child--afraid of being in the dark." + +He lay listening with the straw rustling at his slightest movement, and +then, unable to bear the uncertainty longer, he started up on one elbow. + +As he did so there was a quick noise to his right, and he turned sharply +in that direction. + +"I might have known it," he muttered--"rats. I daresay they swarm in +this old place. How did that fellow get in? I saw no holes." + +Unable to answer the question, he turned his attention to the faint +light that seemed to pervade the place, and, after a time, he made out +that it struck down through some crack or crevice in the ceiling. + +As he tried to make out where, it seemed to die away, leaving the place +as black as ever; but now, in place of the depressing silence, he could +hear that something was going on. There was a dull noise somewhere +below him, making his heart beat fast with excitement, for it was an +endorsement of his ideas that there was a cellar or vault. Then, in the +distance, he fancied he could hear the rattle of chains, and the +impatient stamp of a horse, with once or twice, but very faintly heard, +a quick order or ejaculation. + +"I wonder whether there are many rats here?" he thought, for he wanted +to get up and clamber to the window, and look out to see if he could +witness any of the proceedings of his captors. + +It was an unpleasant thought that about the rats, for, as a matter of +course, he began directly afterwards to recall all the old stories about +people being attacked by rats, and half devoured by the fierce little +animals; and it was some time before he could shake off the horrible +idea that if he moved dozens of the little creatures might attack him. + +Making an effort over himself to master his cowardly feelings, he sprang +up and stood listening; but there was not so much as a scuffle of the +tiny feet, and groping his way to the wall beneath the window, he +climbed up and looked out, but could see nothing, only hear voices from +the other side of the house. + +Directly after, though, he heard some one apparently coming to his +prison; for there were the steps upon the boarded floor, then others +upon a stone passage, and a light shone beneath his door. + +"They sha'n't find me up here," he thought; and he lowered himself down; +but, to his surprise, instead of whoever it was coming right to his +door, he seemed to go down some steps, with another following him. The +light disappeared, and then the footsteps ceased, and he could hear the +rumbling mutter of voices below his feet. + +"I hope they are not getting up a gunpowder plot below," said Hilary to +himself, for his dread had given place to curiosity. "I'll be bound to +say that there's a regular store of good things down there waiting to be +turned into prize-money for my lads when I once get back on board. +Hallo! here they come again." + +The ascending steps were heard plainly enough, and the light reappeared, +shining feebly beneath the door; and, going softly across, Hilary looked +through the great keyhole, and could see the ill-looking man Allstone +with a candle in one hand and a little keg that might have contained +gunpowder or spirit upon his shoulder. + +"Here," he whispered to his companion, "lay hold while I lock up." + +It was all in a moment. The keg was being passed from one to the other, +when, between them, they let it fall with a crash, knocking the candle +out of Allstone's hands. + +Hilary saw the flash of the contents of the keg as the candle fell upon +the stones; then there was the noise of a dull explosion that rattled +the door; and as the prisoner started back from the door a stream of +blue fire began to run beneath it, and he heard one of the men yell out: + +"There's that young officer in there, and he'll be burned to death!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +A FIERY TRIAL. + +It was a terrible position, and for a few moments Hilary felt helpless +to move. + +That blue stream of fire came gurgling and fluttering beneath the door, +spreading rapidly over the floor, filling the chapel with a ghastly +glare; and the prisoner saw that in a few moments it would reach the +straw. + +Even in those exciting moments he fully comprehended the affair. He +knew, as in a case he had once seen on shipboard, that this was spirit +of extraordinary strength, and that the vapour would explode wherever it +gathered, even while the surface of the stream was burning. + +He did not stand still, though, to think, but with all the +matter-of-fact, business habitude of one accustomed to a life of +emergencies, he proceeded to drag the straw into the corner farthest +away from the increasing flame. + +The next minute he saw that this corner was the one nearest the window, +and that if he had to take refuge there, and the flame extended to the +straw, there would be a tremendous blaze almost beneath him. + +Setting to work, he dragged it away into another corner, sweeping up the +loose pieces as rapidly as he could, and even as he did so the +fluttering blue-and-orange flames advanced steadily across the floor, +cutting off his access to the window, and rapidly spreading now all over +the place, for the passage had a gradual descent to the door, and nearly +the whole of the spilt spirit came bubbling and streaming in. + +It was a beautiful, although an appalling sight, for the surface of the +spirit was all dancing tongues of fire--red, blue, and orange, mingled +with tiny puffs of smoke and bright sparks as it consumed the fragments +of straw that lay upon the stones. + +It had reached the opposite wall now, and ran as well right up to the +window, the floor being now one blaze, except in the corner where Hilary +stood on guard, as if to keep the flames back from the straw. + +But now he found that he had another enemy with which to contend, for a +peculiarly stifling vapour was arising, producing a sensation of +giddiness, against which he could not battle; and as Hilary drew back +from the approach of the tiny sea of waves of fire, pressing back, as he +did so, the straw, he felt that unless he could reach the window he +would be overcome. + +There was no time for pause; help, if it were coming, could not reach +him yet. In another instant he knew that the straw would catch fire. +Even now a little rill of spirit had run to it, along which the flames +were travelling, so, nerving himself for the effort, he made a dash to +cross to the window. + +At his first step the burning spirit splashed up in blue flames; at his +second, the fire rose above his ankles; then, placing his foot upon a +plate that had been left upon the floor, he slipped and fell headlong +into the burning tongues that seemed to rise and lick him angrily. + +The sensation was sharp to his hands, but not too pungent, and, +fortunately, he kept his face from contact with the floor, while +struggling up he for the moment lost his nerve, and felt ready to rush +frantically about the place. + +Fortunately, however, he mastered himself, and dashed at the window, +leaped at the sill, and climbed up to breathe the pure cool air that was +rushing in, just as the straw caught fire, blazed up furiously, and the +place rapidly filled with rolling clouds of smoke. + +He could not notice it, however, for the flames that fluttered about his +garments where they were soaked with the spirit, and for some few +minutes he thought of nothing but extinguishing the purply blaze. + +They burned him but slightly, and in several places went out as the +spirit became exhausted; but here and there the woollen material of his +garments began to burn with a peculiar odour before he had extinguished +the last spark. + +Meanwhile, although the straw blazed furiously, and the smoke filled the +place so that respiration would have been impossible, no help came. The +spirit fluttered and danced as it burned, and save here and there where +it lay in inequalities of the floor, it was nearly consumed, the danger +now being from the straw, which still blazed. + +Fortunately for Hilary, although he could feel the glow, his foresight +in sweeping it to one corner saved him from being incommoded, and the +heat caused a current of cool night-air to set in through the window and +keep back the blinding and stifling fumes. + +He listened, and could hear shouts in the distance; but no one came to +his help, and he could not avoid feeling that if he had been dependent +upon aid from without he must have lost his life. Fortunately for him, +just at a time when his fate seemed sealed, the flames from the burning +straw reached their height, and though they blackened the ceiling they +did no worse harm, but exhausted from the want of supply they sank lower +and lower. There was not a scrap of furniture in the place, or salient +piece of wood to catch fire, and so as the spirit burned out, and the +blazing straw settled down into some blackened sparkling ash, Hilary's +spirits rose, and with the reaction as he clung there by the window came +a feeling of indignation. + +"If I don't be even with some of them for this!" he muttered. "They +half starve me, and then try to burn me to death." + +"Yes, that's right," he cried. "Bravo, heroes! Come, now the danger's +over." + +For as he sat there he could hear hurrying feet, the rattle of a key in +the chapel door, and shouts to him to come out. + +The smoke was so dense that the fresh comers could not possibly see him +where he sat in the window, and they cried to him again to come out. + +"I sha'n't come," said Hilary to himself; "you'll only lock me up +somewhere else, and now I have found out as much as I have, perhaps I +shall be better off where I am." + +"There'll be a pretty noise about this when Sir Henry comes back," cried +a voice, which Hilary recognised as that of the ill-looking fellow +Allstone. "You clumsy fool, dropping that keg!" + +"It was as much you as me," cried another. "I sha'n't take all the +blame." + +"The lad's burned to death through your clumsiness," continued Allstone. + +"And a whole keg of the strongest brandy wasted," said another +dolefully. + +"The place nearly burned down too," said another. + +"Here, go in somebody," cried Allstone. "Perhaps he isn't quite dead, +and I suppose we must save him if we can. Do you hear? Go in some of +you." + +"Who's going in?" said another voice. "There's smoke enough to choke +you. Why don't you go in yourself?" + +"Because I tell you to go," cried Allstone savagely. "I'm master here +when the skipper's away, and I'll be obeyed. Go in, two of you, and +fetch the boy out." + +"He don't want no fetching out," said one of the men, as the current of +air that set from the window drove the smoke aside and revealed the +dimly-seen figure of Hilary seated in the embrasure holding on to the +iron bars. "He don't want no help; there he sits." + +Allstone, who had been seized with a fit of coughing and choking from +the effects of the blinding, pungent smoke, did not speak for a few +moments, during which the smoke went on getting thinner and thinner, +though, as the men had no lights, everything was still very obscure. + +"Oh, you're up there, are you?" cried Allstone at last. "Come down, +sir; do you hear?" And he spoke as if he were addressing a disobedient +dog; but Hilary remained perfectly silent, truth to say, almost +speechless from indignation. + +"What do you mean by pretending to be smothered and burned to death, +hey?" cried the fellow again, roughly. "Why don't you answer? Get +down." + +"Out, bully!" cried Hilary angrily. "Why, you insolent dog, how dare +you speak to a king's officer like that? Why, you ugly, +indecent-looking outrage upon humanity, you set fire to the place +through your clumsiness, and then come and insult me for not being +burned to death." + +"Haw! haw! haw!" laughed one of the men. "Well crowed, young gamecock." + +"You cowardly lubbers, why didn't you come sooner to help me, instead of +leaving me to frizzle here? I might have burned to death a dozen times +for aught you cared." + +"Haw! haw! haw!" laughed a couple of the men now, to Allstone's great +annoyance. + +"Hold your tongue, and come down, boy," he cried. "You can't stop +there." + +"Be off and lock the door again, bully," cried Hilary. "You great ugly, +cowardly hound, if I had you on board the _Kestrel_, you should be +triced up and have five dozen on your bare back." + +"Haw! haw! haw!" came in a regular chorus this time, for the danger was +over. + +"I'd like to look on while the crew of you were being talked to by the +boatswain," cried Hilary, angrily--"a set of cowardly loons." + +"That'll do!" cried Allstone, who was hoarse with passion. "Go in and +fetch him out." + +No one stirred, and Allstone went in himself, but only to be seized with +a furious fit of coughing which lasted a couple of minutes or so, and to +his companions' intense delight. + +The fit over, the fellow went in again and stood beneath the window. + +"Come down!" he cried; but as Hilary did not condescend to notice him +Allstone seized the young man by one of his legs, with the result that +he clung with both hands to the iron bars, and raising up his knees for +a moment, kicked out with as much cleverness as his friend the jackass, +catching Allstone full in the chest and sending him staggering back for +a few steps, where, unable to recover his balance, he went down heavily +in a sitting position. + +There was a roar of laughter from his companions, who stamped about, +slapped their legs, and literally danced with delight; while, in spite +of his anger and indignation at this scoundrel of a smuggler daring to +touch a king's officer, Hilary could not help feeling amused. + +But matters looked tragic directly after instead of comic, for, uttering +a fierce oath, the man sprang up, pulled out his cutlass and made at the +prisoner. + +Active as a leopard, Hilary sprang down to avoid him, when the pieces of +the broken plate--the remains of that which had thrown the young officer +down into the burning spirit--this time befriended him, for Allstone +stepped upon a large fragment, slipped, fell sprawling, and the cutlass +flew from his hand with a loud jangling noise in the far corner upon the +stone floor. + +Quick as lightning, and while the other men were roaring with laughter, +Hilary dashed at the cutlass, picked it up, and, assuming now the part +of aggressor, he turned upon Allstone, presenting the point of his +weapon, and drove the ruffian before him out of the place, turning the +next moment upon his companions, who offered not the slightest +resistance, but retreated before him laughing with all their might. + +Hilary was about to seize the opportunity to chase them onward through +the passage and try to escape, but Allstone was too quick for him. + +On being driven out the man had taken refuge behind the door, and as the +last man of his companions passed he dashed it to, striking Hilary full +and driving him backwards into the chapel, as it slammed against the +post with a heavy echo, and was locked and bolted. + +"Stop there, and starve and rot," the ruffian cried through the keyhole +furiously, as Hilary stood panting and shaking first one hand and then +the other, against which the door, to the saving of his face, had come +with tremendous force. + +"We'll see about that," said Hilary to himself, as he gave the cutlass a +flourish; and then, as the steps died down the passage and he heard the +farther door close, with the steps of the men passing over the empty +boarded room, he laughed at the change that had come over the scene +during the last quarter of an hour. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +TEMPTATION. + +There was something ludicrous in the struggle that had taken place, +especially as Hilary had so thoroughly won the day; but at the same time +there was a very unpleasant side to his position. It was in the middle +of the night and very dark, save in one corner of the stone-floored +place where the remains of the heap of straw displayed a few sparks, and +sent up a thin thread of smoke, which rose to the ceiling and there +spread abroad, the rest having passed away, driven out by the draught +caused by the open door. He had not a scrap of furniture; the straw was +all burned, and the floor of his prison was stone. + +Still there was one good thing upon his side--one which afforded Hilary +the most intense satisfaction, and this was the fact that he had secured +the cutlass. Not that he wanted it for fighting, though it might prove +useful in case of need for his defence; but it suggested itself to him +as being a splendid implement for raising one of the stones in the +floor, with which help he might possibly get into the cellars or vaults +below, and so escape. + +"But I don't like going to sleep on the stones," said Hilary to himself, +and tucking the cutlass under his arm, he felt the flooring in different +places. + +To his surprise he found it perfectly dry, for the intensely strong +spirit had burned itself completely out, leaving not so much as a humid +spot; and after climbing up to look out at the dark night, Hilary saw +that the fire was as good as extinct, and ended by sitting down. + +The stones were very cold, but he felt weary, and at last so intense a +desire to sleep came upon him that he lay down, and in spite of the +hardness of his couch and the fact that he had no pillow but his arm, he +dropped off into a heavy sleep, from which he did not awaken till the +sun was shining in through the window upon the smoke-blackened walls. + +Hilary's first thought was concerning his cutlass, which was safe by his +side, and jumping up, he listened. Then he went to the door and +listened again, but all was perfectly still. + +What was he to do? he asked himself. He felt sure that Allstone would +come before long, and others with him, to obtain possession of the +weapon, and he was equally determined not to give it up. He might fight +for it, but, now that he was cool, he felt a repugnance against shedding +blood; and, besides, he knew that he must be overcome by numbers, +perhaps wounded, and that would make a very uncomfortable state of +things ten times worse. + +The result was that he determined to hide the cutlass; but where? + +He looked around the place, and, as far as he could see, there was not a +place where he could have hidden away a bodkin, let alone the weapon in +his hand. + +Certainly he might have heaped over it the black ashes of the straw and +the few unburned scraps; but such a proceeding would have been childish +in the extreme. + +It was terribly tantalising, for there was absolutely no place where he +could conceal it; and at last, biting his lips with vexation, he +exclaimed, after vainly looking out for a slab that he could raise: + +"I must either fight for it or throw it out of the window; and I'd +sooner do that than he should have it back. Hurrah! That will do!" he +cried eagerly, as a thought struck him. + +Laying down the cutlass, he leaped up to the window, pressed his face +sidewise against the bars, and looked down, to see that the grass and +weeds grew long below him. + +He was down again directly and seated upon the floor, where, after +listening for a few moments, he stripped down one of his blue worsted +stoutly-knitted stockings, sought for a likely place, cut through a +thread, and, pulling steadily, it rapidly came undone. This furnished +him with a line of worsted some yards long. + +Leaping up, he rapidly tied one end round the hilt of the cutlass, +climbed to the window, and lowered the weapon down outside, till it lay +hidden amongst the grass close to the wall. Then he tied the slight +thread close down in the rusted-away part of one of the bars, descended +again, and raked up some ashes, with which he mounted and sprinkled them +over the thread, making it invisible from inside; after which he +descended, feeling quite hopeful that the plan would not be discovered. + +This done, he seemed to have more time for a look round at the effects +of the fire; but beyond a little blackening of the ceiling and the heap +of ashes, there was nothing much to see. The strong spirit had burned +itself out without doing more than scorch the bottom of the door; but he +had a lively recollection of the strange scene as the little blue +tongues of fire seemed to be fluttering and dancing all over the place. + +Just then he noticed the corner where he had placed the remains of his +previous night's meal, and there were the empty plates--for not a scrap +of the food was left; and this satisfactorily indorsed his ideas +respecting the touch that had so startled him into wakefulness. + +"Better be awakened by that than by the blaze of fire," he said half +aloud. "Oh, won't I give Sir Henry a bit of my mind about the treatment +I meet with here, and--here he is." + +For just then he heard the tramp of feet over the boarded floor, the +flinging open of the first door, then the steps in the passage, and he +altered his opinion. + +"No!" he exclaimed; "it's old Allstone coming after his cutlass." + +He was quite right, for, well-armed, and followed by four men, Hilary's +jailer entered the place, glanced sharply round, and exclaimed: + +"I've come for that cutlass." + +"Have you?" said Hilary coolly. + +"Hand it over." + +"I have not got it," said Hilary coolly. + +"Don't tell me lies," said the fellow roughly. "Here, lay hold." + +Five to one was too much for resistance, so Hilary submitted patiently +to the search that was made, to see if he had it concealed beneath his +clothes. + +"There's nothing here," said one of the men; and Allstone tried himself, +flinching sharply as the prisoner made believe to strike at him. + +Then he carefully looked all round the place, which was soon done, and +the fellow turned to him menacingly: + +"Now then," he cried, "just you speak out, or it will be the worse for +you. Where's that cutlass?" + +Hilary looked at him mockingly. + +"I'll tell you the strict truth," he thought; and he replied, "I dropped +it out of the window." + +"It's a lie," cried the ruffian savagely; "I don't believe you." + +"I knew you would not," said Hilary laughing. "Where is it then?" + +"I swallowed it." + +"What!" said the fellow staring. + +"Hilt and all if you like. Now, do you believe that?" The man stared +at him. + +"Because you would not believe the truth, so there's what you asked +for--a lie." + +The fellow stared at him again, seized hold of him, and felt him all +over in the roughest way. Then, satisfied that the weapon was not +concealed about the lad's person, he looked round the place once more, +walked to the side of the room so as to get a view of the window-ledge, +and then he turned to Hilary once more. + +"When did you drop it out?" he said sharply. + +"As soon as I awoke this morning," replied Hilary. "Just before you +came." + +"Come along, my lads," said the fellow, who then withdrew with his +followers. The door clanged to, was locked, and as Hilary listened he +heard them all depart, securing the farther door behind them; and, +satisfied that they were gone, he nimbly climbed up to the window, +raised the cutlass by means of the worsted, and having taking it in he +descended once more, unfastened and rolled up the thread for further +use, and then thrust the weapon down under his vest and into the left +leg of his trousers, feeling pretty sure that they would not search him +again. + +A few minutes later he heard voices, and going beneath the window, and +raising himself up till his ear was level with the ledge, he could hear +all that was said, and he knew that the men were searching for the +sword. + +"Don't seem to be about here," said one of the men. + +"Look well," Hilary heard Allstone say. + +"That's just what we are doing. Think he did throw it over?" + +"Must have done so," said Allstone; "there isn't a place anywhere big +enough to hide a knife." + +"Then some one's been by this morning and picked it up," said one of the +men, "for it don't seem to be anywhere here." + +"Turn over that long grass," said Allstone, "and kick those weeds +aside." + +Hilary heard the rustling sounds made by the men as they obeyed their +leader; but of course there was no result. + +"Somebody come by and picked it up," said the man again; and, apparently +satisfied, the party went away, Hilary raising his eyes, saw the +smugglers go round the corner of the house below the ivied gable, +leaving him wondering whether they would come back. + +"They may," he thought; "and if they do, they will see that I've got +this thing tucked in here." + +Quickly taking out the worsted he secured it to the cutlass, and +lowering it once more out of the window, tied the thread to the bar. + +"It's safest there, I'll be bound," he muttered; and he had hardly made +his arrangements for concealment when he heard the steps coming, and +began walking up and down as the door was opened, and, staring at him +doubtfully, Allstone came in with two men bearing some breakfast for the +prisoner, while their leader went round Hilary again, searchingly noting +every fold of his garments before once more withdrawing. + +"He must have seen it if I had it on," said Hilary, as he once more +found himself alone, when he eagerly attacked the provisions that had +been left. + +After satisfying his hunger, he was a good deal divided in his mind as +to what to do about the weapon, which might prove to be so valuable an +implement in his attempt to escape. If left outside and searched for +again, the smugglers must find it; but the chances were that they would +not go and look again, so he decided to leave it where it was. + +The morning wore on without a single incident to take his attention, and +he spent the time in examining the floor of his prison, giving a tap +here and a tap there, and noting where it sounded most hollow. + +It was a long task, but he had plenty of time upon his hands, and he at +last decided that he would make his attack upon a small stone in the +corner by the wall which contained the window, that was not only the +darkest place, the light seeming to pass over it, but there was a +hollower echo when he struck the stone, from which he hoped that the +slab was thinner than the rest. + +He drove the knife in all round and found that it passed in without +difficulty; and as he examined the place, he found to his great delight +that some time or other there had evidently been a staple let into the +slab, probably to hold a great ring for raising the stone, and +undoubtedly this was a way down to the vaults below. + +What he wanted now was a good supply of straw to lay over that part of +the floor to conceal any efforts he might make for raising the stone, +and meanwhile dusting some of the ashes and half-burned straw-chaff over +the spot, he awaited Allstone's next appearance with no little anxiety. + +Towards afternoon he heard steps, and evidently his jailer was coming; +but to his surprise, instead of Allstone being accompanied by two or +three men, his companion was Sir Henry Norland, who had evidently just +returned from a journey. + +"Ah, my dear Hilary," he exclaimed, "I have just been hearing of your +narrow escape. My dear boy, I cannot tell you how sorry I am. You are +not in the least hurt, I hope?" + +"No, Sir Henry, not in body," said the young man distantly; "but you see +all my prison furniture has been destroyed. Will you give orders that I +am to be supplied with a little more straw?" + +"I gave orders that a mattress and blankets, with a table and chairs, +should be brought here before I went out," said Sir Henry, "with a few +other things. Good gracious! I had no idea the fire had been so bad. +Did it burn everything?" + +"My furniture was what I asked to be replaced--a little straw," said +Hilary bitterly. "I had nothing else." + +Sir Henry turned frowning to the man, and said a few words in a low but +commanding tone to him which made him scowl; but he went off growling +something to himself in a sulky manner. + +"My dear Hilary," said Sir Henry, "I did not know you had been so badly +treated. I am so much engaged upon His Majesty's business that I am +afraid I have neglected you sadly." + +"Indeed, Sir Henry? And now you have come to say that I am at liberty +to go free and attend to His Majesty's business?" said Hilary with a +sarcastic ring in his words. + +"Will you?" said Sir Henry eagerly. + +"Yes, of course," said Hilary. "I serve the king, and I am ready to do +anything in the king's name." + +Sir Henry smiled pityingly. + +"We misunderstand each other, Hilary. But come, my boy, let us waste no +words. Listen. I come to you armed with powers to make you a great and +honoured man. Join us, Hilary. We know that you are a skilful officer, +a clever sailor. You are the merest subordinate now; but throw yourself +heart and soul into the Stuart cause, help to restore the king to his +rights, and you shall rise with him. Young as you are, I have a +splendid offer to make you. As you are, you serve under a miserable +officer, and in time you may rise to a captaincy. Join us, and, as I +say, young as you are His Majesty gives you through me the rank of +captain, and knighthood shall follow if you serve him well." + +"Have you nearly done, Sir Henry?" said Hilary coldly. + +"Done, my dear boy, I want to introduce you to a band of truly +chivalrous noblemen and gentlemen who will receive you with open arms. +I want you to be my friend and fellow patriot--to aid me with your +advice and energy. I want you to leave this wretched prison, and to +soar above the contemptible task of putting down a few miserable +smugglers. I want you to come out of this place with me at once, to +become once more the companion of my little Adela, who sends her message +by me that she is waiting to take you by the hand. Come: leave the +wretched usurper's chains, and be free if you would be a man. Adela +says--Hark! There she is." + +As he spoke there came in through the window, bearing with it the +memories of bright and happy times, the tones of the girl's sweet young +voice, and as Hilary listened he closed his eyes and thought of the +bright sunny country, the joys of freedom, the high hopes of ambition, +and a warm flush came into his cheeks, while Sir Henry smiled in the +satisfaction of his heart as he whispered to himself the one +word--"_Won_!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +A SURPRISE FOR SIR HENRY. + +It was very tempting. The country looked so bright and beautiful from +his prison window; the voice of his old companion brought up such a host +of pleasant recollections, and it would have been delightful to renew +the old intimacy. Then, upon the other hand, what would he give up? A +dull monotonous life under a tyrannical superior, with but little chance +of promotion, to receive honour, advancement, and no doubt to enjoy no +little adventure. + +It was very tempting, and enough to make one with a stronger mind than +Hilary Leigh waver in his allegiance. + +As he stood there thinking the song went on, and Hilary felt that did he +but say yes, and swear fealty to one who believed himself to be the +rightful king of England, he would be at liberty to join Adela at once. +There would be an end to his imprisonment, and no more wretched anxiety. + +He had done his duty so far, he argued, and he was doing his duty when +fortune went against him, and he was made a prisoner, so to a certain +extent his changing sides might be considered excusable. He had had +little else but rough usage and discomfort since he went to sea, and the +offers now made to him by Sir Henry were full of promise, which he knew +the baronet was too true to hold out without perfect honesty. + +Taken altogether--that is in connection with his position, and the +probability that he might be kept here a prisoner for any length of +time, and that most likely he had already been reported by Mr Lipscombe +as a deserter--there was such a bright prospect held out that Hilary +felt for the time extremely weak and ready to give up. + +Meanwhile the song went on outside, for all these thoughts ran very +quickly through the young man's brain. Then Adela's voice died away, +and Hilary opened his eyes to see Sir Henry standing there, with a smile +upon his handsome face, and his hand extended. + +"Well, Captain Leigh," he said, laughing, "I am to clasp hands with my +young brother in the good cause?" + +"You will shake hands with me, Sir Henry," said Hilary, "for we are very +old friends, and I shall never forget my happy days at the old hall," +and he laid his hand in that of the baronet. + +"Forget them! No, my dear boy," cried Sir Henry enthusiastically. "But +there will be brighter days yet. Come along and join Adela; she will be +delighted to have you with her again. Come along! Why do you hang +back? Why, Hil, my boy, you have not grown bashful?" + +"You love the young Pre--I mean Charles Stuart," said Hilary quietly, as +he still held his old friend's hand. + +"Love, my boy? Yes, Heaven bless him! And so will you when you meet +him. He will take to you with your frank young sailor face, Hilary." + +"No, Sir Henry," Hilary replied sadly. "I have heard that he is +generally frank, and an honourable gentleman." + +"All that, Hilary," cried Sir Henry enthusiastically. "He is royal in +his ways, and I am sure he will like you." + +"If he is what you say, Sir Henry," replied the young man, "he would +look with coldness and contempt upon a scoundrel and a traitor." + +"To be sure he would," said Sir Henry, who in his elation and belief +that he had won Hilary over to the Pretender's cause was thrown off his +guard. + +"Then why do you talk of his liking me, if, after signing my adhesion to +him whom I look upon as my rightful king, I deserted him at the first +touch of difficulty? No, Sir Henry, I could not accept your offer +without looking upon myself afterwards as a traitor and a villain, and I +am sure that you would be one of the first men to think of me with +contempt." + +Sir Henry dropped the hand he held in astonishment, completely taken +aback, and a heavy frown came upon his brow. + +"Are you mad, Hilary?" he exclaimed. "Do you know what you are +refusing?" + +"Yes, Sir Henry, I know what I am refusing; but I hope I am not mad." + +"Honour, advancement, liberty, in place of what you are enduring now." + +"Yes, Sir Henry, I can see it all." + +"Adela's friendship--my friendship. Oh, my dear boy, you have not +considered all this." + +"Yes, Sir Henry, I have considered it all," said Hilary firmly; "and +though you are angry now, I am sure that the time will come when you +will respect me for being faithful to my king, just as you would have +learned to despise me if I had broken my word." + +Sir Henry did not reply, but turned short upon his heel and walked to +the door, rapped loudly till the key was turned, and then without +glancing at Hilary again he left the place. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +HILARY'S WAY OF ESCAPE. + +Hilary stood in the centre of the old chapel, gazing at the closed door, +and listening to the rattle of the bolts. He was full of regrets, for, +left early an orphan, he had been in the habit of looking up to Sir +Henry somewhat in the way that a boy would regard a father; and he was +grieved to the heart to think that so old and dear a friend should look +upon him as an ingrate. + +But at the same time he felt lighter at heart, and there was the +knowledge to support him that he had done his duty at a very trying +time. + +"I should have felt that every right-thinking man had looked down upon +me," he said, half aloud, "and little Adela would have been ashamed when +she knew all, to call me friend." + +He stood with his eyes still fixed upon the door thinking, and now his +thoughts were mingled with bitter feelings, for he was still a prisoner +at the mercy of a set of lawless men, Sir Henry being no doubt merely a +visitor here, and possessed of but little authority. + +"And I know too much for them to let me go and bring a few of our lads +to rout out their nest," he said, half aloud. "Never mind, they won't +dare to kill me, unless it is by accident," he added grimly, and then he +ran to the window to see if Adela were in sight. + +Practice had made him nimble now, and leaping up, he caught the bars, +drew himself into the embrasure, and peered between the bars. + +"Pst! Adela!" he cried eagerly, for he could just see her light dress +between the trees. + +She looked up, and came running towards the window, looking bright and +happy, and there was an eager light in her eyes. + +"Why, Hil!" she cried. "I did not think you would be there now. Papa +said he thought you would soon be at liberty, and that perhaps you would +stay with us a little while before you went away." + +"And should you like me to stay with you?" he said, gazing down. + +"Oh, yes; so much!" she said naively. "This old place is so dull and +lonely, and I am so much alone with an old woman who waits upon us. Why +don't you come out?" + +"Because I am a prisoner," he said quietly. + +"But I thought--I hoped--papa said you were going to give your parole +not to escape," said Adela; "or else that you were going to join our +cause and fight for the true king." + +He shook his head mournfully. + +"No, Addy. I cannot give my word of honour not to escape," he said; +"because I hope to get away at the first opportunity." + +"Then join our cause," cried Adela. + +"No," he said, shaking his head, "I cannot join your cause, Addy, +because I am an officer appointed in the king's name to serve in one of +King George's vessels. I should be a traitor if I forsook my colours." + +"But I want you to come," cried Adela, with the wayward tyranny of a +child. "It seems so stupid for you to be shut up there like a wild +beast in a cage. Oh, Hil, you must come on our side! Do!" + +"Adela! Adela!" cried an imperious voice. + +"Yes, papa, I am coming," she cried; and looking up quickly at the +prisoner, she nodded and laughed, and the next moment she had +disappeared. + +Hilary sat watching as if in the hope that she would come back; but he +knew in his heart that she would not, and so it proved at the end of +quite a couple of hours. + +"He has told her that she is to hold no communication with such a +fellow," he said to himself. "Poor little Addy! what a sweet little +thing she is growing, and what an impetuous, commanding way she has!" + +He sat watching the place still, but without hope. Now and then the +girl's words came to him. + +"I seem like a wild beast in a cage, do I?" he said laughing. "Very +good, Miss Addy; then I must gnaw my way out." + +As he spoke his eyes fell upon the bit of worsted that was secured to +the cutlass, and he was about to draw it up when he heard footsteps +approaching from the interior, and he leaped lightly down and began +walking about the place as the door was opened, and Allstone held it +back for some of his men to enter with a couple of trusses of straw, a +couple of blankets, a rough three-legged table, and a rougher stool, +which were unceremoniously thrown or jerked down, and then, after a +suspicious look at his prisoner, Allstone motioned to the men to go. + +"Is there anything else your lordship would like?" he said with a sneer. +"The best feather-beds are damp, and the carpets have been put away by +mistake. What wines would your lordship like for your dinner and would +you like silver cups or glass?" + +"Now then, old Allstones, or Allbones, or Nobones, or whatever your name +is," cried Hilary, putting his arms akimbo, and taking a step nearer to +the jailer, "you are a big and precious ugly man of about forty, and I'm +only a boy; but look here, if I had you on board my ship I'd have you +triced up and flogged." + +"But you are not on board your ship, my young cockerel," said the man +mockingly. + +"No," cried Hilary, "but I'm all here, and if you give me any of your +sauce when you come in, I'll show you why some fellows are made officers +and some keep common seamen to the end of their days." + +"And how's that?" said the ruffian with a sneer. + +"Because they know how to deal with bullies and blackguards like you. +Now then, this is my room, so walk out." + +He took another step forward and gazed so fiercely in the man's eyes, +that, great as was the disparity in their ages and strength, Allstone +shrank back step by step until he reached the doorway, when, if not +afraid of Hilary, he was certainly so much taken aback by the young +man's manner that he was thoroughly cowed for the moment, and shrank +away, slipping through the door and banging it after him, leaving the +prisoner to his meditations. + +"Come, I've got a bed," he said, laughing, "and a chair and a table, +and--hurrah! the very thing." + +He then seized the table and turned it upside down to gaze beneath, and +then replacing it, ran to the window, pulled up the cutlass, and going +to the table once more, turned it over and inserted the point of the +weapon between the side and the top, with the result that it stuck there +firmly, and upon the table being replaced upon its legs it was quite +concealed. + +"There!" he cried, "that will be handy, and I daresay safe, for they +will never think of searching that after bringing it in." + +This done, he proceeded to roll up his worsted for future use, and +placed it in one pocket, the piece of cord with which he had drawn up +the milk being in another. + +"Why, I might have used that instead of the worsted," he said, as he +remembered it for the first time; but he recollected directly after that +it would have been too easily seen. + +Then he inspected the two trusses of straw, and made his bed close +beside the opening he hoped to make by raising the slab; and then, +having carefully examined the spot, he listened to make sure that he was +not heard, and taking out his pocket-knife, went down upon his knees and +began to pick out the hard dirt and cement that filled the cracks around +the broad, flat stone. + +It was rough work, but he had the satisfaction of feeling that he was +making very fair progress, scraping up the pieces from the place around, +and as fast as he secured a handful going to the window and throwing it +out with a good jerk, looking out afterwards to see if it showed, and +finding it was concealed by the long grass. + +He was well upon the _qui vive_, having placed the straw close to the +place where he was at work, and holding himself in readiness at the +slightest alarm to scatter a portion over the slab. + +But no one came, and he worked steadily on hour after hour till the +crack all round was quite clear, and he had no need to do more till he +tried to raise the stone by using the cutlass as a lever. + +To guard against surprise he now scattered about some of the chaff and +small scraps that had been shaken out of the two bundles of straw, and +after listening attentively, he could not resist the temptation of +taking out the heavy sword and trying whether he could lift the slab. + +The point went in easily, and he was just about to press upon the handle +when he snatched the weapon out and hastily thrust it back in its +hiding-place, for there was the sound of an opening door, and a minute +later Allstone walked in with a small loaf and a jug of water, placing +them upon the table with a sour and malicious look at the prisoner, who +did not even notice his presence, and then left the place. + +"Bread and water, eh!" thought Hilary. "Well, the greater need for me +to get away, for ship living will be better than this." + +His hearty young appetite, however, was ready to induce him to look with +favour upon food of any kind, and he set to at once, munching the bread +and refreshing himself with draughts of water. + +"If this is Sir Henry's doing," he said, "it is mean; but I'll put it +down to the credit of our amiable friend Allstone. Perhaps I may be +able some day to return the compliment. We shall see." + +At his time of life low spirits do not last long, and he was too full of +his idea of escape to trouble himself now about the quality of his food. +All being well, he hoped to get down into the cellar, where, among +other things it was evident that the smugglers kept their store of +spirits; he might, perhaps, find firearms as well. At all events he +hoped that the exit might prove easier than from the place where he now +was. + +He was obliged to leave off eating to try to raise the slab with the +cutlass, so taking the weapon from its hiding-place, he tried the edge +of the stone, inserting the point of the sword with the greatest care, +and then pressing down the handle he found, to his great delight, that +he could easily prise up the slab, raising it now a couple of inches +before he lowered it down. + +This was excellent, and the success of his project was far greater than +he had anticipated; in fact, he had expected double the difficulty in +loosening the stone. + +"They are not much accustomed to having prisoners," he said, with a +half-laugh, as he replaced the cutlass beneath the table. "Why, any +fellow could get out of here." + +Then, thinking that his remark in his self-communing was too conceited, +he added: + +"Down into the cellar or vaults; whether one could get out afterwards is +another thing." + +Returning to his stool, he worked away at the bread, steadily munching, +finding the result quieting to his hungry pains, and also a kind of +amusement to pass away the time till he felt that he might set to work +in safety, for he did not mean to commence till nearly dusk. + +As he expected, towards evening Allstone came again, not to bring more +food, but to glance sharply round at the place and carefully scrutinise +his prisoner as if looking for the missing sword. + +Hilary looked straight before him, whistling softly the while in the +most nonchalant manner, completely ignoring his visitor's presence, to +the man's evident annoyance, his anger finding vent in a heavy bang of +the door. + +Hilary did not move for quite half an hour; then, all being perfectly +still, and the evening shadows beginning to make his prison very dim, he +rose with beating heart, listened, and all being silent as if there was +not a soul within hearing, took the cutlass from its hiding-place, and +proceeded to put his project in action. + +Bending down, he once more swept aside the straw, and inserted the point +of the sword, to find that this time there was more difficulty in his +task, for he had to try several times, and in fresh positions, finding +the cutlass bend almost to breaking-point, before success crowned his +efforts, and he raised the stone sufficiently far to get his fingers +beneath, and then the task was easy, for with a steady lift he raised +one side and leaned it right up against the wall. + +He had hardly accomplished this before he fancied he heard a slight +noise outside, beneath the window, and the perspiration began to stand +in a dew upon his face as he realised the fact that some one had just +placed a ladder against the wall and was ascending to look in. + +If the stone was seen upraised his chance of escape was at an end, and +there was not a moment to spare, nor the slightest chance of closing it. + +He glanced around, and, to his intense delight, noted that it was +getting decidedly dark in the corner where he stood; but still detection +seemed to be certain; and he had only one chance, that was--to throw +himself down and pretend to be asleep. + +This he did at once, breathing heavily, and lying perfectly motionless, +but with his eyes wide open, and his ears strained to catch the +slightest sound. + +He was quite right; some one was ascending a short ladder placed by his +window; and as he watched attentively he saw the opening suddenly +darkened, and some man's face gazing straight in. + +It was too dark now for him to distinguish the features, and he hoped +that the obscurity would favour him by preventing the intruder from +seeing what had been done. + +It was a time of terrible suspense, probably only of a minute's +duration, but it seemed to Hilary like an hour; and there he lay, with +half-closed eyes, gazing at the head so dimly-seen, wondering whether it +was Allstone, but unable to make out. + +Just then a thought flashed through his brain. + +Might it not be a friend?--perhaps a party from the _Kestrel_ arrived in +search of him; and, full of hope, he gazed intently at the head. But +his hopes sank as rapidly as they had risen, for he was compelled to own +that, if it had been a friend, he would have spoken or whistled, or in +some way have endeavoured to catch his attention. + +At last, wearied with straining his attention, Hilary felt that he must +speak, when it seemed to him that the window grew a little lighter, and +as he gazed there was a faint scratching noise, telling that the ladder +had been removed. + +He could bear it no longer, but, softly rising, he made for the window, +climbed up, and gently raising his head above the sill, peered out, to +be just able to distinguish a dark figure carrying a short ladder, which +brushed against the branches of a tree, and then a low, husky cough, +which he at once recognised, told him who his visitor had been. + +"A contemptible spy!" muttered Hilary, as he dropped back into the +chapel. "Now then, has he seen or has he not?" + +If he had it was useless to lower down the slab, so Hilary let it stay, +and waited minute after minute to see if he would come. But all +remained perfectly still, and, to all appearance, the people who made +the old place their rendezvous were now away. + +Hilary was divided in his mind as to what he should do. To be +precipitate might ruin his chance of getting away, while if he left it +too long the smugglers might return, and his opportunity would again be +gone. He decided, then, on a medium course--to wait, as far as he could +judge, for half an hour, and then make his attempt. + +Meantime he began to think of what course he should pursue when he was +free, and it seemed that all he could do would be to strike inland at +once, for that would be the safest plan. If he tried to reach the coast +the chances were that he would encounter one of the gang, or at all +events some cottager who would most probably be in their pay. + +"The half-hour must be up now," he exclaimed; and, after listening at +the door, he thrust the cutlass in his belt, and made for the hole +formed by the raised flag. + +"I wonder how far it is down?" he muttered. "Seven feet at the outside; +and if I lower myself gently I shall be able to touch the floor, or +perhaps I shall come down on some barrel or package." + +As he spoke he lowered himself gently down, with a hand on either side +of the aperture, and then, swinging his legs about, one of them kicked +the side, showing that the cellar or vault was a little smaller in +dimensions than the place above. + +He lowered himself a little more, and a little more, his sea life having +made the muscles of his arms as tough almost as iron, and at last, +having a good hold of the stones on either side, he let himself steadily +go down till his head was beneath the floor and he hung down at the full +length of his hands. + +"Deeper down than I thought for," he muttered, as he swung himself to +and fro. "Shall I drop, or sha'n't I? It can't be above a foot; but +somehow one don't like to let go of a certainty, to drop no one can tell +where--perhaps on to bottles, or no one knows what." + +He still swung in hesitation, for it seemed cowardly to go back, now he +was so far down; but somehow the desire to be upon the safe side +obtained the mastery, and he determined to go back. + +Easier settled upon than done. His muscles were tough enough, but +somehow his position was awkward, and his hold upon the stones so slight +that, though he drew himself up twice, he did not get well above the +opening till he managed to force one toe into the niche between a couple +of the stones of the wall, when, by a sharp effort, he drew himself so +far out of the hole that he was able to seat himself upon the edge, with +his legs dangling down. + +"What a lot of trouble I am taking!" he said, laughing lightly, though +at the same time he felt discomposed. "I might just as well have +dropped, but as I am up here again I may as well take soundings." + +His plan of taking soundings was to fish out his ball of worsted, and, +after a moment's thought, to tie it to the handle of the brown +water-jug, and this he lowered softly down the hole. + +"It's deeper down than I thought for," he said to himself, as he let the +jug right down to the extent of the worsted thread, and then knelt down +and reached as far as he could, but still without result. + +"Stop a moment," he said, pulling out his piece of line, "it's lucky I +didn't leave go. Why, that worsted's at least a dozen feet long." + +As he spoke he tied the end of the worsted to his piece of cord, and let +the jug down lower still, to the extent of the cord as well, quite five +yards more. + +"Phew!" he whistled, as, with the cord round his finger, he reached down +as far as he could; "I should have had a drop! and--hang it, there goes +the jug!" + +For at that moment the string suddenly became light, the worsted having +parted; and as he knelt there, peering down into the darkness, the +perspiration started once more from his forehead, and a curious +sensation, as of a comb with teeth of ice passing through his hair, +affected him while he listened moment after moment, moment after moment, +till there came up a dull whispering splash from below, at a distance +that was perfectly horrifying after the risk that Hilary had run. + +So overcome was he by his discovery that he shrank away from the opening +in the floor completely unnerved, and unable for a time to move. He +was, in fact, like one who had received a stunning blow, and only after +some minutes had elapsed was he able to mutter a few words of +thankfulness for his escape, as he now thoroughly realised that he had +uncovered an old well of tremendous depth. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +A STRANGE FISH IN THE NET. + +Hilary's first act on recovering himself was to creep back cautiously to +the side, and lower down the stone over the open well, shivering still +as he realised more fully the narrowness of his escape. + +"Old Allstone will be wanting to know what I have done with his jug," he +said, as he seated himself upon the stool, and began to think what he +should do. + +He was somewhat unnerved by his adventure, but recovering himself fast, +and he had the whole night before him for making another attempt. All +the same, though, the time wore on without his moving; for the +recollection of that horrible whispering plash and the echoes that had +smitten his ear were hard to get rid of, try how he would; but at last, +feeling that he was wasting time, he began upon hands and knees creeping +about the place, and tapping the floor. + +There were plenty of hollow, echoing sounds in reply as he hammered away +with the hilt of the cutlass, and, telling himself that there could not +be wells beneath every stone, he made up his mind at last to try one +which seemed to present the greatest facilities for his effort--that is, +as far as he could tell by feeling the crack between it and the next. + +It proved a long and a tough job before he could move it. Twice over he +was about to give it up, for when at last he managed to make it move a +little it kept slipping back into its place, and seeming to wedge itself +farther in. + +The perspiration ran down his cheeks, and his arms ached; but he was +toiling for liberty, and on the _nil desperandum_ principle he worked +away. + +For, as he thought matters over, he was compelled to own that, however +much Lieutenant Lipscombe might feel disposed to search for him, he had +been spirited away so suddenly that it was not likely that success would +attend the search. + +Under these circumstances there was nothing for it but that he should +depend upon himself, and this he did to such a brave extent that at last +he placed the point of the cutlass in so satisfactory a position that on +heaving up the stone upon which he was at work it did not slip back, but +was so much dislodged that a little farther effort enabled him to pull +it aside; and then he sat down panting beside the black square opening +in the floor. + +It was so dark that most of his work had to be done by the sense of +touch, and consequently the toil was twice as hard, for he could not see +where it was best to apply force. All the same, though, perseverance +was rewarded, and he had raised the stone. + +Hilary did not feel in any great hurry to try his fortune this time; for +after his experience when he raised the last stone, he did not know what +might be here. Try to laugh it off as he would, there was a curious, +creeping sensation of dread came over him. He knew that this was a +chapel, and what more likely than that the vault beneath might be the +abiding place of the dead--of those who had occupied this old place in +the past; and, mingled with this, Adela's words would come back about +the place being haunted. + +"Bah!" he exclaimed at last. "What a fool you are, Hil!" + +As he spoke he gave himself a tremendous blow in the chest with his +doubled fist, hurting himself a great deal more than he intended, and +this roused him once more to action. + +He was not going to lower himself down this time without trying for +bottom; and pulling out his cord, he tied it to the hilt of the cutlass, +lowered it into the hole, and began to fish, as he expressed it. + +Clang! Jingle! + +Steel upon stone, as far as he could judge, just over six feet below +where he was leaning over. + +He tried again, here, there, and everywhere within his reach, and the +result was always the same, and there could be no mistake this time; he +might drop down in safety. + +He could not help hesitation, for the hole was black and forbidding. +But it was for liberty, and after pausing for a few moments while he +leaned down and felt about as far as he could reach, he prepared to +descend. + +His examination had taught him that the vault below was arched, for, +close by him, he could feel the thickness of the floor, while at the +other side of the square opening he could not reach down to the edge of +the arch, try how he would. In fact, his plan of sounding the floor had +answered admirably, and he had raised a stone just in the right place. + +Hesitating no longer he thrust the cutlass into his waistband and +proceeded to lower himself down. His acts were very cautiously carried +out, for his former experience had taught him care, and holding on +tightly by the edge he gradually slid down, till at the full extent of +his arms he felt firm footing. + +Still he did not leave hold, but passing himself along first one edge +and then another of his hole till he had gone along all four sides, and +always with the same result, he let go, and stood in safety upon a stone +floor. + +Drawing his cutlass, he felt overhead the opening where the stone had +been removed, and wondered what he was to do to find it again in the +intense darkness; but he was obliged to own that he could do nothing. + +A thrust to right touched nothing; a thrust to left had no better +result; and then he stood and wiped his brow. + +"I wonder what I shall find," he said to himself. "Cases and tubs, or +old coffins." + +He thrust out the sword once more straight in front of him, and this +time it touched wood, and made him shiver. + +For a few moments he did not care to move and investigate farther; but +rousing himself once more, he tried again with his hand, to find that he +touched hoops and staves, and that it was a goodly-sized tub. + +He tried again, cautiously, feeling carefully with one foot before he +attempted to move another, for the thought struck him that not very far +from him the opening down into that terrible well must be yawning in the +floor, and under these circumstances he moved most carefully. + +He found that he need not have been so cautious, for after a little more +of this obscure investigation he learned that he was in a very +circumscribed area, surrounded on all sides by a most heterogeneous +collection of tubs, full and empty, rough cases, bales, ropes, blocks, +and iron tackle, such as might be used in a fishing-boat; and the next +thing his hands encountered was a pile of fishing-nets. + +It was as he had expected: the vault or cellar below the chapel was full +of the stores belonging to the smugglers, and his task now was to find +his way out. + +It was of no avail to wish for flint and steel, to try, if only by the +light of a few sparks, to dispel this terrible darkness, which seemed to +surround and close him in, prisoning his faculties, as it were, and +preventing him, now he had got so far, from making his escape. + +There was always the dread of coming upon that terrible well acting like +a bar to further progress. Then there was the utter helplessness of his +position. Which way was he to go? + +"At all events," he said to himself at last, "I can't go down the well +if I'm climbing over tubs;" and he felt his way to the place where he +had first touched a cask, and climbing up, he found that he could +progress a little way, always getting higher, with many an awkward slip; +and then he had to stop, for his head touched the roof. + +A trial to right and left had no better result, and there was nothing +for it but to return and begin elsewhere. + +This he did, crawling over nets and boxes and packages, whose kind and +shape he could not make out, but he always seemed to be stopped, try +where he would, and at last, panting and hot with his exertions, he lay +down on some fishing-nets close by to rest himself and endeavour to +think out what was best to do. + +Suddenly, and without the slightest warning, there was a heavy grating +creak; a door was thrown open; and what to his eyes seemed to be a +dazzling light shone into the place, revealing a narrow passage not ten +feet from where he lay, but which he had passed over in the darkness +again and again. + +"Better light two or three more candles," said a gruff voice. + +"All right," was the reply; and from just on the other side of a pile of +merchandise that reached to the ceiling Hilary could hear some one +blowing at the tindery fluff made by lighting the top of a fresh candle. + +What was he to do? He could not see the men who had come down, for he +was separated from them by the piled-up contents of the cellar; but any +attempt to regain the chapel must result in discovery, so he lay +motionless, hardly daring to breathe, till he heard more footsteps +coming--heavy, shuffling footsteps, as if those who came were loaded; +and, waiting till they came nearer and one of the first comers said +something aloud, Hilary raised himself slightly, and, almost with the +rapidity of thought, covered himself with some of the soft, loose +fishing-nets, feet and legs first, then shoulders and head, finally +throwing a few more folds over his head, and then lying down. + +"Wouldn't be a bad plan to give them a good dose of brimstone," said one +of the men. + +"Give who a good dose?" said another. + +"Why, the rats. Didn't you hear 'em?" + +"Oh, ay, yes; I did hear a bit of scuffling. Let 'em bide; they don't +do much mischief." + +"Not much mischief!" said the other as Hilary felt his hopes rise as he +heard the noise attributed to rats. "Why, there's a couple o' hundred +fathom o' mack'rel net lying t'other side there gnawed full of holes." + +"What o' that?" said the other. "Why, one such night as this, lad, is +worth two months o' mack'rel fishing." + +"Well, yes, so it be. Ah! that's better. We shall see now what we're +about. I say, it was rather a near one with the cutter to-night. I +thought she'd ha' been down upon us." + +"Down upon us? ay! I wish her skipper was boxed up safe along with +young cockchafer yonder." + +"Hang his insolence!" thought Hilary. "Young cockchafer, indeed! He'll +find me more of a wasp." + +"Think anyone sent word to the cutter?" + +"Nay, not they. Who would? She's hanging about after her boy." + +"Boy, eh? That's I," said Hilary again to himself. "Well, maybe I +shall show 'em I can fight like a man!" + +"Here, I say," said another voice: "why don't you two begin to stow away +these kegs?" + +"Never you mind. You bring 'em down from the carts: we know what we're +doing." + +There was a sound of departing footsteps, and Hilary listened intently. + +"Ah!" said one of the men, "if I was the skipper I'd send the young Tom +chicken about his business; but the skipper says he knows too much." + +"How long's he going to keep him then?" + +"Altogether, I s'pose, unless he likes to join us." + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the other, who was evidently moving something +heavy. + +"Well, he might do worse, my lad. Anyhow, they ar'n't going to let him +go and bring that cutter down upon us." + +"No, that wouldn't do. Lend a hand here. This bag's heavy. What's in +it?" + +"I don't know. Feels like lead. P'r'aps it is." + +"Think the cutter will hang about long?" + +"How should I know? I say, though, how staggered them chaps was when +they got up to the rock and found no one to fight!" + +"I wasn't there." + +"Oh, no--more you wasn't. Come along, come along, lads. Here we are +waiting for stowage, and you talk about us keeping you waiting." + +"You mind your own job," growled the voice that Hilary had heard finding +fault before. + +There was more scuffling of feet, and then the two men went on talking. + +"The cutter's sailors had come, of course, after the boy, and they +stumbled on the way through the rocks, just same as the boy did; and we +waited for 'em with a few sticks, and then give 'em as much as were good +for 'em, and then retreated, big Joey keeping the way till we had all +got up the rock, and then up he come in the dark, and you'd have laughed +fit to crack your sides to hear them down below whacking at the stones +with their cutlashes till they was obliged to believe we was gone, and +then they went back with their tails between their legs like a pack of +dogs." + +The other man laughed as Hilary drank in all this, and learned how the +crew had been after him, and realised most thoroughly how it was that he +had been brought there, and also the ingenious plan by which the +smugglers and the political party with whom they seemed to be mixed up +contrived to throw their enemies off the scent. There was an interval, +during which the two men seemed to be very busy stowing away kegs and +packages, and then they went on again. + +"Skipper of the cutter come next day--that one-eyed chap we took in so +with the lugger--and his chaps brought him up to the rocks, and then, my +wig! how he did give it 'em for bringing them a fool's errand, as he +called it! It was a fine game, I can tell you." + +"Must have been," said the other, as Hilary drank in this information +too, and made mental vows about how he would pay the scoundrels out for +all this when once he got free. + +Then there was a cessation of the feet coming down the stairs, broken by +one step that Hilary seemed to recognise. + +"How are you getting on?" + +Hilary was right; it was Allstone. + +"Waiting for more," was the reply. + +"They'll bring up another cart directly," said Allstone in his sulky +tone of voice. + +"Sooner the better. I'm 'bout tired out. Fine lot o' rats here," said +the man. + +"Ah, yes! There's a few," said Allstone. + +"Heard 'em scuffling about like fun over the other side," said the man. + +Hilary felt the cold perspiration ooze out of him as he lay there, dimly +seeing through the meshes of the net that he was in a low arched vault +of considerable extent, the curved roof being of time-blackened stone, +and that here and there were rough pillars from which the arches sprang. + +He hardly dared to move, but, softly turning his head, he saw to his +horror that the square opening whence he had taken the stone was full in +view, the light that left him in darkness striking straight up through +the hole. + +If they looked up there, he felt that they must see that the stone had +been moved, and he shivered as he felt that his efforts to escape had +been in vain. + +"They're a plaguey long time coming," said the man who had been talking +so much. "Here, just come round here, my lad, and I'll show you what I +mean about the nets." + +"It's all over," said Hilary as he took a firm grip of the hilt of his +cutlass, meaning as soon as he was discovered to strike out right and +left, and try to escape during the surprise his appearance would cause. + +As he lay there, ready to spring up at the smallest indication of his +discovery, he saw the shadows move as the men came round by the heap of +packages, and enter the narrow passage where he was. The first, bearing +a candle stuck between some nails in a piece of wood, was a fair, +fresh-coloured young fellow, and he was closely followed by a burly +middle-aged man bearing another candle, Allstone coming last. + +"There," said the younger man, "there's about as nice a mess for a set +o' nets to be in as anyone ever saw;" and he laid hold of the pile that +Hilary had drawn over his face. + +It was only a matter of moments now, and as he lay there Hilary's nerves +tingled, and he could hardly contain himself for eagerness to make his +spring. + +"Look at that, and that, and that," said the man, picking up folds of +the soft brown netting, and seeming about to strip all off Hilary, but +by a touch of fate helping his concealment the next moment, by throwing +fold after fold over him, till the next thing seemed to be that he would +be smothered. + +"Tell you what," he said. "They nets are just being spoiled. There's +plenty of time before the next cart unloads. Lend a hand here, and +let's have 'em all out in the pure air. I hate seeing good trade left +down here to spoil in a damp--" + +He laid hold of the nets, and as he gave a drag Hilary felt the meshes +gliding over his face, and prepared himself to spring up and make a dash +for his liberty. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +'TWIXT CUP AND LIP. + +Another instant and Hilary must have been discovered; but just then the +trampling of feet was heard, a shout or two, and Allstone said gruffly: + +"Let the nets alone, and come and get the stuff down." + +The man dropped the nets, and taking up his candle, which he had placed +upon a chest, followed Allstone back along the narrow passage between +the piled-up tubs and packages, and once more Hilary was left in +comparative darkness, to lie there dripping with perspiration, and +hesitating as to what he should do next, for if he stayed where he was, +it was probable that the men would come back to remove the nets. If, on +the other hand, he attempted to move, the chances were that he would be +heard. In short he dare not move, for the slightest rustle would be +sure to take their attention. + +And so he lay there in an extremely uncomfortable position, watching the +shadows cast upon the dingy ceiling, as the distorted heads and +shoulders of the men were seen moving to and fro. Sometimes he could +distinguish what they carried, whether it was bale or tub, and upon +which shoulder it was carried, till by degrees, as he found that he was +not discovered, his thoughts began to turn upon what a grand haul the +crew of the _Kestrel_ could make in the way of prize-money if he only +had the good fortune to escape, and could find his way back to the +shore. + +There must have been at least six carts unloaded by slow degrees, and +their contents brought down into that vault before Allstone, who was at +the head of the steps leading down, suddenly shouted: + +"That's all. Look alive up." + +"Ay, ay, we're coming," was the reply, and Hilary heard the men drag a +case of some kind a little way along the floor with a loud scratching +noise. + +"I don't like leaving those nets," said the one who had been round. "We +don't want 'em now, but the time may come when we shall be glad to go +drifting again. What are you doing?" + +"Only got a handful of this 'bacco, my boy. I don't see any fun in +buying it where there's hundredweights down here." + +"Bring me a handful too." + +Hilary could resist the temptation no longer, and rising softly, he +peered over the piled-up boxes and tubs to get a better view of the +place, and make out where the door of exit lay. This he ascertained at +a glance, and likewise obtained a pretty good idea of the shape and +extent of the vault before the men took up their candles to go. + +Now was the critical moment. Would they raise their eyes and see where +there was a stone missing in the ceiling? A few moments would decide +it, and so excited was Hilary now that he could not refrain from +watching the men, though the act was excessively dangerous, and if they +had turned their heads in his direction they must have seen him. + +But they did not turn their heads as it happened, but went by within a +yard of where the young officer was concealed. Then he saw them mount +some broad rugged old steps beneath a little archway, whose stones were +covered with chisel-marks; there was a Rembrandtish effect as they +turned round the winding stair, and then there was the clang of a heavy +door, and darkness reigned once more in the vault, for Hilary was alone. + +For a few minutes he dared not stir for fear that some one or other of +the men might return; but as the time wore on, and he could only hear +the sounds of talking in a distant muffled way, he descended from his +awkward position, reached the stone floor, and feeling his way along +reached the opening through which the men had come, and then stumbling +two or three times, and barely saving himself from falling, he found his +way to where they had been at work, for his hand came in contact with +one of the rough candlesticks thick with grease. + +Sure thus far, he was not long in finding the doorway, where he stood +listening to dull sounds from above, and then crept back a little way so +as to be able to retreat in case the men were coming back, and touching +a keg with his foot he sat down upon it to think. + +If the door at the top of the stairs was locked he would be no better +off than in the chapel, for it was not likely that there would be a +window to this place, so that if he meant to escape he felt that it +would be better not to leave it to daylight; though, on the other hand, +if he did leave it to daybreak, and the door was unfastened, he would +have an admirable opportunity of getting away, for by that time the men +would have done their night's work, and would probably be fast asleep. + +"It is of no use for me to play the coward," said Hilary to himself at +last. "If I am to get away it must be by a bold dash." + +He burst out into a hearty fit of silent laughter here. + +"My word, what a game it would be!" he said. "They say the place is +haunted. Suppose I cover myself with fishing-nets and march straight +out." + +"Wouldn't do!" he said, decidedly. "They would not be such noodles as +to be frightened, and they would pop at me with their pistols." + +Meanwhile there was a good deal of talking going on up above, and at +last, unable to restrain his curiosity longer, Hilary returned to the +foot of the steps, felt the wall on either side, and began softly to +ascend, counting the steps as he went, and calculating that there would +be about twelve. + +He was quite right, and as he wound round and neared the top he found +that there were rays of light coming beneath the door and through the +keyhole, while the sound of voices came much plainer. + +Going down on hands and knees, he was able to peer under the door, which +shut right upon the top step; and after a few seconds he had pretty well +ascertained his position. + +He was looking under a door right at the end of a long stone-paved +passage, and there was another door just upon his right, which evidently +led into his prison; while straight before him, through an opening he +could see into a large stone-paved kitchen where the talking was going +on, the back of one man being visible as he seemed to be seated upon a +stool, and changed his position from time to time. + +The next thing to ascertain was whether the door was unfastened; and he +was about to rise and try, when the familiar sound of steps upon a +boarded floor fell upon his ear, a door that he had not hitherto seen +was opened, and Allstone, Sir Henry, and the sharp-looking captain of +the lugger passed before him, and, entering the lit-up kitchen, were +lost to sight. + +There was a louder burst of talking just now, and as it seemed a +favourable opportunity Hilary rose to his feet, passed his hand up the +side of the door, and touched the great solid hinges. Trying the other +side he was more successful, for his hand came in contact with a huge +latch which rattled softly at his touch, and set his heart beating +heavily. + +He paused for a few moments before he tried again, when, proceeding more +carefully, he found that the latch rose easily enough; and then as he +drew the door towards him it yielded slowly from its great weight; but +there was the fact--the way was open for escape, and the place before +him was clear. + +There was nothing to do then but wait, and he was in the act of closing +the door and lowering the latch when he heard Sir Henry's voice +speaking, and directly after steps in the passage. + +"Allstone has the keys," said a voice Hilary recognised as that of Sir +Henry; "will you go and see him now?" + +"Look here, Sir Henry," was whispered, "you must get him on our side. +The boy would be invaluable. With such an ally on board the cutter we +need never fear a surprise." + +"You are thinking of your smuggling ventures," said Sir Henry +contemptuously. + +"I was thinking as much of your despatches. Why, you could have run +them across in safety then. Come, Sir Henry, we won't quarrel about +that. He'll be useful to both. Shall I go and see him? I'll wager +I'll soon bully or bribe him into agreement." + +"You don't know your man," said Sir Henry. + +"Or boy," laughed the skipper. + +"Give me time and I'll win him," said Sir Henry. + +"That's what I can't give you," was the reply. "It isn't safe having +prisoners here. Suppose the boy escapes. How long should we be before +he brings a couple of dozen fellows from the cutter, if they've got so +many; and then where shall we be?" + +"Do you think he could hear what we say?" asked Sir Henry in so low a +voice that Hilary had hard work to catch the words. + +"Bah! not he. That door's six inches thick," said the skipper. "No, +Sir Henry, there is no time to lose, and we must win him over, unless +you'd rather--" + +Hilary could not catch the end of what was said, but he suspected what +was meant, as he heard Sir Henry utter a sharp exclamation full of +anger. + +"Leave it till to-morrow, and I think I can bring him to our wishes." + +"That is what you said last time, Sir Henry," replied the skipper +insolently. "Here, Allstone, give me the key and I'll soon bring the +springald to reason." + +There was a clink of metal, a step forward, and Hilary's heart sank +within him, for the discovery of his evasion was a matter of course. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +THE WAY TO ESCAPE. + +In a moment Hilary mentally saw Sir Henry and the skipper enter his +prison, fancied the shout of alarm, and seemed to see himself, cutlass +in hand, making a dash for his liberty; but the struggle was not then to +be, for, with an angry voice, Sir Henry interposed. + +"Martin!" he exclaimed, "let us understand one another once and for all. +Your duty, sir, is to obey me, and I'll be obeyed. As to that boy, I +tell you I'll win him to our side, but it will be at my own good time. +Sir, I order you to come away from that door." + +"What!" exclaimed the skipper furiously; "do you know I have a dozen men +ready to take my side if I raise my voice?" + +"I neither know nor care," cried Sir Henry hoarsely; "but I do know that +you have sworn allegiance to King Charles Edward, sir, and that you are +my inferior officer in the cause. Disobey me, sir, at your peril." + +Hilary grasped his cutlass, and the fighting blood of the Englishman was +making his veins tingle. + +"If it comes to a tussle," he thought, "there'll be one on Sir Henry's +side they don't count upon;" and as he thought this he softly raised the +latch, ready to swing open the door and dash out. + +But Martin, the skipper, evidently did not care to quarrel with Sir +Henry, and his next words were quite apologetic. + +"Why, Sir Henry," he said with a rough laugh, "I believe we two were +getting out of temper, and that won't do, you know." + +"I am not out of temper," said Sir Henry; "but I'll be obeyed, sir." + +"And so you shall be, Sir Henry. It's all right, and I'll say no more +about it, only that it's dangerous leaving a young fellow like that shut +up. These boys are as active as monkeys, and we might return at any +time and find the young rascal gone. But you'll do your best to bring +him round?" + +"I will," replied Sir Henry, "for more reasons than one. Look here, +Martin, if I spoke too angrily to you just now I beg your pardon, but +you touch upon a tender point when you talk of rough measures towards +that boy. I told you that he was my child's companion years ago--in +fact, I used to look upon him quite as a son. There," he added hastily, +"you may trust me to do my best. Good-night." + +"Good-night, Sir Henry, good-night," said the skipper effusively. "I'll +trust you. Good-night." + +Sir Henry's steps were heard to die away, and so silent was everything +that Hilary concluded that the skipper must have also gone; but just as +he had made up his mind that this was the case some one uttered an oath. + +"Give me the keys, Allstone," Hilary heard the next moment; and once +more he concluded that all was over, for there was the jingle of the +iron, and it seemed that now he was left to himself Martin was about to +visit the young prisoner, and try to frighten him into following out his +wishes. + +Hilary was in despair, but he made up his mind what to do, and that was +to fling open the door and walk swiftly across the place where the men +were lying about, as soon as he heard the skipper and Allstone go into +the old chapel. + +To his dismay, however, the man came straight to the door where Hilary +was standing, raised the latch, opened it, and as the young officer drew +back the heavy door struck him in the chest, but before he could recover +from his surprise there was a sharp bang, with the accompanying rattle +of the great latch, and as a dull echo came from below, the key was +turned, and the lock shot into the stone cheek. + +"Curse him and his fine airs!" Hilary heard the skipper say, hoarsely. +"I shall have the young villain bringing the cutter's crew down upon us. +I wish his neck was broken." + +"Put him in the top room, then," said Allstone; "he'll break his neck +trying to get away." + +"Not he," said the skipper; "those middies can climb like cats. He's +safe enough now, I suppose." + +"Oh, yes," said Allstone, "I went and had a look at the window-bars +to-night." + +"Safe enough, yes," muttered Hilary, as he heard the departing steps; +"they've locked me up safe enough. Was anything ever so vexatious?" + +As he heard the clang of a door he placed his eye to the open keyhole, +and through it he could see into the great kitchen, which now seemed to +be lit only by the glow from a great wood fire, for the shadows danced +on the wall, and when now and then the fire fell together and the flames +danced up more brightly he could make out quite definitely a pair of the +shadows, which were evidently those of a couple of half-recumbent men. + +Just on one side too he could plainly see part of a man's leg. No +shadow this, but a limb of some one who had thrown himself upon the +floor; and Hilary rightly judged that the crew of the lugger were +snatching an hour or two's repose previous to being called up by their +leader. + +The laughing and talking were silenced, and he could hear nothing but +the occasional crackle of burning wood. + +He raised the latch softly, pressing against the door the while; but it +was fast locked, and by running his fingers down the side he could feel +where the great square bolt of the lock ran into the stone wall. Escape +that way was cut off, and ready to stamp with mortification Hilary stood +upon the step at the top of the flight asking himself what he had best +do. + +There was no chance of getting away that night, so he felt that he must +give it up, and the sinking despondency that came over him was for the +moment terrible; but reaction soon sets in when one is on the buoyant +side of twenty, and he recalled the fact that, though he might be +obliged to return to his prison, he had found a way of exit; and if he +went back, lowered the stone and dusted it over, he might come down +another time, night or morning, and find the door open; in fact, he +might keep on trying till he did. + +It was very disheartening, but there seemed to be nothing else to be +done, and he stood there thinking of how nearly he had escaped, but at +the same he was obliged to own how happily he had avoided detection. + +Then the remembrance of the well came back, and the cold perspiration +broke out on his hands and brow at the bare recollection. + +"Bah! what's the good of thinking about that?" he said to himself; and +he was about to descend when he fancied he heard a faint rustling noise +on the other side of the door, and then whispers. + +The sounds ceased directly, and he bent down so that his eye was to the +keyhole, when, to his surprise, he found that something was between him +and the light. + +Just then the whispers began again, and placing his ear this time to the +great hole, he plainly heard two men speaking: + +"I think you can do it without a light," said one. + +"Ay, easy enough. You stop, and if you hear Allstone coming, give just +one pipe, and I'll be up directly." + +"All right. Get the hollands this time. Gently with that key." + +Hilary would have run down, but he was afraid of detection, for just +then there was the harsh grating noise of a key being thrust into the +big lock, the bolt creaked back, the latch was raised, and the door +softly pushed open as he pressed himself back against the wall, and +remained there in the darkness, almost afraid to breathe. + +It was intensely dark now, even when the door was opened, and as Hilary +stood there behind the door he heard some one descend, while another +stood at the top, breathing hard, and evidently listening to the +rustling of the man down below. + +Several minutes passed, and then the man at the top of the stairs +muttered impatiently, and went down two or three of the degrees. + +"Pst! Dick!" he whispered. + +"Ay, ay." + +"Be quick, man!" + +"I can't find 'em," was the whispered reply. "They've packed the cases +atop of 'em." + +"Jolterhead!" muttered the other impatiently. "Why, they're just at the +back." + +"Come down," was whispered from below, and to Hilary's great delight he +heard the man on the watch go softly below. + +Now was Hilary's opportunity, and gliding softly from behind the door, +he stepped out into the stone passage, and saw before him a faint light +shining under the bottom of the door which the men had evidently closed +when they left the kitchen. + +He might have locked the two fellows in the vault, but that would have +caused needless noise, and perhaps hindered his escape, so without +further hesitation he stepped lightly along the passage, and softly +pressed against the farther door. + +It yielded easily, and he found himself looking into a great low-ceiled +kitchen, whose ancient black rafters shone in the glow from a huge +fireplace, upon whose hearth the remains of a large fire flickered and +sent forth a few dying sparks. + +Around it, and stretched in a variety of postures upon the floor, were +some eight or ten men fast asleep; and what took Hilary's attention more +than all was another door at the far corner, which it was now his aim to +reach. + +But to do this he would have to step over two of the men, and there was +the possibility that, though they all seemed to be asleep, one or more +might be awake and watchful. + +It needed no little firmness to make the attempt; but if he were to +escape, he knew it must be done. + +"If they wake they will only take me back," thought Hilary, "so I may as +well try." + +He hesitated no longer, but stepping on tiptoe he passed on between two +of the sleeping men, and was in the act of stepping over another, when a +gruff voice from a corner exclaimed:-- + +"Why don't you lie down. You'll be glad of a nap by and by." + +Hilary felt as if his heart had leaped to his mouth, and he thought he +was discovered; but the words were spoken in a sleepy tone, and from the +sound that followed it was evident that the man had turned over. + +Hilary waited a few minutes, and once more resumed his progress towards +the door, making every movement with the greatest caution; and he was +already half way to his goal when he heard the grating of the lock at +the top of the dark cellar stairs, and a low whispering told him that +the men were about to return. + +There was not a moment to lose, and stepping lightly on, he reached the +door, raised the great wooden latch by which it was secured, and passed +in, while just as he closed it he saw through the opening the two men +who had been below enter the place. + +The fire was throwing out but little light now, but he could see that +they carried what looked like a little spirit keg, which they set down +by the fire. The closing door shut out the rest. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +MANHOOD VERSUS SELFISHNESS--AND MANHOOD WINS. + +Hilary breathed more freely as he silently let fall the latch, and then +waited for a few minutes to recover his equanimity before making a +farther trial. He had succeeded so far, and he felt that if he were +patient and cautious he might regain his freedom; but he thought it +better to let the men begin upon the spirits that two of the party had +evidently been down to obtain. + +But as far as he could make out they did not seem to be in any hurry to +awaken their companions, and at last after waiting for some minutes for +the burst of conversation that he hoped would make his movements pass +unheard, he began to feel his way cautiously about, expecting a door of +exit to meet his hand, or else to find that he was in some large +passage. To his great disappointment he found that he could touch the +wall on either side after making a step; and a very little investigation +showed him farther that he was only in a stone-paved place that had +probably been a dairy, for on one side there was an iron grating of very +massive bars let into the stone, and there were stone benches along one +side. + +In fact, if the key of the door had been turned, he would have only +exchanged one prison for another. + +His heart sank within him as he realised his position, and found that +there was only one door, upon which he raised his hand ready to return +into the great kitchen; but a low creaking noise, suggestive of some one +treading on a board, arrested him, and he stood there listening. + +After a few minutes he grew more confident, and opening the door +slightly he once more gazed upon the Rembrandtish scene, all light and +shadow, with the men stretched about asleep, and two more seated upon a +bench busily trickling spirit from the little keg into a small horn, +from which they drank in turn with a sigh of satisfaction. + +The others slept on, one now and then making an uneasy movement; but it +was evident that there were to be no more partners in the coming +drinking bout, and Hilary began to calculate how long it would be before +they would have drunk enough to make them sleepy and ready to join their +companions upon the floor. + +He had no means of judging, but he concluded that it must now be nearly +three o'clock, and in an hour's time it would be getting light. And +yet, near as he was to safety, it seemed that he was to be disappointed, +and to wait there till somebody or other came to the place and gave the +alarm. + +By keeping the door just ajar he was able to watch the two men; but a +couple of hours had passed before he saw them stretch themselves upon +the floor, after carefully hiding away the little keg, and at last +Hilary felt that he might venture to cross the great kitchen again and +endeavour to find another outlet. + +The day had broken some time before, and the cold grey light that shone +in through the iron grating showed him that he was correct in his +surmises, and that the place had been a dairy; but the window was too +strong for him to break through, and there was nothing for it but to +cross the party of sleeping men. + +He was some little time before he could make up his mind to the effort, +and when he did, and began to slowly open the door, he let it glide to +once more, for one of the men suddenly uttered a loud yawn, jumped up +and stretched himself, before giving a companion a kick in the side. + +It took several kicks to induce the man to get up; but when he did it +was in a morose, angry disposition, and he revenged himself by going +round and kicking every other man till the whole party was awake, and +Hilary saw his chances fade away, while, to add to his misery, the next +act of the party was to go to a great cupboard, from which a ham and a +couple of loaves were produced, upon which they made a vigorous +onslaught, each man opening his jack-knife and hewing off a lump of +bread and cutting a great slice of ham. + +They ate so heartily that a feeling of hunger was excited in the +prisoner's breast; but this soon passed off, and he sat there wondering +how long it would be before one or other of the party would come into +the old dairy, though, upon looking round, there seemed to be nothing to +bring them there. + +Hour after hour glided by. The meal had long been ended, and the men +were gone outside, but never all at once; always one stayed, sometimes +two. Then Martin kept bustling in and giving orders. Once too Sir +Harry came in and entered into a discussion with the skipper, +apparently, from the few words that Hilary could catch, concerning the +advisability of making some excursion; but there seemed to be some +hindrance in the way, and Hilary's heart beat high with hope as he heard +the word "cutter" spoken twice. + +It was not much to hear; but it was good news for Hilary, who concluded +that the vessel must still be lying off the coast, and in the smugglers' +way. + +At last, however, the conversation ended, and Hilary saw Sir Henry leave +the place just as Allstone came in. + +This made the young man's heart beat again, for either the fellow had +come to announce his evasion, or else he was about to take food into the +old chapel, when, of course, he would find his prisoner gone. + +But no: he spoke quite calmly to the skipper, and after a short +consultation they went out. + +Just then the noise of wheels and the trampling of horses could be heard +outside, facts which pointed to the leaving of one or more of the party. + +Two of the men were still hanging about, but at last they also went, and +Allstone came in and seated himself thoughtfully upon a bench. + +By-and-by, though, he cut himself some food, hesitated, and proceeded to +cut some more, which he placed in a coarse delf plate. + +"My breakfast!" said Hilary to himself, and he wondered how soon the man +would go to the chapel to present it to his prisoner. + +This would be the signal for Hilary's escape, and, anxiously waiting +till the man had finished his own repast, the young officer made up his +mind to run to the window, climb out, and then trust to his heels for +his liberty. + +The time seemed as if it would never come, but at last the surly-looking +fellow, having apparently satisfied his own hunger, rose up slowly, and, +taking the plate, went slowly out of the door, rattling his keys the +while. + +He had hardly disappeared before Hilary glided out of his hiding-place, +darted to the table and seized the remains of the bread, hesitated as to +whether he should take the ham bone, but leaving it, climbed on to the +window-sill, forced the frame open, and dropped outside amongst the +nettles that grew beneath. + +"Free!" he exclaimed. "Now which way?" + +He had not much choice in the first place, for he remembered that there +would be the moat to cross, and the probabilities were that there would +only be one path. After that he saw his way clearly, and that was +towards the sun, for he knew that if he made straight for that point he +would be going by midday direct for the sea. + +That was his goal. Once he could reach the cliffs and get down on the +shore, he meant to seize the first boat he met with, get afloat, and +trust to fortune for the rest. + +For the first few moments Hilary kept close to the house, but, +considering that a bold effort was the only one likely to succeed, he +walked out straight to the moat, hesitated a moment as to whether he +should leap in and swim or wade across, and ended by walking sharply +along its brink till it turned off at right angles, and he now saw a +sandstone bridge facing the entry of a large, old-fashioned hall, that +had evidently gone to ruin, and which, from the outside aspect, seemed +to be uninhabited, for a more thorough aspect of desolation it was +impossible to imagine. + +There was not a soul in view as he walked sharply away till he reached +the crumbling bridge, which he crossed, and then, finding that the road +led along by the far side of the moat, he did not pause to think, but, +trusting to the high hedge by which it was bordered and the wilderness +of trees that had sprung up between the road and the moat to conceal +him, he went right on, his way being a little east of south. + +"I wonder whether old Allstone has given the alarm?" he said half aloud, +as he placed the cutlass in his belt. "They'll have to run fast to +catch me now. Hallo! what's that?" + +_That_ was a piercing scream, followed by loud cries of "Help! Papa-- +help!" + +Hilary had made his escape, and he had nothing to do now but make +straight for the sea; but that cry stopped him on the instant. It +evidently came from the moat behind him, and sounded to him as if some +one had fallen in; he thought as he ran, for without a moment's +hesitation he forced his way through the old hedge, dashed in amongst +the clumps of hawthorn and hornbeam scrub, making straight for the moat, +where he saw a sight which caused him to increase his pace and make a +running dash right to the water, where the next moment he was swimming +towards where Adela Norland was struggling feebly for her life. + +Hilary saw how it was in a moment. The poor girl had apparently been +tempted into trying to get at some of the yellow lilies and silvery +water crowfoot which were growing abundantly in the centre of the wide +moat, and to effect this she had entered a clumsy old boat that was +evidently utilised for clearing out the weeds and growth from the +stagnant water. That it was a boat was sufficient for her, and she had +pushed out into the middle, not heeding that the craft was so rotten and +fragile that just as she was out in one of the deepest parts it began to +fill rapidly, and sank beneath her weight, leaving her struggling in the +water. + +Hilary had some distance to swim, for here, in the front of the house, +the moat was double the width of the part by his prison window, and to +his horror he saw the beating hands subside beneath the water while he +was many yards away. But he was a good swimmer, and redoubling his +exertions he forced his way onward, as he saw Sir Henry, Allstone, and +three more men come running out to the moat; but only one of them, Sir +Henry himself, attempted to save the drowning girl's life. + +Long before Sir Henry could reach Adela, Hilary was at the spot where he +had seen her go down, and, rising for a moment and making a dive, he +went down, rose, dived again, and once again before he caught hold of +the poor girl's dress, and then swam with her for the shore. + +The moat was deep right up to the grassy edge; and Hilary was in the act +of placing Adela in the hands held down to catch her when a fresh cry +for help assailed his ears, and, turning, it was to see that Sir Henry +was a dozen yards away, swimming apparently, but making no progress. + +Hilary suspected the cause as he turned and swam to his old friend's +help. For Sir Henry was heavily dressed, and, in addition, booted and +spurred. The consequence had been that his heavy boots, with their +appendages, were entangled in the long tough stems of the lilies, and +his position was perilous in the extreme. + +For a moment Hilary wondered how he could help his old friend, and as he +wondered the thought came. + +Swimming with one hand, he drew the cutlass from his belt, and telling +Sir Henry to be cool, he swam up to him, thrust the cutlass down beneath +the water, and after two or three attempts succeeded in dividing the +tough stalks, ending by helping the nearly exhausted swimmer towards the +shore. + +The men on the shore, and that little figure kneeling by them with +clasped hands, seemed to be growing dim and indistinct, close as they +were, and as if they were receding. His arms felt like lead, and he +could hardly make his strokes, while somehow Sir Henry now embarrassed +him by being so close that he could not take hold, as it were, of the +water. But still he strove on, with the foam bubbling at his lips, then +over his lips, then to his dim eyes; and then he felt something strike +against his hand, and he clutched at a pole held out by Allstone, when +Sir Henry and he were dragged out, to lie panting for the next minute or +two upon the bank. + +"You're not dead, are you, Sir Henry?" said Allstone gruffly; and Hilary +could not help, even then, feeling annoyed as he raised himself upon one +elbow, but only to give place to other thoughts as he saw Adela kneeling +there in speechless agony, holding her father's head in her lap. + +Poor girl! She was white as ashes, and her beautiful hair hung long and +dishevelled about her shoulders; but just then she seemed to have no +thought of self, her whole feeling being concentrated upon the pale, +motionless face before her, from which the life seemed to have passed +away. + +But after a time Sir Henry shuddered and opened his eyes, smiling +affectionately in his child's face, and, as he realised their position, +he said something to her in a low voice. + +They had all been so long occupied in watching for the recovery of Sir +Henry that Hilary had had time to regain breath and some of his +strength, and now the knowledge of his own position came back to him. +He had escaped from the net, and voluntarily returned to it to save +Adela. Her he had saved, and also her father. Now it was time to save +himself, and, jumping up, he gave a hasty glance round. + +"No, you don't!" said a hoarse voice. "You're my prisoner." And +Allstone seized him by his wet jacket. + +Hilary was weak yet with his struggle in the water, but the dread of +being once more a prisoner gave him strength, and, striking up the arm, +he made for the bridge to cross once more for liberty; but a couple of +men coming from the other direction, having just heard the alarm, cut +off his retreat, and, exhausted as he was, he did not hesitate for an +instant, but plunged once more into the moat. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +A RACE FOR LIBERTY. + +It was a question of time. + +Could Hilary get across the moat before the men who ran off to stop him +reached the bridge, crossed, then ran along the other side? + +Appearances were against Hilary, and he saw that they were. In fact, so +black was the lookout, that he half thought of finding a shallow place +and standing there amongst the waterlilies, laughing at his pursuers. + +"Only it would look so stupid," he muttered; "and I should be obliged to +come out at last." + +He was striking out pretty well, and, but for the fact that his late +exertions had told upon him, he felt that he would have got across with +ease. + +"It's too bad, though," he thought; "and Sir Henry isn't half the fellow +I thought him if he allows me to be taken. Hullo! Hurrah! Down they +go!" he exclaimed, as, straining his eyes towards the bridge, he saw one +man trip and fall out of sight behind the low wall and another go over +him. + +This reanimated him; and, taking long, slow strokes, he was soon pretty +close to the farther side, with the determination in him strong to get +away. + +Fortunately he had retained the cutlass; and as he reached the bank and +scrambled out, dripping like some huge Newfoundland dog, Allstone came +panting up and seized him by the collar. + +"Not this time, my lad," he growled, showing his teeth. "You thought +you had done it, didn't you?" + +"Let go!" panted Hilary, as the water streamed down and made a pool. + +"Yes, when I've got you in a safer place," was the reply. + +"Here, come along, you two. No; one of you fetch a rope." + +This was to his followers, one of whom was limping, and the other +bleeding from a cut in the face caused by his fall. + +"Will you let go?" cried Hilary hoarsely, but fast regaining his breath. + +"There, it's no use for you to struggle, my boy," said Allstone. +"Murder! Here! Help!" + +Hilary had glanced round and taken in his position. Sir Henry was +standing holding Adela, who had hidden her face in his breast so as not +to see the struggle, while her father made no attempt to interfere. The +two men were close up; and as Allstone held him firmly he felt that he +was about to be dragged back to his prison like some drowned rat, and he +vowed that he would not give up if he died for it. + +For Hilary's blood was now up, and, wrenching himself round, he got hold +of the hilt of the cutlass, where it stuck in his belt, dragged it out, +and in doing so struck his captor beneath the chin with the pommel. + +So sharp was the blow that Allstone quitted his hold, uttering hoarse +cries, and staggered back two or three yards, while Hilary drove him +farther by making at him as if about to deliver point. + +The two injured men, in answer to their leader's call, now made an +attempt to seize Hilary; but their effort was a faint-hearted one, for +on the young officer making a dash at them they gave way, and, waving +his hand to Sir Henry, he dashed across the road and along a winding +lane. + +"A set of cowards!" he muttered. "The cutlass would hardly cut butter, +and it would want a hammer to drive in its point. Yes; you may shout. +You don't suppose I am coming back?" + +He looked over his shoulder, and saw that Allstone and four men were now +after him, and that, if he meant to get away, he must use his last +remaining strength, for, clumsily as they ran, he was so tired with his +recent exertions that they were diminishing the distance fast. + +"I wonder how many pounds of water I've got to carry?" muttered Hilary, +as he ran on, with the moisture still streaming from him, and making a +most unpleasant noise in his boots. "There's one good thing, though," +he said: "it keeps on growing less." + +It was a lonely, winding lane, with the trees meeting overhead, and the +sunshine raining down, as it were, in silvery streams upon the dappled +earth. On either side were ancient hazel clumps, with here and there a +majestic moss-covered oak or beech. It was, in fact, such a place as a +lover of nature would have been loath to quit; and even in his time of +need Hilary was not insensible to the beauties of the spot, but he could +not help feeling that the rutty roadway was atrocious. + +"Well, it's as bad for them as it is for me," he said to himself as he +ran at a steady trot--now in full view, now hidden from his pursuers by +the windings of the lane. + +"I wonder whether this is the lane they brought me along with that +jackass," he thought; and then, as his clothes grew lighter and stuck +less closely to his limbs, he began to wonder how long they would take +to dry. + +"Well, that don't matter," he thought; "I shan't be allowed to sit down +and rest just yet." + +He glanced back; and saw that his pursuers were out of sight, and he was +just about to take advantage of the fact and spring over into the wood +when they came in view again and uttered a shout. + +"Anyone would think I was a hare and they were trying to run me down," +he said. "Get out, you yelping curs!" + +Hare-like, indeed; for he was looking back and thinking of his pursuers +so intently that he did not cast his eyes ahead beyond his steps till +another shout roused him, and he saw that his pursuers were calling to a +party of men coming with a cart from the other direction, and who had +started forward to join in the pursuit. + +His idea a minute before had been to wait his opportunity, leap into the +wood, and hide while the men went by. Now he saw that his only course +was to dash in amongst the forest trees in full sight of his pursuers, +and trust to his speed or the density of the way, for his retreat was +cut off, and he had no other chance. + +There was no time for hesitation, so, catching at a pendent bough, he +swung himself up the sandy bank, but slipped and fell back, losing part +of the ground he had won by his greater speed; but his next effort was +more successful, and pressing in amongst the low undergrowth he forced +his way along. + +Hilary's desires went far faster than his legs, for it was very hard +work here. The low birch scrub and hazel, interspersed with sapling +ash, mingled and were interlaced with the shade-loving woodland bramble, +whose spiny strands wove the branches together, clung to his clothes and +checked him continually. Well might they be called briars, for it was +as if a hundred hands were snatching at him. But, keeping his hands +well before his face, he struggled on, with the wood growing denser each +moment and his pursuers close behind. + +"Ah, if I only had half a dozen of our lads here," he panted, "how I +would turn upon these cowardly rascals! Twelve against one, and hunting +him down. Never mind," he cried, making a vicious cut with his weapon +at a bramble that met him breast high, "I'd rather be the hunted stag +than one of a pack of miserable hounds." + +At another time the wild untrodden wood must have filled him with +delight, so full was it of beauty. The earth was carpeted with +brilliant moss, which ran over the old stumps and climbed the boles of +the great forest-trees; woodland flowers were crushed beneath his feet, +and the sunlight danced amongst the leaves. Every here and there a +frightened rabbit rushed away, while the long forest arcades echoed with +the cries of the startled birds. + +But Hilary was too hot and excited to notice any of the beauties around. +His drenching was forgotten, and he was beginning to pant with heat, +while the shouts of his pursuers made his eyes flash with rage. + +He was gaining somewhat, and increasing the distance between them, but +not greatly; for so far the men, part of whom were those returning from +the cliffs, were still pretty close, and he could hear the crashing of +the boughs and twigs as they came on; but he had managed to get out of +their sight, and coming now upon a more open part where the trees were +bigger, he ran with all his might, dashed into another denser patch, and +then feeling that to keep on running was only to grow more and more +exhausted, and to make his capture a matter of time, he began to think +whether he could not make his brains help his legs. + +There was no time to lose, for the smugglers had now entered the more +open part, and were, as their shouts indicated, coming on fast. What he +was to do must be done quickly. + +Hilary crept on cautiously, making as little noise as possible, dividing +the branches tenderly so as to leave no broken twigs, and finding that +the ground which he had now reached rapidly descended into a deep ravine +or gully--one of the many that drain that part of the country--in a few +minutes he was down between the fern-hung sandstone rocks. + +There was a tiny stream at the bottom, now reduced to a mere thread that +joined together a few pools, but the well-washed banks high above his +head showed that in rainy times it must be a rushing torrent. + +Here was his road, then; for he argued that this stream, even if it did +not lead right to the sea, would be sure to run into one that did; and +besides, as he needed not rapid travelling, but the cautious creeping +that should keep him concealed from his enemies, he could not have met +with a better way. + +Leaping down, then, from stone to stone till he reached the bottom, he +dived under a number of overhanging brambles, and went slowly on. + +His pursuers' cries had for the moment ceased, and his spirits rose as +he began to feel that they had gone upon the wrong scent; when suddenly, +as he was forcing his way cautiously along, he heard a loud halloo just +below him, and not fifty yards away. + +To his horror, as he stopped short, there came an answering shout from +above, and another from higher up the gully. + +"Send a couple down into the river bed!" shouted the voice below. "I'll +stop him here." + +Hilary ground his teeth, for cunning as he thought himself, it was +evident that the same idea had occurred to his pursuers. + +What was he to do? If he climbed up the banks he was certain to be +seen; if he kept on along the bed of the stream he would walk right into +an enemy's arms; and the same if he worked upward. + +He stopped, thinking, but no fresh idea struck him; and setting his +teeth and drawing a long breath, he stepped on into a more open place. + +"I'll make a fight for it," he said sharply, "for I don't mean to be +taken back." + +Just then he caught sight of a hollow that had evidently been tunnelled +out of the rocks by centuries of floods. There was a perfect curtain of +thin stranded holly, ivy, and bramble hanging before it, and creeping +cautiously forward he parted the hanging strands, passed in, and they +fell back in place, almost shutting out the light of day. + +The hollow did not even approach the dimensions of a cave, but was the +merest hollowing out of the soft sand rock; still, it was sufficient to +conceal him from his pursuers, and, cutlass in hand, he crouched down, +holding open one little place in the green curtain and listening for the +next hint of the coming of his pursuers. A dead silence ensued, during +which he could feel the heavy throb, throb of his heart and the hard +labouring of his breath, for his exertions had been tremendous. But +still no sound reached his ears; not a shout was heard, and he began to +grow hopeful. + +Five minutes must have passed, and he had recovered his breath. From +out of the tiny opening he had left he saw a robin flit down and perch +upon a twig. Then came a blackbird to investigate the state of the +commissariat department in the gully, turning busily over the leaves; +and so calmly did the bird work that Hilary felt still more hopeful, for +he knew that no one could be near. + +Vain hope! All at once the bird uttered its sharp alarm note and flew +like a streak of black velvet up into the dense growth above, but still +there was not a sound to be heard. + +Hilary's heart began to beat again, for the excitement was intense. +Then there came a faint rustle, and another. Then silence again, and he +felt that the men must have given up the chase. + +Just then there was another faint rustle, and through the screen of +leaves Hilary saw the head and then the shoulders of a strongly-built +man appear, whose eyes were diligently searching every inch of ground +till he came nearer, and then, as his gaze lighted on the screen of +leaves Hilary saw a look of intelligence come upon his stolid features, +and stepping forward, he was about to drag the leafage aside, when there +came a loud shout from below-- + +"Ahoy! this way. Here he is!" + +The man made a rush down the ravine, and the young officer's heart felt +as if released from some tremendous pressure, for he had nerved himself +for a tremendous struggle, and the danger had passed. + +A minute later there was a sudden outburst of voices and a roar of +laughter, after which Hilary fancied he could hear Allstone shouting and +angrily abusing the men. Then once more came silence, and he lay there +and waited. + +He half expected to see the men come back, but an hour passed and there +was not a sound save that of the birds in the distance; and at last, +after fighting down the intense desire to be up and doing till he could +master himself no longer, Hilary parted the leaves and stepped out into +the gully to continue his course downwards. + +He stopped in a stooping position to listen, for he fancied he had heard +a rustle. + +"Rabbit," he muttered, directly after; and as he did so a tremendous +weight fell upon his back, throwing him forward upon his face, where, as +he struggled round and tried to get up, it was to find that the great +sturdy fellow he had before seen was sitting upon his chest. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +BACK IN BONDS. + +"That's the way I do with the rabbuds, shipmet," said the man laughing. + +"You dog! you scoundrel!" panted Hilary, continuing his ineffectual +struggle. + +"Better be still, boy," said the man coolly. "You'll only hurt +yourself." + +As he spoke he wrested the cutlass from the young man's hand, after +which he coolly took out a tobacco-bag and helped himself to a quid. + +Hilary felt his helplessness, and after another furious effort, during +which he partly raised his captor from his position of 'vantage, he lay +still and looked in the man's face. + +"Look here!" he said; "what'll you take to let me go?" + +The man looked at him in an amused fashion, and then laughed. + +"Do you hear?" cried Hilary. "Come, get off me; you hurt my chest." + +"Yes. I hear," said the man coolly. + +"Then why don't you answer? Quick, before the others come! What will +you take to let me go?" + +"What'll you take, youngster, to join us?" + +"What do you take me for?" cried Hilary. "How dare you ask me such a +question?" + +"Just by the same law that you ask me," said the man coolly. "Do you +think everybody is to be bought and sold?" + +"But look here," cried Hilary. "I have been shut up there, and I want +to get away; I must get away." + +"To bring the crew of the cutter to rout us up yonder, eh!" said the +man, laughing. "Now, come, I suppose you would call yourself a young +gentleman; so speak the truth. If I let you go, will you lead the +cutter off on a false scent, or will you show the captain the way to our +place?" + +Hilary remained silent. + +"Why don't you speak, youngster? Which would you do?" + +"My duty," said Hilary sturdily. + +"And that is, of course, to point us out," said the man, smiling. "Well +youngster, I don't like you a bit the worse for speaking out like a man. +I've got my duty to do as well, and here goes." + +He blew a shrill chirruping whistle twice over, and it was answered from +a distance; while before many minutes had elapsed there was the sound of +breaking twigs, voices talking hurriedly, and directly after, looking +black and angry, Allstone came up with half-a-dozen men. + +Allstone's countenance changed into a look of malignant pleasure as soon +as he saw Hilary lying amidst the bushes. + +"You've got him, then?" he cried. + +"Oh, yes," said Hilary's captor coolly. "It only wanted time." + +"I thought we should get him again!" shouted Allstone, grinning in the +captive's face. "Here's that cutlass, too. He's a liar, this fellow. +He said he had thrown it out of the window." + +"So I did, idiot!" cried Hilary indignantly. "But I tied a string to it +to pull it back when I wanted it." + +The men burst out into a hearty laugh at the idea, as much as at someone +calling Allstone, who had bullied them a good deal, an idiot. + +The man glanced at him savagely, and Hilary read in his eye so much +promise of a hard time that he determined to make one more effort for +his liberty, and this he did. + +"Who's got a bit o' cord?" said Allstone. "Oh, here, I have. Now then, +up with him, and hold his hands behind his back." + +Hilary's captor rose, and a couple of men caught him by the arms, jerked +him up and held him, dragging back his arms, which Allstone came forward +to bind; but seeing the young man helpless before him, he could not +resist the temptation offered to him. + +"I'm an idiot, am I?" he shouted. "How do you like that for an idiot's +touch?" + +He struck Hilary a brutal back-handed blow across the face as he spoke, +and then went backwards into the gully with a crash. For, his hands +being secured, the young officer felt no compunction, under the +circumstances, in making use of his foot, and with it he gave the bully +so tremendous a kick in the chest that he went down breathless; and, +wrenching his arms free, Hilary made a dash for liberty, but his former +captor seized him as he passed. + +"No, my lad, it won't do," he exclaimed. "It was too much trouble to +catch you, so we'll keep you now." + +Allstone struggled up, but Hilary's captor interfered as he was about to +strike at him with his doubled fist. + +"No, no, Master Allstone," he said sharply, "I'm sure the skipper and +Sir Henry wouldn't let you do that." + +"You stand aside," roared Allstone. "Who told you to interfere?" + +"No one," said the man coolly; "but I shall interfere, and if you touch +that lad again it'll be through me." + +"Do you hear this, lads?" cried Allstone. "He's breaking his oaths. +Come on my side and we'll deal with him too." + +"This young fellow was about right when he called you an idiot, Jemmy +Allstone," said the man quietly. + +"He's going to help him get away," cried Allstone, who was mad with +passion. + +"Yes, that's it, boys," said the man laughing, "that's why I caught him +and kept him till you came up, and that's why I'm going to tie his arms. +Here, give me the rope." + +He snatched the cord from Allstone's hands, and turned to Hilary. + +"Hold up your arms, my lad, and I won't hurt you. Come, it's of no use +to try and run; we're too many for you. Never fight your ship when you +know you are beaten; it's only waste of strength. Come, hold up." + +Hilary felt that he had done all that was possible, and, won by his +captor's frank, manly way, he held up his wrists, to have them so +tightly and ingeniously tied that he was a prisoner indeed. + +As they went back by a short cut through the wood, and one which brought +them into a narrow lane, Allstone once found an opportunity to +maliciously kick his prisoner, as if by accident; but Hilary's friend +saw the act, and took care that he did not again approach too near; and, +after what seemed a weary walk, the little party crossed the moat of the +handsome old place. Hilary was led into the great kitchen, and then +up-stairs, past flight after flight, to a room at the top with a +strongly-bound door. Into this place he was thrust, and Allstone was +about to leave him as he was; but the friendly smuggler stepped forward, +and began to unfasten the bonds. + +"Never mind that," cried Allstone; "let him stay bound." + +The man paid no heed whatever, but undid the cord, set Hilary free, and +then retired, the door being banged to, locked loudly, and secured by a +heavy bar thrust clanging across. + +The young officer stood staring at the door for a few minutes, and then +stamped his foot upon the floor. + +"Was ever fellow so unlucky!" he exclaimed. "Lipscombe might have found +me out by this time; and when I do get out, I'm caught and brought back. +But never mind; if they think I'm beaten they are wrong, for I'll get +out, if only to show Sir Henry what a mean-spirited fellow he is." + +He looked round his room, which was a bare old attic, with dormer +windows and casements, from which, on flinging one open, he saw that he +was far too high from the ground for a descent without a rope; but a +second glance showed him that it would be possible to climb upon the +roof, and when there he might perhaps manage to get somewhere else. + +Just then he heard a window opened on the floor below, and, looking +down, he saw Adela, evidently gazing towards the moat. + +For a few moments he felt too indignant to speak, for he thought Sir +Henry was behaving very ill to him; but a little reflection told him +that his old companion was not to blame, and what she might even then be +feeling very grateful to him for what he had done. + +"Well, I'll give her a chance to show it," he thought; and, leaning out +a little more he said lightly, "Well, Addy, are you any the worse for +your dip?" + +"Oh, Hil!" she exclaimed looking up, "are you there?" + +"Yes, and locked up safely. I say, your people are behaving very badly +to me." + +"Oh, Hil," cried the girl with the tears in her eyes, "I am so sorry. +I've been begging papa not to have you caught, and he says he could not +help it." + +"Then he ought to help it," replied Hilary warmly. + +"But he says he's bound to keep faith with his friends; and that if you +would only give your word not to escape and betray our hiding-place you +might come and live with us; and oh, Hil dear, it would be like old +times, and we could have such walks together. Do be a good boy, and +promise what papa wishes! I should like you to come and be with us +again, for I have no companion now." + +Hilary looked down at the bright little face, and as the thoughts of how +pleasantly the time would pass in her company came upon him, as compared +with the miseries he had to endure, he felt sorely tempted to give his +parole; he might do that, he argued. + +"Do come, Hil," she said again, as if she were reading his hesitation. +"Papa will be so pleased." + +"And try his best to make me turn traitor," thought Hilary. + +"No," he exclaimed, "I cannot do it, Addy; and I'm sure you would not +wish me to break faith with those to whom I owe duty. I should like to +come, but--ah, Sir Henry, you there?" + +He started, for a hand was laid upon his shoulder, and turning, there +stood Sir Henry, holding out his hand. + +"I have come to thank you, my brave, true lad, for what you have done," +he exclaimed warmly. "You saved my darling's life and then mine." + +"And for which you had me hunted down," said Hilary bitterly. + +"It was no act of mine, my boy," said Sir Henry sadly. "Why will you +ignore the fact that I am not master of your position? Hilary, my dear +boy, once more, will you join us?" + +"No, Sir Henry; and even if I did you would only despise me." + +"No, no. Nothing of the kind." + +"Then I should despise myself," cried Hilary. "Once more, Sir Henry, I +am a king's officer, and refuse your proposals." + +"Then give me your parole not to escape." + +"I give you my word of honour that I will escape as soon as I possibly +can," said Hilary smiling. "So take my advice, and take Adela away. +Save yourself, too, for if I find you here I shall be obliged to arrest +you." + +"Why, you foolish fellow," said Sir Henry smiling, "you are a prisoner, +and you have found out that you cannot get away." + +"Not so, Sir Henry. I found that I could not get away this first time; +but you don't know me if you think I am going to sit down quietly here +without an effort to escape." + +"But it is impossible here, my good lad," said Sir Henry. + +"So your people thought when you locked me up in that old chapel. I +tell you, Sir Henry, I mean to get back to my ship." + +"Then, for the safety of my child, and for my own safety, Hilary, you +force me to show myself the stern officer of his majesty our rightful +king, and I must see that you are kept fast. However, I will try to +temper justice with some show of kindness, and I have had dry clothes +brought up for your use till the others are right." + +"Oh, they are pretty well right now," said Hilary carelessly. + +"Then is it to be war, Hilary?" said Sir Henry with a sad smile. + +"Yes, Sir Henry, war." + +"We shall keep you very close and very fast, my boy." + +"No, Sir Henry, you will not," cried Hilary cheerily, "for before many +hours are over I mean to be free." + +"It is a game of chess, then," said Sir Henry laughing. + +"Yes, Sir Henry, and you have moved out your pawns and played your +queen;" and he pointed below. + +"I have," said Sir Henry smiling. "Now what do you mean to do?" + +"Well, Sir Henry, seeing how I am shut up, suppose we say that I am +castled." + +"Very good," laughed Sir Henry going to the door and passing out. + +"Very good or very bad," muttered Hilary, "I mean to be out before many +days are passed; and when once I am free the smugglers may look out for +squalls." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +HILARY TRIES AGAIN. + +Soon after Sir Henry had gone, Hilary went to the window, but drew back +directly. + +"No," he said to himself, "if I go there I shall be tempted into giving +my parole or joining the Pretender's party. Sir Henry seems to think he +can win me over; so let us see." + +He began to walk up and down his prison. Then it struck him that his +clothes had pretty well grown dry again, and he went over in his mind +the incidents of the day and the past night, thoughts which were +interrupted by the coming of Allstone, who bore some bread and meat, and +a mug of beer, while a man behind him dragged in a table and chair, and +afterwards carried in a straw mattress and a pillow, Allstone looking +grimly on. + +The man went out, but Allstone still waited, and at last the man came +back with a bundle of sheets and blankets, which he threw upon the bed. + +"There," said Allstone, "that will do;" and seeing the man out, he +darted a surly look at Hilary, and then followed and banged the door. + +"Thank you," said Hilary, laughing. "Perhaps a ladder would have been a +little more convenient; but what donkeys people are--give a sailor +sheets and blankets, and shut him up in a garret, and think he won't +escape! Ha! ha! ha!" + +The sight of the food changed the current of Hilary's thoughts, and +sitting down he made a very hearty meal, felt that his clothes had grown +thoroughly dry, and then did what was not surprising under the +circumstances, began to nod, and then went off fast asleep. + +Before an hour had passed he awoke; but he was so drowsy that he threw +himself upon the mattress, and falling asleep directly he did not awaken +till early the next morning. + +No escape that day, and as he had to make up his mind to this, he waited +until Allstone came with a rough breakfast, when he made a peremptory +demand for some means of washing and making himself more presentable. + +"My orders be to bring you something to sleep on and your meals, that's +all," growled the fellow. "I had no orders about washing tackle." + +"Get out, you surly ill-conditioned ruffian," cried Hilary; and the +fellow grinned. + +"Here's something for you," he said, contemptuously jerking a letter on +to the floor, which Hilary picked up. + +"Look here, Master Allstone," he cried, shaking a finger at him; "one of +these days I shall come here with a dozen or two of our brave boys, and +if I don't have you flogged till you beg my pardon for all this, my name +is not Hilary Leigh." + +"Bah!" ejaculated the man; and he went away making as much noise as he +could with the lock and bar so as to annoy his prisoner, but without +success, for that individual was reading the letter he had received. + +It was as follows:-- + + "My dear Hilary,--Fate has placed us on opposite sides, and though she + has now thrown us together, I am compelled to hold aloof until you can + say to me, `Here is my parole of honour not to betray you or to + escape!' or `I see that I am on the side of a usurper, and abjure his + service. From henceforth I am heart and soul with you.' When you can + send me either of those messages, Hilary, Adela and I are ready to + receive you with open arms. Till then we must be estranged; but all + the same, my dear boy, accept my gratitude and love for your bravery + in saving our lives.--Affectionately yours, Henry Norland." + +"Then we shall have to remain estranged," said Hilary as he stood by the +open window refolding the letter and thinking of his position. + +"Hil! Hil!" came from below. + +"Ahoy!" he answered. "Well, little lady?" and he leaned out. + +"Isn't it a beautiful morning, Hil," said Adela, looking up. "Lovely." + +"Why don't you come down and have a run with me in the woods?" + +"For one reason, because I am locked up," said Hilary. "For another, +because I have not made my hands and face acquainted with soap and water +since I was aboard the cutter; my hair is full of bits of straw and dead +leaves, and my clothes are soaked and shrunken, and muddied and torn. +Altogether, I am not fit to be seen." + +"Well, but Hil, dear, why don't you wash yourself?" + +"Because your esteemed friends here do not allow me soap, water, and +towel. I say, Addy, if I lower down a piece of string, will you send me +a jug of water?" + +"Same as I did the milk? Oh, of course!" said the girl laughing. + +"All right," said Hilary; "get it, please." + +He took out his knife, and without hesitation nicked and tore off the +hem of one of his sheets, knotted two lengths together, lowered them +down, and in turn drew up wash-hand jug, soap, brush and comb, and +afterwards a basin, by having it tied up in a towel, and attaching the +string to the knots. + +Adela seemed to enjoy it all as fun, but she turned serious directly +after as she told her old companion how grateful she felt to him for his +bravery on the previous day, remarks which made Hilary feel +uncomfortable and go away from the window with the excuse that he wanted +to attend to his toilet. + +For the next quarter of an hour Hilary was revelling in a good wash, +with all the enjoyment of one who has been shut off from the use of soap +and towel, with the result that after he had finished off with a brush, +he felt more himself, and ready to stare his position more comfortably +in the face. + +He went to the window in spite of his resolutions not to be tempted, and +looked down; but Adela had gone, so he had a good look round at the +country. + +Here he was facing due south, and before him, stretched in the bright +sunshine, wave after wave as it were of hilly land, pretty well clothed +with forest-trees. In the far distance there was a range of hills with +a church and a windmill, both of which he recognised as having seen from +the other side when upon the deck of the cutter, and this gave him a +good idea of where he was, and how to shape his course when he made his +escape. + +That word set him thinking, and without more ado he proceeded to cut up +the sheets, knot together some of the strips, and then to lay them up, +sailor fashion, into a serviceable linen rope, for the sheets were +coarse and strong. + +This he did with his ears attent to the coming of footsteps, and a place +ready in the bed to throw his work and cover it over should Allstone or +Sir Henry be at hand. But he need not have troubled, for he completed +about forty feet of good strong line from the pair of sheets, and coiled +it up after securing the ends ready for use. + +His escape now was simplicity itself he thought, and his toil ended and +the shreds carefully swept up and blown from the window, he seated +himself upon the sill, and enjoyed the warmth of the afternoon sunshine, +planning out how he would slip down after securing one end of his cord +to the window-frame. + +Sir Henry would, he felt sure, provide for the safety of Adela and +himself as soon as he found that the prisoner had escaped, for he felt +that he could not bring peril upon them. There was no cause for fear, +though, and he sat thinking of how grand it would be if he could escape +the moment it was dark and get down to the shore and find the _Kestrel_. + +That seemed hopeless, though, and too much to expect; for it was not +likely that the cutter would be still cruising about and waiting for +him. If she was, though, he knew how he could bring a boat's crew +well-armed ashore, and that was by making a signal with a light in a +particular way. + +The sun was getting lower, and everything round the old place was still, +nothing but a couple of fowls that were pecking about in what had once +been a large garden between the old house and the moat, being visible. + +It had once been a goodly residence, no doubt, but all now was ruin and +desolation, except that the warm sunshine made even the neglect and +weeds look picturesque. There were massive gables to right and left, +and the old tiles were orange and grey with a thick coating of lichen. +Just between his window and that of Adela there were the mouldering +remains of a carved shield, with surmounting helmet and crest, and a +decayed motto below, while to right and left the ivy had covered the +front with its dark-green glossy leaves, among which the cable-like +runners could be seen. + +Anywhere, almost, along the front of the venerable place he could have +climbed down by the help of the ivy; in his neighbourhood, however, it +had been cleared away. + +He wondered sometimes how it was that he had heard no more of Adela, and +that everything about the place should be so still, and concluded that +Sir Henry had forbidden her to hold counsel with him, and in this belief +he sat on waiting until the sun went down in a flood of orange glory. + +Just then he heard Allstone's heavy step upon the stairs, and coming +away from the window Hilary threw himself upon his bed over the hidden +rope. + +But he need not have feared that it would be seen, for Allstone simply +placed some food upon the table and went away directly after, locking +the door. + +The repast though rough and plain was substantial, and very welcome. +Hilary felt somewhat agitated at the attempt he was about to make; but +he knew that he needed fortifying with food, and he ate heartily, +placing the remains of his meal in his pockets as a reserve for +by-and-by. + +As the sun went down the moon began to make its presence known; but it +was early in its first quarter, and in the course of a couple of hours +it too had set, leaving the sky to the stars, which twinkled brightly, +doing little, though, to dispel the darkness. + +In fact, by about nine, as he guessed it to be, the night was as +suitable as possible for such an enterprise as his, and after listening +to some distant sounds of talking in the back of the house, Hilary +proceeded with beating heart to take out and unroll his light coil of +rope. + +By means of a little management he took one of the leaded panes from the +bottom of the casement so as to allow the rope to be securely tied round +the stout oak centrepiece of the window, and then, after watching +attentively for a few minutes, he lowered down the other end until the +full extent was reached, and as nearly as he could judge it touched the +ground. + +Even if it did not, there was nothing to fear, for at the utmost he +would have had but a few feet to drop, and after a few moments' +hesitancy he passed one leg out of the window, took a good grip of the +rope, climbed right out, twisted his legs round in turn, and directly +after, while swinging gently, he let himself down foot by foot. + +It was nothing to him. His sailor life made a descent by a rope one of +the merest trifles. + +Down lower and lower, past Adela's window, and then coming into sight of +a broad casement where a light was burning. + +The upper floors of the old building projected beyond the lower, so that +he had not been aware of this lighted room, and as he hung there turning +slowly round and round he could plainly see Sir Henry in a +comfortably-furnished place, seated at a table writing, while Adela was +gazing up into his face as she sat upon a low stool at his feet. + +For a few moments Hilary hung there motionless, feeling that if Sir +Henry raised his eyes, as he was sure to do at the slightest sound, he +could not help seeing him gently spinning round and round. + +Recovering himself though, directly, he let himself slide, and reached +the ground, but made so much noise that he heard Sir Henry speak, and he +had hardly time to dart aside, drawing with him the white rope, and +crouch down close to the house, before the window was opened, and he +knew that some one was looking out. + +"No, papa," said a well-known voice, "I can see nothing." + +"Look again," said Sir Henry. "Stop; I'll come." + +There was the noise of a moving chair, and then Hilary felt that Sir +Henry was looking out of the window, and wondered whether he was seen. + +He hardly dared to breathe, and it seemed like an hour before he heard a +sigh, and Sir Henry said, softly-- + +"What a lovely night, my child!" + +Then there was the sound of the casement being closed, steps faintly +heard across the room, and, gliding from his place of concealment, +Hilary made for the bridge, crossed it, and then darted amongst the +bushes beside the narrow lane, for there was a buzz of voices behind +him, and from the other side of the house he could see the light of a +lantern, and then came the tramp of a horse and the sound of wheels. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +SIGNALLING THE KESTREL. + +Hilary knew that if he wished to escape he must achieve it with his +brain perhaps as much as his heels. He could pretty well tell which way +to go, but his knowledge of the country was very small, and great care +was necessary. It was evident that there was a party leaving the old +house, and most probably they were going to be present at some landing +of goods upon the shore, whence the cart would bring the lading of some +lugger back. If he went on now, it would be with this party always +ready to overtake him at any moment, for he did not know the road. If, +on the other hand, he kept hidden until the cart had gone by, their +lantern would be a guide to him, and he could follow silently till he +reached the cliffs. After that he must be guided by circumstances. + +It was a wise idea, and lying _perdu_ for a few minutes, he found that a +cart passed him slowly, attended by six men, one of whom bore the +lantern. They were all chatting and laughing, and so intent upon their +business in hand that Hilary was able to follow them at a moderate +distance, the lantern acting as his guide. + +He soon found that fortune had favoured him, for without their guidance +the chances were that he would have wandered off into one of the rugged +lanes through the woods, if he had not lost the track entirely, for it +was hardly worthy of the name of road. + +He was going cautiously along, keeping the lantern well in sight, when, +all at once, a faint glow appeared just in front; and he only stopped +short just in time to avoid blundering over one of the party who had +hung back to refill and light his pipe with a piece of touchwood, which +he was now blowing up into a brisk glow before applying it to the bowl. + +Hilary stopped as if struck by lightning, and held his breath, so close +was he to the man, who, fortunately, was too much occupied with the task +he had in hand to notice the young officer's proximity; and, after +getting his pipe well alight, he started off after his companions. + +This adventure made Hilary, if possible, more cautious, and for the next +two hours he kept at a greater distance, wondering the while how much +farther it was, when all at once he noticed that the lantern had become +stationary. Directly after another light approached, and then a broad +glare shone out, evidently from an open door. Then there was a good +deal of talking and the rattle of a cart; then of another; and Hilary, +finding that he could progress no farther by the track, struck off +amongst the bushes and ferns on his left, finding now that the trees +were left behind; and as the next minute he found even the bushes had +given place to heather and turf, he concluded that he must be nearing +the sea. + +It had grown so dark that he had to proceed with caution or he would +have tripped over some patch of furze or fern. + +But he escaped pretty well; and seeing that the lanterns were once more +in motion, he determined to proceed, as well as he could, parallel with +the party, watch their proceedings, and learn all he could for future +service if he succeeded in getting away. + +Once he thought that he had better devote himself to his escape; but he +could do no more until daybreak, and if he could see how the smugglers +landed their cargoes such knowledge would be invaluable. + +Going cautiously on, then, he must have proceeded for a couple of +hundred yards when he found that the bearers of the lanterns had +stopped, and there was a low buzz of talking, and someone seemed to be +giving orders. + +Then the noise ceased, and he fancied he could hear footsteps going +away, while the lanterns burned close together, apparently on the +ground. + +He was too far-off still, he thought, and in his eager curiosity he bent +down and took a few steps forward, felt one foot give way, threw himself +back, and lay upon the turf, wet with a cold, chilling perspiration, and +clutching the short turf with his fingers driven in as far as he could. + +As he lay there trembling he heard a familiar sound from far below, and +as his vision cleared and he grew calmer he could just make out a faint +line of light where the waves were breaking amongst the stones, for he +had been within an inch of a terrible death. The little patch of turf +upon which he had trod grew right on the verge of the cliff, and but for +his spasmodic effort to throw himself back as the earth gave way, he +must have pitched headlong on to the rocks a couple of hundred feet +below. + +"What an escape!" he muttered; and then, after a calm feeling of +thankfulness had pervaded him for a time, he lay there enjoying the soft +salt breeze that blew gently upon his cheeks, and listening with delight +to the murmurous plash of the waves. + +As he gazed out to sea, where all was exceedingly dark, his heart gave a +great leap, for not a couple of miles away, as he judged, a vessel was +lying, and there was something in the position of the lights that made +him feel certain it was the _Kestrel_. + +He would not believe it at first, but told himself it was his fancy--the +suggestion of that which he fondly wished; but as he shaded his eyes and +watched he became more and more certain that it was his ship, and in his +elation it was all he could do not to utter a joyous shout by way of a +hail. + +He checked himself, however, in the mad idea, and lay thinking. There +was the old _Kestrel_, and the idea of getting back to his stuffy +quarters and the ill-temper of Lieutenant Lipscombe seemed delightful; +but he knew that the greatest caution was needed, or he would fail in +his attempt. + +Then, again, he thought it impossible that it could be the _Kestrel_, +for the smugglers would never have the hardihood to run a cargo just +under the very nose of a king's ship; but directly afterwards he was +obliged to own that it was by these very acts of daring that they were +able to carry on with such success; and the more he gazed out at those +lights, the more certain he felt that they belonged to his vessel. + +"Yes," he thought, "it's the old lass sure enough, and the lads will be +as glad as can be to see me back. I know they will. Oh, if I could +only signal to them and bring a boat's crew ashore." + +He lay thinking, and then, with beating heart, began to crawl cautiously +along close to the edge of the cliff till he was abreast of the +lanterns, which, as he had half suspected, lay in a depression, with a +high bank of rush and bushes between them and the sea. There was no one +with them, and all was very silent. + +Where were the smugglers, then? + +That was soon solved; for on crawling a little farther he found his +hands go down suddenly where the cliff made a rapid slope, and as he lay +upon his chest he could hear the hum of voices, the trampling of feet +upon the shingle, and though he could hardly distinguish moving figures, +his imagination supplied the rest; and, as plainly as if he could see it +all, there, he knew, was a large lugger ashore and a party of men +landing her cargo, carrying it up the beach and among the rocks, where +it was being drawn up by a rough pulley, and yonder, all the while, lay +the king's ship in utter ignorance of what was going on. + +There it all was, the soft murmur of the sea--he could almost fancy he +heard it lap the lugger's sides; and certainly as he gazed more intently +down, there was a dark break in the line of foam. That, then, must be +the lugger. + +If it had only been a little lighter he could have seen all--the busy +party like so many ants running to and fro with their loads, while +others were drawing them up the rocks ready for the loading of the +carts. Yes, there was the creak of a pulley from a heavier load than +usual; and this was the way it was done on these dark fine nights. +Perhaps in another hour the whole cargo would be drawn up on the cliff, +the carts would be loaded at their leisure, and as the tide rose the +lugger would push off once more, and all, as he had before said, just +under the nose of his majesty's cutter. + +"No wonder," thought Hilary, "that we are so often unsuccessful; but +we'll checkmate them now! What can I do?" + +He lay thus thinking and listening, and then an idea came to him. The +men were all busy down below, and they had left their lanterns in that +hollow. + +As the thought occurred to him he began to crawl back cautiously but +quickly till he was close up to where the lanterns were hidden. + +"If there is anyone there," he argued, "I can dash off into the darkness +and escape." + +But he felt sure that there was no one. Still he tested the question by +saying suddenly in a gruff voice: + +"Now, my lads, you're wanted below." + +It was a bold stroke, but it satisfied him that all was right, and that +all hands were away. + +Now, then, was his time. He could not help the _Kestrel's_ men, they +must do the work; but if they came ashore they would know why it was, +and the possibilities were that they would surprise the lugger--perhaps +be in time to capture half her cargo. + +Hilary did not hesitate now, but creeping down into the hollow, he +extinguished the candle in one lantern and took off his jacket and +wrapped it round the other, completely hiding its light. Then, taking +the first in his hand, he crept up once more to the higher part of the +cliff. + +Here he ould see the lights of the _Kestrel_ plain enough, but even when +stooping down he could not help seeing the black patch upon the shore. + +That would not do, so he crept back a few yards, finding the cliff rise +in a sharp slope, going to the top of which he found that he could see +the light in what was apparently a cottage. + +Descending again, he cautiously chose a spot where he could easily see +the cutter's lights but not the shore below the cliff, and then he +paused and listened. + +The dull murmur was fainter now, but he could make out the men at work, +and for a few moments he hesitated. Suppose he should be surprised and +taken back! + +"Never mind," he thought, "I am only doing my duty. They dare not kill +me, and, in the king's name, here goes." + +He uncovered the lantern and placed it upon the turf, where it burned +steadily and well; then opening the door, he took the candle from the +extinct lantern, lit it, replaced it, and closed it in, put on his +jacket, and then, taking a couple of steps to the left, he stood there +holding the second lantern breast high, making a signal that he knew +would be understood on board if the diagonal lights were seen by anyone +of the watch. + +Hilary's heart beat fast. He was concealed by the cliff from the busy +party below, and by the rise behind him from those inland, but at any +moment some one might come up to where the lanterns had been placed, +miss them, and see what he was about. + +It was risky work, but he did not shrink, although he knew that he was +lessening his chances of escape. Still, if he could only bring the +_Kestrel's_ boats down upon the scoundrels it would be so grand a _coup_ +that his hesitation was always mastered, and he stood firm, gazing out +to sea. + +How long the minutes seemed, and what a forlorn hope it was! The +chances were that the watch might not notice the lights; and even if +they were seen, it might not be by anyone of sufficient intelligence to +report them to the lieutenant, or to the boatswain or gunner. + +Every now and then he fancied he heard steps. Then his imagination +created the idea that some one was crawling along the ground to push him +over the cliff; but he set his teeth and stood his post, keenly alive, +though, to every real sound and such sights as he could see, and ready +at any moment to dash down the lanterns and run inland for liberty, if +not for life. How dark the lanterns seemed to make it, and how hot the +one grew in his hands! Would those on board ever see it, and was he to +stand there in vain? + +"Ah! if I had only been on board," he muttered, as the time wore on, +till what seemed to him a couple of hours had passed, but what was +really only about a fourth of that time; "I would have seen it. +Somebody ought to have seen it." + +Still the lights from the cutter burned out brightly, like a couple of +stars, and at last, in a hopeless mood, he began to think that the +signal he was displaying was too feeble to be seen so far. + +"I may as well give it up," he muttered despairingly; "the rascals will +be up directly now, and I shall be caught, and the _Kestrels_ could +never get ashore in time.--Yes--no--yes--no--yes," he panted. + +For, as he stared out at the cutter's lights, all at once they +disappeared. + +He gazed till his eyes seemed starting, but there was no doubt about it; +they had been put out or covered; and turning sharply round, he hid the +lantern he carried, and turned over the other with his foot prior to +stooping and blowing it out. + +The signal had been seen. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +HILARY GETS IN A QUEER FIX. + +With his heart throbbing with joy Hilary now proceeded to reverse his +performance, for, taking off his jacket once more, he enveloped the +burning lantern, picked up the other that was emitting an abominable +odour, and hastily carried them back to the hollow where he found them. + +It was so dark that he was doubtful whether he had found the right +place, but he kicked against another lantern, and that convinced him. + +Placing the burning one on the ground, he relit the other, his hands +trembling so that he hardly knew what he did, and impeded himself to no +slight degree. He succeeded, however, and had just set the second +lantern down as nearly as he could remember, when he fancied he heard a +sound as of some one snoring, and glancing in the direction, he saw to +his horror that a man was lying there asleep. + +For a few moments he felt paralysed, and stood there holding his jacket +in his hand unable to move, as he asked himself whether that man had +been there when he spoke and took the lights. + +As he stood there wondering, he heard a voice call "Jem!" in a low tone; +and this roused Hilary, who dropped down and crept away, glancing to +seaward as he did so, where the cutter's lights--if it was she--once +more brightly burned. + +He did not dare to go far, but lay flat upon the turf, listening as +someone came up; and then there was a dull noise as of a man kicking +another. + +"Get up, Jem! Do you hear! Why, what a fellow you are to sleep!" + +"Hullo! Oh, all right," said another voice; and now Hilary could see +two men standing, their figures plainly shown against the lantern's +light. "Oh, yes; it's all very well to say `Hullo!' and `All right!'" +grumbled the first voice; "I never see such a fellow to sleep." + +"Have you done?" said the sleepy one yawning. + +"Done? No; nor half done; she's got a heavy cargo. If we get done in +three hours we shall have worked well. Put out them candles, and come +and haul." + +The lights were extinguished; and Hilary, wondering at his escape, felt +his heart bound with joy, for by that time the crews of a couple of +boats must have been mustered on the _Kestrel's_ deck, and in another +five minutes they would be pulling, with muffled oars, towards the +shore. + +"Ah! if I were only in command of one!" cried Hilary to himself; "but as +I am not, can I do anything more to help our fellows besides bringing +them ashore?" + +It was a question that puzzled him to answer, and he lay there on the +turf wondering what it would be best to do, ending by making up his mind +to creep down as cautiously as he could in the direction taken by the +two men. + +"The worst that could happen to me," he thought, "would be that I should +be taken; and if I am made prisoner once more, it will only be in the +cause of duty--so here goes." + +The darkness favoured him as far as concealment was concerned, but it +had its disadvantages. A little way to his left was the edge of the +cliff, and Hilary knew that if he were not careful he would reach the +shore in a way not only unpleasant to himself, but which would totally +spoil him for farther service; so he exercised as much caution for +self-preservation as he did to keep himself hidden from his enemies. + +There was a well-beaten track, and, following this, he found the descent +was very rapid into a little valley-like depression, from the bottom of +which came the faint creak of a pulley now and then, with mingled sounds +of busy men going to and fro with loads, which they seemed to be, as he +judged, carrying up to carts somewhere at the head of the ravine. + +He could see very little, the darkness was so great; but his keen sense +of hearing supplied the want of sight; and as he lay beside a clump of +what seemed to be furze, he very soon arrived at a tolerably good idea +of what was going on. + +Still he was not satisfied. He wanted to realise more thoroughly the +whole procedure of the smugglers, so that if the present attempt should +prove a failure he might be in a position to circumvent them another +time. + +It was a great risk to go any nearer, and it might result in capture, +perhaps in being knocked down; but he determined to go on, especially as +it grew darker every minute, the stars being completely blotted out by a +curtain of cloud that came sweeping over the sky. + +He hesitated for a few moments, and then crept on, listening intently +the while. + +The smugglers were still some distance off, down towards the edge of the +lower cliff; and he crept nearer and nearer, till to his horror he found +that the clearness of the part about him was only due to the cessation +of the carrying for a few minutes, and now a party seemed to be coming +up from the cliff edge, apparently loaded, while, when he turned to +retreat, he found by the sound of voices that another party was coming +down. + +His manifest proceeding then was to get out of the track, but, to his +horror, he found that he was down in a rift between two high walls of +rock, and his first attempt to climb up resulted in a slip back, +scratching his hands, and tearing his clothes. + +Before he could make a second attempt he was seized by a pair of strong +arms and forced down upon his knees; and dimly in the gloom he could +make out that he was pretty well surrounded by rough-looking men. + +"Caught you, have I?" said a deep voice. + +Hilary remained silent. It was of no avail to struggle, and he reserved +his strength for a better opportunity to escape. + +He thought of shouting aloud to the boats, which he hoped were now well +on their way; but he restrained himself, as he felt that the success of +their approach depended upon their secrecy, so he merely hung down his +head, without offering the slightest resistance. + +He had his reward. + +"Get up, you lazy, skulking lubber!" cried his captor, "or I'll +rope's-end you." This, by the way, was rather cool language, especially +after forcing the captive down upon his knees. + +"Here are we to work like plantation niggers at the oars, rowing night +and day, and you 'long-shore idlers leave us to do all the work." + +"Why, he takes me for one of their party," thought Hilary; and, dark +though it was, he felt astonished at the man's stupidity, for it did not +occur to him then that he was hatless, that his hair was rough, his face +and hands anything but clean, and his old uniform shrunken by his +immersion, and so caked with mud and dirt, and withal so torn and +ragged, that even by broad daylight anyone would have strongly doubted +that he was a king's officer, while in the gloom of that ravine he could +easily be taken for a rough-looking carrier belonging to their gang. + +"Come on," said the man hauling him along, "I've got a nice little job +for you. I don't care for your sulky looks. Go it, my lads. Got the +lot?" he continued, as a line of loaded men filed past them, they having +to stand back against the rock to let the burdened party pass. + +"All? no; nor yet half," was the reply. "There, get on." + +"All right. Take it easy," was the reply; and, trying hard to make out +the surroundings, Hilary made no resistance, but let himself be hurried +along down the declivity they were in, till he found himself on a +platform of trampled earth, where, as far as he could make out against +the skyline, a rough kind of shears was rigged up, and, by means of a +block, a couple of men were hauling up packages, and another was landing +them upon the platform, and unfastening and sending down the empty +hooks. + +"Here, one of you carry now," said Hilary's captor, "and let this joker +haul. I found him trying to miche, and nipped him as he was skulking +off. Lay hold, you lazy lubber, and haul." + +One of the men left the rope, and assuming a sulky, injured manner, +Hilary took his place at the rope, and, upon the signal being given, +hauled away with his new companion, who gave a grunt indicative of +satisfaction, as he found how well Hilary kept time with him, bringing +his strength to bear in unison with the other's, so that they worked +like one man. + +"Ah, that's better!" he said. "I've been doing all the work." + +They had brought a keg above the cliff edge, and this being detached, +Hilary's captor mounted it upon his shoulders, and the man who had been +hauling in Hilary's place took up a package and they began to move off. + +"Let me know if he don't work," said the rough-voiced man. + +"I'll soon be back. Mind he don't slip off." + +"All right," said Hilary's companion. + +"Haul," said a voice, and they pulled up another keg, while the tramping +of men could be plainly heard below, telling Hilary of what was going +on. + +"Why," he thought, as he worked steadily on, "this is where they hauled +me up, the rascals; and now--" + +He could not help laughing to himself at the strange trick Fate had +played him in setting him, a naval officer, helping a party of smugglers +to land their cargo; but all the same, he gloried in the amount of +information he was picking up for some future time. + +"I don't seem to know you," said the man beside him at last, after they +had hauled up several packages and kegs. "Did old Allstone send you to +help?" + +This was a poser, and Hilary paused for a moment or two before saying +frankly: + +"No; he didn't want me to come." + +"Ah! he's a nice 'un," growled the other. "I wish I'd my way; I'd make +him work a little harder. He's always skulking up at the old manor." + +Hilary uttered a low grunt, and in the intervals of hauling he strained +his eyes to grasp all he could of his surroundings; but there was very +little to see. He could make out that he was at the edge of a lower +part of the cliff; that the rock-strewn beach was, as far as he could +make out by the hauling, some forty feet below; that the platform where +he stood was the sea termination of a gully, where probably in wet +weather a stream ran down and over the edge in a kind of fall, while on +either side the cliff towered up to a great height. + +There was not much to learn, but it was enough to teach him what he +wanted to know, and it quite explained the success of the smugglers in +evading capture. + +Hilary had strained his eyes again and again seaward; but, save that the +cutter's lights were burning brightly in the darkness, there was no sign +of coming help, though, for the matter of that, a fleet of small boats +might have landed and been unseen from where he stood. + +The man's suspicions seemed to have been lulled, and Hilary kept on +hauling. The men came and went from where they were to the carts that +he judged to be waiting, and those below, like dim shadows just seen now +and then, toiled on over the rocks, but still no sign of the cutter's +boats, and in despair now of my such capture as might have been made, +Hilary was thinking that when a suitable opportunity occurred he would +seize hold of the hook with one hand, retain the hauling rope in the +other, and let himself rapidly down, when there was a shrill chirruping +whistle from below, the scrambling of feet, and a voice from the beach +said sharply: + +"Quick there! Luggers ahoy! Look out!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +TOM TULLY ACTS AS GUIDE. + +Lieutenant Lipscombe's eye had grown rapidly better, and his temper +rapidly worse. He had grumbled at Chips for being so long over his task +of repairing the deck and hatchway, and Chips had responded by leaving +off to sharpen his tools, after which he had diligently set traps to +catch his superior officer, who never went near the carpenter without +running risks of laming himself by treading upon nails half buried in +the deck, or being knocked down by pieces of wood delicately poised upon +one end so that the slightest touch would send them over with a crash. + +Chips never trod upon the upright nails, cut himself against the tools, +or touched the pieces of wood or planks to make them fall. He moved +about slowly, like a bear, and somehow seemed to be charmed; but it was +different with the lieutenant: he never went near to grumble without +putting his foot straight upon the first upright clout-nail, or leaning +his arm or hand upon some ticklishly-balanced piece of plank. The +consequences were that he was several times a good deal hurt, and then +Chips seemed exceedingly sorry, and said he was. + +But the lieutenant forgot his little accidents next day, and went +straight to the carpenter, bullied him again, and after bearing it for +awhile Chips's adze would become so blunt that he was obliged to go off +to the grindstone, where he would stop for a couple of hours, a good +deal of which time was spent in oiling the spindle before he began. + +At last, though he was obliged to finish his task, and after waiting for +the deck to be done as the time when he would go straight into harbour +and report Hilary's desertion, as he persisted in calling it, Lieutenant +Lipscombe concluded that he would not go, but give the young officer a +chance to come back. + +Meanwhile he had cruised about, chased and boarded vessels without there +being the slightest necessity, put in at one or two places where he +heard rumours that the Young Pretender was expected to land off the +coast somewhere close at hand, heard the report contradicted at the next +place he touched at, and then went cruising up and down once more. + +One day he chased and boarded a lugger that bore despatches from France +to certain emissaries in England; but the lieutenant did not find the +despatches, only some dried fish, which he captured and had conveyed on +board the cutter. + +His men grumbled, and said that Master Leigh ought to be found, and +there was some talk of petitioning the lieutenant to form another +expedition in search of the missing man; but the lieutenant had no +intention of going ashore in the dark to get his men knocked about by +invisible foes without the prospect of a grand haul of prize-money at +the end; so he turned a deaf ear to all suggestions for such a +proceeding, and kept on cruising up and down. + +"I tell you what it is," said Tom Tully on the evening of Hilary's +escape, as the men were all grouped together in the forecastle enjoying +a smoke and a yarn or two, "it strikes me as we're doing a wonderful lot +o' good upon this here station. What do you say, Jack Brown?" + +"Wonderful!" said the boatswain, falling into the speaker's sarcastic +vein. + +"Ah!" said Chips, "we shall never get all our prize-money spent, boys." + +"No," said the corporal of marines, "never. I say, speaking as a +orsifer, oughtn't we to have another one in place of Master Leigh?" + +"No," said Tom Tully. "We couldn't get another like he." + +"That's a true word, Tommy," said Billy Waters, who did not often agree +with the big sailor. "We couldn't get another now he's lost." + +"But that's all werry well," said Chips; "but it won't do. If I lost my +adze or caulking-hammer overboard, I must have another, mustn't I?" No +one answered, and he continued: + +"If you lost the rammer of the big gun, Billy Waters, or the corporal +here hadn't got his bayonet, he'd want a new one; so why shouldn't we +have a new orsifer?" + +"Don't know," said Billy Waters gruffly; and as the carpenter looked at +each in turn, the men all shook their heads, and then they all smoked in +silence. + +"I wishes as we could find him again," said Tom Tully; "and as he'd +chuck the skipper overboard, or send him afloat in the dinghy, and +command the cutter hisself, and I don't kear who tells the luff as I +said it." + +"No one ain't going to tell on you, Tommy," said Billy Waters +reprovingly; for the big sailor had looked defiantly round, and ended by +staring him defiantly in the face. "We all wishes as the young chap +could be found, and that he was back aboard; and I think as it ought to +be all reported and another expedition sent." + +There was a growl of approval at this as there had been before when +similar ideas were promulgated; but the lieutenant sat in his cabin, and +nothing was done. + +The lights were burning brightly, and as it was a dead calm the anchor +had been let go, so that the cutter should not be swept along the coast +by the racing tide. The night had come on very dark since the moon had +set, and the watch scanned the surface of the sea in an idle mood, that +task being soon done, for there was very little sea visible to scan, +and, coming to the conclusion that it was a night when they would be +able to watch just as well with their ears, they made themselves +comfortable and gazed longingly at the shore. + +There was nothing to tempt them there but that it _was_ shore, and they +would have preferred being there to loitering on shipboard, though there +was not so much as a cottage light to be seen from where they lay. + +A large lugger propelled by a dozen sweeps passed them in the darkness, +but so silently that they did not hear so much as the splash of an oar, +and a drowsy feeling seemed to pervade the whole crew. + +"I'll be bound to say if we was to set up a song with a good rattling +chorus he'd kick up a row," said Billy Waters, getting up from where he +was seated upon the deck, going to the side, and leaning over. "For my +part I'd--Hullo! Lookye here, Jack Brown; what do you make of them +there lights?" + +He pointed as he spoke to a couple of dim stars high up on the cliff and +placed diagonally. + +"Signal," said the boatswain decidedly. + +"For us?" said Tom Tully. + +"No," said the gunner; "for some smuggling craft. Beg pardon, your +honour," he continued as the lieutenant came forward, "but what do you +make o' them there lights?" + +The lieutenant had a long look, and then, with a display of energy that +was unusual with him, he exclaimed, "It is a signal for boats; there's a +landing going on." + +His words seemed to electrify everyone on board, and the men watched the +lights on shore with intense eagerness, seeing prize-money in them, as +they did in every boat sent from the cutter; while, to test the lights +ashore as to whether they really formed a signal, or were only an +accidental arrangement of a shepherd's lanterns, the lieutenant had the +two riding lamps suddenly lowered and covered. + +Then there were a few moments of intense excitement, every eye being +directed to the dim diagonally-placed stars on the cliff, both of which +suddenly disappeared. + +"Right," said the lieutenant. "Up with our lights again. That's either +Mr Leigh signalling to be fetched off or else there's going to be a +cargo run. Man the two boats! Gunner, serve out arms! No pipe, +boatswain. Quietly, every man, and muffle the oars!" + +The men needed no pipe to call them to their places, for every man was +in a state of intense excitement, and ready to execute a kind of +war-dance on the deck, till the lieutenant, who had been to fetch his +sword and pistols, returned on deck in a dubious state of mind. + +"I don't know," he said. "Perhaps it is only a dodge to get us away. +Somebody is tricking us; and while we are going one way they'll run a +cargo in another direction." + +The men dared not murmur, but they grumbled in silence. + +"Give up your arms again, my men," said the lieutenant, "and we'll be +watchful where we are. I'm tired of being tricked." + +The men were unwillingly giving up their weapons when, as Billy Waters +put it, the wind veered round again. + +"Serve out the arms, my man! Now then, be smart! Tumble into the +boats!" + +For fear their commander should change his mind again the men did +literally tumble into the boats, and, giving the boatswain charge of the +vessel and putting the gunner in charge of the smaller boat, the +lieutenant descended into the other, gave orders that not a word should +be spoken, and they pushed off into the black night. + +"When we land," whispered the lieutenant, "two men are to stop in the +boats and keep off a dozen or so yards from the shore. No getting them +stove-in, or--" + +He did not finish his sentence, and in its mutilated form it was passed +to the other boat, which was close behind. + +For the first part of the distance they rowed pretty swiftly, but when +they were about halfway the lieutenant slackened speed, and, after +nearly running into them, the second followed the example, and they went +softly on. + +It seemed to grow darker and darker, and but for the fact that they +could hear the wash of the water upon the shore, and see the lights of +the cutter, it would have been impossible to tell which way to go. They +steered, however, straight for the land, every ear being attent, and the +men so anxious to make the present expedition a success that their oars +dipped without a sound. + +All at once, as it seemed to them, they could hear something above the +soft wash of the water that made every man's heart beat, and roused the +lieutenant to an intense state of excitement. For, plainly enough, +there came from out of the pitchy darkness right ahead the tramp of feet +hurrying to and fro across the sands, and there could be only one +interpretation of such a sound, namely, the fact that a party of men +were unloading a boat. + +The lieutenant ordered his men to wait so that the second boat might +come up alongside, and then they advanced together in perfect silence, +with the keenest-eyed men in the bows, ready to signal by touch if they +saw anything ahead. + +The sound was still going on upon the beach, and the people were +evidently very busy, when, at the same moment, the crews of the two +boats caught sight of a large lugger run ashore, and not twenty yards +away. + +The lieutenant's orders to the gunner were short and sharp. + +"Board her on the larboard side; I'll take this! Off; give way, my +lads! Close in; out cutlasses and up and have her!" + +Softly as his whisper was uttered it was heard upon the lugger by the +watchful smugglers. A shrill whistle rang out; there was a rush of feet +to get back aboard, and men sprang to their arms. + +But the _Kestrels_ were too close in this time. The boats were run one +on either side; the crews pulled out their cutlasses and sprang up, +racing as to who should be first on board; and after a short sharp +struggle the smugglers were beaten down, and the lugger was taken. + +"Now, Waters, make sure of the prisoners, and don't trust them below!" +cried the lieutenant. "Come, my lads. Crew of the first boat head for +the shore." + +"Would you like lanterns, sir?" said the gunner. + +"What! to show the rascals where to shoot!" said the lieutenant. "No, +sir. We could take the lugger in the dark, and now we'll have the rest +of the gang and the cargo. Look here, my men," he said, turning to the +prisoners, "fifty pounds and a free pardon to the man who will act as +guide and show us the way to the place where the lugger's cargo has been +placed." + +There was no answer. + +"Do you hear there, my men? Don't be afraid to speak. Fifty pounds, +liberty, and my protection to the man who will act as guide." + +Still no answer. + +"A hundred pounds, then," said the lieutenant, eagerly. + +"Come, be quick; there is no time to lose." + +There was not the slightest notice taken of the offer. + +"Look here," cried the lieutenant, "I promise you that the man who will +tell where the cargo is carried shall be amply protected." + +Still no reply. + +"Come, come, come!" cried the lieutenant; "who is going to earn this +money? There, time is valuable; I'll give two hundred pounds if we +capture the rest of the cargo." + +"If you'll give me two hundred pounds I'll tell you where it is," said a +voice out of the darkness; and a groan and a hiss arose from the +prisoners. + +"Bravo! my lad," cried the lieutenant. "I give you my word of honour +you shall have the two hundred pounds. Now, then; where is it? Which +way shall we go? Quick! where is it?" + +"Where you and your lot won't never find it," said the man; and there +was a tremendous roar of laughter. + +"Come, my lads," said the lieutenant angrily, "follow me." + +As the men followed him down into the boat another shrill chirruping +whistle rang out upon the dark night-air, a whistle which the lieutenant +knew well enough to be a warning to the men ashore that there was +danger. + +"Never mind," he said; "we shall find the bags this time, and with +plenty of honey too, my lads. Let's see, who was here last and went up +among the rocks?" + +"Me, your honour," said Tom Tully. "I can show you the way." + +"Come to my side, then," said the lieutenant, leaping ashore. Tom Tully +ranged up alongside, and together they hurried over the sand and +shingle. + +There was no doubt about their being upon the right track, for they +stumbled first against a keg, directly after upon a package, then upon +another and another, just as the smugglers had thrown them down to race +back and defend the lugger; and with these for their guides they made +right for the rocks, where, after a little hesitation, Tom Tully led the +party through a narrow opening. + +"I should know the place, sir," he said, "for I got a hawful polt o' the +side of the head somewheres about here; and--ah! this here's right, for +there's another little keg o' spirits." + +He had kicked against the little vessel, and, to endorse his opinion, he +had come upon a small package, which, with the keg, was placed upon a +block of rock ready for their return. + +But in spite of his recollection of the blows he had received in the +struggle amongst the rocks Tom Tully's guidance was not very good. It +was horribly dark, and, but for the scuffling noise they kept hearing in +front and beyond the chaos of rocks amongst which they were, the +lieutenant would have ordered his men back, and tried some other way, or +else, in spite of the risks, have waited while some of his men went back +for lights. + +There was, however, always the noise in front, and partly by climbing +and dragging one another up over the rocks they managed to get nearer +and nearer without once hitting upon the narrow and comparatively easy +but maze-like track that was the regular way, and which was so familiar +to the smuggling party that they ran along it and surmounted the various +barriers with the greatest ease. + +"Come, come, Tully, are you asleep?" cried the lieutenant impatiently; +"push on." + +"That's just what I am a doing of, your honour," said the great fellow; +"but they seem to have been a moving the rocks, and altering the place +since we was here last, and its so plaguy dark, too, I don't seem to hit +it at all." + +"Give way, there, and let another man come to the front," said the +lieutenant. + +Tom Tully did give way, and another and another tried, but made worse of +it, for the big fellow did blunder on somehow, no matter what obstacles +presented themselves; and at last, quite in despair, just as the sounds +in front were dying right away, almost the last man being up the cliff, +the great sailor clambered over a huge block of rock and uttered a shout +of joy. + +"Here's the place, your honour, here's the place!" he shouted, and the +lieutenant and the men scrambled to his side. + +"Well," cried the lieutenant, "what have you found? Where are we?" + +"We're here, your honour," cried Tom Tully eagerly. "We're all right. +Oh lor', look out! what's that 'ere?" + +For just at that moment there was the whizz made by a running out rope, +a rushing sound, a heavy body came plump on Tom Tully's shoulders, and +he was dashed to the ground. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +ON BOARD ONCE MORE. + +There was an attempt at flight on the part of the _Kestrels_, but there +was no room to fly, though the general impression was that the smugglers +were about to hurl down pieces of rock upon them from above, but their +dread was chased away by a well-known voice exclaiming: + +"All right, my lads: I'm not killed." + +"But you've 'most killed me," growled Tom Tully. + +"Never mind, Tom. You shall have some grog when we get back aboard. +Who's in command?" + +"I am, sir," exclaimed the lieutenant from somewhere at the back; "and I +beg to know what is the meaning of this indecorous proceeding." + +"Well, sir," said Hilary, "I was in a hurry to rejoin the ship's +company, and I was coming down a rope when some one above cast it off." + +"Three cheers for Muster Leigh!" cried a voice. + +"Silence!" roared the lieutenant. "Now, Mr Leigh, if you are not +joined to the band of rascals show us the way to them." + +"There's no way here, sir, unless we bring a long spar and rig up some +tackle. The rock's forty feet high, and as straight as a wall. Will +you let me speak to you, sir?" + +The lieutenant grunted, and Hilary limped to his side. + +"Now, Mr Leigh," he said, "I will hear what you have to say; but have +the goodness to consider yourself under arrest." + +"All right, sir," replied Hilary; "I'm used to that sort of thing now." + +"Where have you been, sir?" + +"Made prisoner by the smugglers, sir. And now, if you will take my +advice, sir, you will draw off the men and secure the lugger. By +daylight I can, if we find a way up the cliffs, conduct you to the place +they make their rendezvous." + +"I repeat, Mr Leigh, that you must consider yourself under arrest," +said the lieutenant stiffly. "Your plans may be very good, but I have +already made my own." + +Hilary said nothing, for he knew his officer of old; and that, while he +would profess to ignore everything that had been said, he would follow +out the advice to the letter. + +And so it proved; for, drawing off the men, they were led down to the +boats, the lugger was pushed off, and those of her crew left on board +made to handle the sweeps till she was secured alongside of the cutter, +where the smugglers to the number of eight were made prisoners below. + +The men were in high glee, for it proved next morning that there was +still enough of the cargo on board to give them a fair share of +prize-money, and there was the hope of securing more of the cargo at the +old hall of which Hilary spoke. + +"I am quite convinced of the existence of that place, Mr Leigh," said +the lieutenant pompously, "and I have been questioning the prisoners +about it. If you give your promise not to attempt an escape, I will +allow you to accompany the expedition under the command of the gunner, +as I shall be obliged to stay on board." + +To his intense astonishment, Hilary, who longed to head the party and +try to capture the rest of the smuggling crew, drew himself up. + +"Thank you, sir, no," he replied; "as I am a prisoner, I will wait until +I have been before a court-martial. Shall I go below, sir?" + +The lieutenant was speechless for a few moments. + +"What, sir? go below, sir? and at a time like this when the ship is +shorthanded, and we have eight prisoners to guard? This is worse and +worse, Mr Leigh. What am I to think of such conduct?" + +"What you please, sir," said Hilary quietly. + +"Then, sir, in addition to deserting, which you try to hide by +professing to have been made a prisoner, you now mutiny against my +orders!" + +"Look here, Lieutenant Lipscombe," cried Hilary, who was now in a +passion; "if you want me to take command of the expedition, and to lead +the men to the smugglers' place, say so like a man. If you do not want +me to go, send me below as a prisoner. I'm not going to act under our +gunner." + +"Mr Leigh," said the lieutenant, "I shall report the whole of your +insubordinations in a properly written-out despatch. At present I am +compelled to make use of your assistance, so take the gunner and six +men." + +"Six will not be enough, sir." + +"Then take seven," said the lieutenant, impatiently. + +"Seven will not be enough, sir," replied Hilary. "I must have at least +a dozen." + +"Bless my soul, Mr Leigh! hadn't you better take command of the cutter, +and supersede me altogether?" + +"No, sir; I don't think that would be better," said Hilary. + +"I have eight prisoners on board, and they must be well guarded." + +"Yes, sir, of course." + +"Then I am obliged to have four or five men in the lugger." + +"Yes, sir; so under the circumstances I think it will be best to place +the eight prisoners in the lugger's boat, and send them ashore." + +"What! to join the others?" + +"No, sir; I should take care to land them after the expedition party +were well on the way." + +"Bless me, Mr Leigh! this is beyond bearing. How dare you dictate to +me in this way?" cried the lieutenant. + +"And," continued Hilary, "I would disable them for a few hours by means +of the irons. There are five or six sets on board." + +"Ah! yes, yes; but what do you mean?" + +"I'd let the gunner rivet them on, sir, joining the men two and two. +They could not get them off without a blacksmith; and it would disable +them for some hours." + +"Well, yes, I had some such an idea as that," replied the lieutenant. +"Under the circumstances, Mr Leigh, I will humour you in this." + +"Thank you, sir," said Hilary quietly, for he was so much in earnest as +to the duty required at this special moment, that he would not let his +annoyance keep him back. + +"Perhaps, too, you had better take command of the expedition, Mr Leigh. +Duty to the king stands first, you know." + +"Certainly, sir." + +"And, by the way, Mr Leigh, I would certainly change my uniform; for, +you will excuse my saying so, you look more like a scarecrow than an +officer." + +Hilary bowed, and soon after he was inspecting the men detailed for the +duty in hand, one and all of whom saluted him with a grin of +satisfaction. + +"Well, Tom Tully," he said, "how is your shoulder?" + +"Feels as if it was shov'd out, sir," growled the big sailor; "but lor' +bless your 'art, sir, I don't mind." + +"Tom wishes you'd fell on his head, sir," said Billy Waters, laughing; +"it's so thick, it wouldn't have hurt him a bit." + +"I'll try to manage better next time," said the young officer; "but I +had to look sharp to get away the best fashion I could." + +"Well, sir, the lads say as they're all werry glad to see you again," +continued the gunner; "and they hopes you're going to give them some +fun." + +"I hope I am," replied Hilary; "but I can't feel sure, for they are +slippery fellows we are after, and we may get there to find them gone." + +Meanwhile, in accordance with Hilary's advice, which the lieutenant had +adopted as his own idea, the cutter was sailing east in search of an +opening in the cliff, through which the party could reach the higher +ground; and, after going four or five miles, this was found, the party +landed, and the cutter then sailed on to get rid of the boatload of +prisoners she towed behind, some eight or ten miles farther away. + +Hilary felt himself again, as, after he had said a few words to his men, +they started off inland, mounting a rugged pathway, and then journeying +due north. + +It was rather puzzling, and the young officer did not anticipate finding +the old hall without some trouble; but he had an idea that it lay to the +east of the smugglers' landing-place, as well as some miles inland. + +Hilary's first idea was to get upon one of the ridges, from which he +hoped to recognise the hills which he had looked upon from his prison. +Failing this he meant to search until he did find it, when a happy +thought struck him. + +He remembered the dam he had seen, and the great plashing water-wheel. +There was, of course, the little river, and if he could find that he +could track it up to the mill, from whence the old hall would be +visible. + +The place seemed singularly uncultivated, and it was some time before +they came upon a cottage, where an old woman looked at them curiously. + +"River? Oh, yes, there's the little river runs down in the hollow," she +replied, in answer to Hilary's questions. It was upon his tongue's end +to ask the old woman about the hall; but a moment's reflection told him +the cottagers anywhere near the sea would be either favourable to the +smugglers, or would hold them in such dread that they would be certain +to refuse all information. Even then he was not sure that the old woman +was not sending them upon a false scent. + +This did not, however, prove to be the case, for after a walk of about a +couple of miles, through patches of woodland and along dells, where the +men seemed as happy as a pack of schoolboys, a ridge was reached, from +which the little streamlet could be seen; and making their way down to +it, Hilary found that they were on the wrong side, a fact which +necessitated wading, though he went over dry-shod, Tom Tully insisting +upon carrying him upon his back. + +Another couple of miles along the winding course brought them to the +mill, where a heavy-looking man stood watching the unwonted appearance +of a dozen well-armed sailors; but neither party spoke, and after a bit +of a rest for the discussion of a few biscuits, Hilary prepared for his +advance to the old hall. + +They were just about to start when the heavy-looking man lounged up. + +"Going by Rorley Place?" he said. + +"Rorley Place?" said Hilary; "where's that?" + +"Yon old house," was the reply. "Don't go in; she's harnted!" + +"Oh! is she?" said Hilary. + +"Ay, that she be," said the man. "She's been empty this hundred year; +but you can see the lights shining in the windows of a night, and hear +the groans down by the gate and by the little bridge over Rorley +stream." + +"Thank you," said Hilary, "we'll take care. Now, my lads, forward. +Now, Tom Tully, what's the matter?" + +"I'm a man as 'll fight any man or any body any day," said the big +sailor; "but if we're going again that there place I'm done. I can't +abide ghosts and them sort o' things." + +"Stuff!" said Hilary. "Forward. Why, what are you thinking about, man? +That's where I was shut up night after night." + +"And did you see 'em, sir?" + +"See what?" replied Hilary. + +"Them there as yon chap talked about, sir." + +"I saw a good many very substantial smugglers, and I saw a cellar full +of kegs and packages, and those are what we are going to get." + +Tom Tully seemed a bit reassured, and tightening his belt a little, he +kept step with the others, as Hilary led the way right across country, +so as to come out of the wood suddenly after a curve, just in front of +the entrance to the narrow bridge over the moat. + +Hilary managed well, and his men following him in single file, he led +them so that, apparently unseen by the occupants of the old hall, they +were at last gathered together in the clump of trees, waiting the order +to advance. + +The moat, as Hilary knew, was too deep to think of wading, and there was +the old bridge quite clear, temptingly offering itself as a way to the +front of the old house; but this tempting appearance rather repelled the +young officer. He was no coward, but he was good leader enough to +shrink from subjecting his men to unnecessary risk. + +The smugglers would be, under the present circumstances, as desperate as +rats in a corner; and as they would certainly expect an attack through +his escape, and the events of the past night, it was not likely that +they would have neglected to protect the one entrance to their +stronghold. + +"I say, wot are we awaiting for?" growled Tom Tully. + +"Hold your noise!" said Waters; "don't you see the orsifer as leads you +thinks there's a trap?" + +"Wheer? I don't see no trap. Wot sorter trap?" growled Tom Tully. + +"Will yer be quiet, Tommy!" whispered the gunner. "What a chap you +are!" + +"Yes, ar'n't I?" said the big sailor, taking his messmate's remark as a +compliment; and settling himself tailor-fashion upon the ground, he +waited until the reconnaissance was over. + +For Hilary was scanning the front of the old house most carefully. +There was the room in which he had been imprisoned, with the window +still open, and the thin white cord swinging gently in the air. There +was Adela's room, open-windowed too, and there also was the room where +he had seen Sir Henry busy writing, with his child at his knee. + +Where were they now? he asked himself, and his heart felt a sudden throb +as he thought of the possibility of their being still in the house and +in danger. + +But he cast the thought away directly, feeling sure that Sir Henry, a +proscribed political offender, would not, for his own and his child's +sake, run the slightest risk of being taken. + +"But suppose he trusts to me, and thinks that I care too much for them +to betray their hiding-place?" + +His brow turned damp at the thought, and for a moment, as he saw in +imagination his old companion Adela looking reproachfully at him for +having sent her father to the block, he felt that at all costs he must +take the men back. + +Then came reaction. + +"No," he thought, "I gave Sir Henry fair warning that I must do my duty, +and that if we encountered again I should have to arrest him in the +king's name. He tried to tempt me to join his party, but I refused, and +told him I had my duty to do. He must, I am sure he must, have made his +escape, and I shall lead on my men." + +He hesitated a moment, and then thought that he was come there to +capture smugglers, not political offenders, and that after all he would +find a way out of his difficulty; but colouring the next moment, he felt +that he must do his duty at all hazards; and he turned to Waters. + +"I can see no trace of anything wrong, gunner," he said, "but I feel +that those rascals have laid a trap for us. They'll open fire directly +we attempt to cross that bridge." + +"Then let me and Tom Tully and some one else try it first," said the +gunner in reply. + +"No, no, Waters; that would never do," said Hilary. "If anyone goes +first it must be I. Look all along the bottom windows. Can you see any +gun barrels?" + +"Not ne'er a one, sir," replied the gunner; "and I ar'n't seen anything +but two or three pigeons and an old lame hen since we've come." + +"Then they must be lying in wait," said Hilary. "Never mind, it must be +done. Here, I shall rush over first with Tom Tully. Then, if all's +right, you bring the rest of the men. If I go down, why, you must see +if you can do anything to take the place; and if you cannot, you must +take the men back." + +"Hadn't we better all rush it together, sir?" + +"No; certainly not." + +"Then hadn't I best go first, sir? I ar'n't so much consequence as +you." + +"No, Waters, I must go first. I can't send my men to risks I daren't +attempt myself. Now then, are you ready, Tully?" + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +"Let me go first, sir," pleaded the gunner. + +"Silence, sir," cried Hilary. "Now, Tully--off." + +Cutlass in hand and closely followed by the elephantine seaman, Hilary +ran from his place of concealment across the open space to the bridge, +and then without a moment's hesitation he bounded across it, and on to +the rough, ill-tended patch of grass. + +To his intense surprise and delight he got over in safety, and then +pausing he held up his sword, and with a cheer Billy Waters raced across +with the rest of the men. + +"Now, quick, Waters, take half the lads and secure the back--no, take +four. Two of you keep the bridge. We must capture them all to a man." + +Not a shot was fired. There was no answering cheer. All was as silent +as if there had never been a soul there for years, and after carefully +scanning the window Hilary went up to the front door and battered it +loudly with his sword-hilt. + +This knocking he had to repeat twice over before he heard steps, and +then a couple of rusty bolts were pushed back, the door was dragged +open, and a very venerable old lady stood peering wonderingly in their +faces as she screened her eyes with her hand. + +"Ye'd better not come in," she said in a loud, harsh voice. "The place +is harnted, and it isn't safe." + +"Where's Allstone?" cried Hilary as he led his men into the +desolate-looking hall. + +"Hey?" + +"I say where's Allstone, the scoundrel?" shouted Hilary. + +"I'm very sorry, but I can't hear a word you say, young man. I've been +stone-deaf ever sin' I came to take care o' this house five year ago. +It's a terrifying damp place." + +"Where are the men?" shouted Hilary with his lips to her ear. + +"Men? No, no; I ar'n't feared o' your men," said the old lady. "They +won't hurt a poor old crittur like me." + +"There, spread out and search the place," said Hilary. "She's as deaf +as a post. Whistle for help whoever finds the rascals." + +Detaining four men Hilary made his way to the kitchen, and then to the +passage by the vault-door and the chapel, to find all wide open; and +upon a light being obtained Hilary was about to descend, but, fearing a +trap, he left two of his men on guard and went down into the vault, to +find it empty. There was some old rubbish and the nets, but that was +all. Short as had been the time the smugglers had cleared the place. + +He went into the chapel and to Sir Henry and Adela's rooms, to find the +old furniture there, but that was all; and at the end of a good +half-hour's search the party of sailors stood together in the hall, with +the deaf old woman staring at them and they staring at each other, +waiting their officer's commands. + +"Ar'n't there not going to be no fight?" growled Tom Tully. + +Evidently not; and after another search Hilary would have felt ready to +declare that there had not been a soul there for months, and that he had +dreamed about his escape, if the white cord had not still hung from the +window. + +Further investigation proving to be vain, for they could get nothing out +of the deaf old woman, and a short excursion in the neighbourhood +producing nothing but shakes of the head, Hilary had to lead his men +back to the shore, where they arrived at last, regularly tired out and +their commander dispirited. All the same, though, he could not help +feeling glad at heart as he signalled to the cutter for a boat, that Sir +Henry and his daughter were safe from seizure, for had he been bound to +take them prisoners he felt as if he could have known no peace. + +But Hilary had no time to give to such thoughts as these, for a boat was +coming from the cutter, and in a very short time he knew that he would +have to face the lieutenant and give his account of the unsuccessful +nature of his quest; and as he thought of this he began to ask himself +whether the injuries his commander had received at different times had +not something to do with the eccentricity and awkwardness of his +behaviour. + +Hilary was still thinking this when he climbed to the deck of the cutter +and saluted his officer with the customary "Come on board." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +A RISKY WATCH. + +Lieutenant Lipscombe was so dissatisfied with the result of Hilary's +expedition that he landed himself the next day with a party of the +_Kestrels_ and went over and searched the old hall. + +From thence he followed the lane down to the cliffs, where, as Billy +Waters afterwards told Hilary, they found the place where the smugglers +had been in the habit of landing their goods, and the cottage he had +described. But the people seemed stupid and ignorant, professing to +know nothing, and it was not until after a search that the rope was +found with the tackle and block lying amongst some stunted bushes; and +by means of this tackle the party descended, afterwards signalling to +the cutter and getting on board. + +The next thing was to take the prize into port and report to the +superior officer what had been done, when orders were at once received +to put out to sea and watch the coast. + +For the emissaries of the Pretender had, it seemed, been busy at work, +and there were rumours of risings and landings of men from France. In +spite of the watchfulness of the various war-vessels on the coast +messengers seemed to come and go with impunity. So angry were the +authorities that, instead of the lieutenant receiving praise for what he +had done, he only obtained a severe snubbing. He was told that the +capture of a lugger with some contraband cargo was nothing to the taking +of the political emissaries. These, it seemed, he had allowed to slip +through his fingers, and he returned on board with his sailing orders, +furious with the treatment he had received. + +"Look here, Mr Leigh," he said sternly; "out of consideration for your +youth I refrained from reporting your late desertion." + +"I was taken prisoner, sir." + +"Well, there, call it taken prisoner if you like," said the lieutenant +impatiently. "I say I did not report it; but I consider that you are to +blame for our late ill success." + +"Thank you, sir," said Hilary in an undertone. + +"It seems," continued the lieutenant, "that there is a Sir Henry Norland +who comes and goes with fishermen and smugglers, and I am as certain as +can be that we had him once on board that fishing lugger when you were +stupid enough to let him go; I mean that ill-looking scoundrel with the +girl. There, there; it is of no use for you to try and defend yourself. +You were in fault, and the only way for you to amend your failing is by +placing this man in my hands." + +"But really, sir--" began Hilary. + +"Go to your duty, sir!" exclaimed the lieutenant sternly; and, biting +his lips as he felt how awkwardly he was situated, Hilary went forward, +and soon after the cutter was skimming over the waves with a brisk +breeze abeam. + +Time glided on, with the young officer fully determined to do his duty +if he should again have an opportunity of arresting the emissary of the +would-be king; but somehow it seemed as if the opportunity was never to +come. They cruised here and they cruised there, with the usual +vicissitudes of storm and sunshine. Fishing-boats were rigorously +overhauled, great merchant ships bidden to heave-to while a boat was +sent on board, but no capture was made. + +They put into port over and over again, always to hear the same news-- +that the young Pretender's emissaries were as busy as ever, and that +they came and went with impunity, but how no one could say. + +The lieutenant always returned on board, after going ashore to see the +port-admiral, in a furious temper, and his junior and the crew found +this to their cost. + +Days and nights of cruising without avail. It seemed as if the +_Kestrel_ was watched out of sight, and then, with the coast clear, the +followers of the young Pretender's fortunes landed in England with +impunity. Hilary heard from time to time that Sir Henry had grown more +daring, and had had two or three narrow escapes from being taken ashore, +but he had always been too clever for his pursuers, and had got away. + +Of Adela he had heard nothing, and he frequently hoped that she was safe +with some of their friends, and not leading a fugitive life with her +father. + +It was on a gloomy night in November that the _Kestrel_ was well out in +mid-channel on the lookout for a small vessel, of whose coming they had +been warned by a message received the day before from the admiral. + +A bright lookout was being kept, in spite of the feeling that it might +be, after all, only a false scent, and that while they were seeking in +one direction the enemy might make their way to the shore in another. + +There was nothing for it but to watch, in the hope that this time they +might be right, and all that afternoon and evening the cutter had been +as it were disguised. Her sails had been allowed to hang loosely, her +customary smartness was hidden, and the carpenter had been over the bows +with a pot of white paint, and painted big letters and a couple of +figures on each side, to give the _Kestrel_ the appearance of a +fishing-boat. This done, the jollyboat was allowed to swing by her +painter behind, and thus they waited for night. + +As the darkness came on, in place of hoisting the lights they were kept +under shelter of the bulwarks, and then, in spite of the preparations, +Hilary saw and said that their work would be in vain, for the night +would be too dark for them to see anything unless it came within a +cable's length. + +It was not likely; and the young officer, as he leaned over the side, +after some hours' watching, talking in a low voice to the gunner, who +was with him, began to think how pleasant it would be to follow the +lieutenant's example and go below and have a good sleep, when he +suddenly started. + +"What's that, Billy?" he whispered. + +"Don't hear nothing, sir," said the gunner. "Yes, I do. It's a ship of +some kind, and not very far-off. I can hear the water under her bows." + +"Far-off?--no. Look!" cried Hilary, in a hoarse whisper. "Down with +the helm! hard down!" he cried. "Hoist a light!" + +But as he gave the orders he felt that they were in vain, for they had +so well chosen their place to intercept the French vessel they hoped to +meet, that it was coming, as it were, out of a bank of darkness not +fifty yards away; and in another minute Hilary, as he saw the size and +the cloud of sail, knew that the _Kestrel_ would be either cut down to +the water's edge or sunk by the coming craft. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +WITHOUT LIGHTS. + +In those moments of peril Hilary hardly knew how it all happened, but +fortunately the men with him were men-of-war's men, and accustomed to +prompt obedience. The helm was put down hard as the strange vessel came +swiftly on, seeming to the young officer like his fate, and in an +instant his instinct of self-preservation suggested to him that he had +better run forward, and, as the stranger struck the _Kestrel_, leap from +the low bulwark and catch at one of the stays. His activity, he knew, +would do the rest. + +Then discipline set in and reminded him that he was in charge of the +deck, and that his duty was to think of the safety of his men and the +cutter--last of all, of himself. + +The stranger showed no lights, a suspicious fact which Hilary afterwards +recalled, and she came on as the cutter rapidly answered her helm, +seeming at first as if she would go right over the little sloop of war, +but when the collision came, so well had the _Kestrel_ swerved aside, +the stranger's bowsprit went between jib and staysail, and struck the +cutter just behind the figurehead. + +There was a grinding crash, a loud yell from the oncoming vessel; the +_Kestrel_ went over almost on her beam-ends, and then the stranger +scraped on by her bows, carrying away bowsprit, jibboom, and the sails. + +"Chien de fool Jean Bool, fish, dog!" roared a voice from the side of +the large schooner, for such Hilary could now see it was. "Vat for you +no hoist light? I run you down." + +"Hoist your own lights, you French idiot!" shouted back Hilary between +his hands. "Ahoy, there! heave-to!" + +There was a good deal of shouting and confusion on board the schooner, +which went on several hundred yards before her way was stopped; but +before this Hilary had ordered out the two boats; for there was no need +to hail the men below, with "All hands on deck!" + +The men came tumbling up in the lightest of costumes, one of the +foremost being the lieutenant, with his nether garments in one hand, his +cocked hat in the other. + +"Quick!" he shouted. "Into the boats before she goes down!" + +"No, no, sir!" cried Hilary excitedly. "Let's see the mischief first. +Is she making water, carpenter?" + +"Can't see as she is," replied that worthy. "We've lost the bowsprit +and figurehead, and there's some planks started; but I think we shall +float." + +"Of course; yes," cried Lieutenant Lipscombe. "Back from those boats, +men! I'll blow the brains out of the mutinous dog who dares to enter +first. Discipline must be maintained. Here, Waters, let me lean +against you." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" said the gunner; and the lieutenant proceeded to insert +his legs in the portion of his uniform intended to keep his lower man +warm. + +"Now, Mr Leigh," he shouted, as he stamped upon the deck with his bare +feet; "what have you to say to this?" + +"Regular wreck forward, sir," replied Hilary, who had been examining the +extent of the mischief. + +"My fate for leaving you in charge," cried the lieutenant. "Where was +the lookout?" + +"Two boats coming from the schooner, sir," said Tom Tully. "They've got +lanterns, and they're full of men." + +"Then it's the vessel we were looking for," cried Hilary. "Quick, sir, +give orders, or they'll board and take us before we can stir." + +"Mr Leigh," said the lieutenant, with dignity, "I command this ship." + +He walked slowly to the side, and peered at the coming boats, while +Hilary stood fretting and fuming at his side. There was, however, +something so ominous in the look of the boats, dimly-seen though they +were through the murky night, that the lieutenant did give orders, and +cutlasses and boarding-pikes were seized, the men then clustering about +their officers. + +"She ar'n't making a drop o' water," said the carpenter just then--an +announcement which seemed to put heart into the crew, who now watched +the coming of the boats. + +"Hey! Hoop!" shouted a voice. "What sheeps is that? Are you sink?" + +"May I answer, sir?" whispered Hilary. + +"Yes, Mr Leigh; and be quick." + +"Ahoy! What ship's that?" cried Hilary. + +There was no response, only a buzz of conversation reached their ears, +and the boats came rapidly on, the occupants of the _Kestrel's_ deck +seeing that they separated and changed position, so as to board on each +bow, for the cutter now lay with her sail flapping, like a log upon the +water. + +"She's an enemy, sir," whispered Hilary; and he did not alter his +opinion as the boats neared. + +"All raight. We come take you off, sailor boy," cried the same voice +that had hailed. "You shall be safe before you vill sink you sheep." + +The lieutenant seemed to have come to himself, and to be a little more +matter-of-fact and sane in his actions, for he now ordered Waters to +load the long gun, and the gunner eagerly slipped away. + +"There, that will do," cried the lieutenant now. "We are not sinking. +What ship's that?" + +The boats stopped for a moment, and there was again a whispering on +board; but the next instant they came on. + +"Stop there, or I'll sink you!" cried the lieutenant. But the boats now +dashed on, and it was evidently a case of fighting and beating them off. + +Every man grasped his weapon, and a thrill of excitement ran through +Hilary as he felt that he was really about to engage in what might be a +serious fight. Fortunately for the crew of the _Kestrel_, both of the +boats were not able to board at once, for that on the larboard bow was +driven right into the wreck of the jibboom and sail, which, with the +attendant cordage, proved to be sufficient to hamper their progress for +the time being, while the other boat dashed alongside with a French +cheer, and, sword in hand, the crew swarmed over on to the deck. + +It was bravely done; and, had they met with a less stout resistance, the +_Kestrel_ would have been captured. But, as it was, they had Englishmen +to deal with, and Hilary and about ten of the crew met them bravely, +Hilary going down, though, from the first blow--one from a +boarding-pike. This, however, so enraged the _Kestrels_ that they beat +back the attacking party, cutting down several and literally hurling +others over into their boat, which hauled off, not liking its reception. + +Meanwhile, after a struggle, the crew of the other boat got itself clear +of the tangle, and came on to the attack, to find themselves, after a +sharp struggle, repulsed by the lieutenant and his party, the leader +fighting bravely and well. + +It was evident that the commander of the schooner had realised the +character of the vessel with which he had been in collision, and had +hoped to make an easy capture of her, if she did not prove to be in a +sinking state. If she were, motives of humanity had prompted him to +take off the crew, if they needed help. The task, however, had proved +more severe than he anticipated, and the two boats were now together, +with their leaders evidently in consultation. + +The next minute an order was evidently given, and the boats turned, +separated, and began to row back. + +The schooner could only be made out now by a light she had hoisted; but +this was quite sufficient for Billy Waters, who stood ready by his gun +waiting for orders. Possibly he might have hit and sunk one of the +boats, but the lieutenant did not seem to wish for this, but began +giving his orders with unwonted energy, trying to make sail upon the +_Kestrel_, which lay there upon the water, with one of her wings, as it +were, so crippled that he found it would take quite half an hour before +she could be cleared. + +"It's of no use, Mr Leigh," he cried excitedly. "I wanted to board and +take this schooner, and we cannot get alongside. Take charge of the +gun, sir, and try and bring down one of her spars. Let's cripple her +too. I'll order out the boats to board her." + +"Ay, ay, sir," said Hilary, delighted at the energy shown by his chief. +"Now, Billy Waters, send a shot through her mainmast. I'd aim straight +at her light." + +"Which on 'em, sir?" said the gunner drily. + +"Why, that one! There's only one," cried Hilary sharply. + +"Look alive! and--ah--how provoking, the light's out!" + +"Ay, sir, they've dowsed their light now the boats know where to go, and +it would be only waste o' good powder and round shot to go plumping 'em +into that there bank o' blackness out yonder." + +"Well, Mr Leigh, why don't you fire?" shouted the lieutenant. + +"Beg pardon, sir, but there's nothing to fire at," replied Hilary. + +"Fire at the schooner's light, sir,--fire at her light," cried the +lieutenant indignantly. "Bless my soul, Mr Leigh," he said, bustling +up. "Here, let me lay the gun, and--eh?--what?--the light out?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then why, in the name of common sense, Mr Leigh, didn't you fire +before it went out?" + +"Didn't get no orders," growled Billy Waters. + +"Silence, sir; how dare you speak!" cried the lieutenant. "But are you +sure the light's out, Mr Leigh?" + +"There isn't a sign of it, sir." + +"Then--then how are we to manage about the boats?" + +There was a momentary silence, during which, as the men stood ready to +man the two boats that had been lowered, the lieutenant and his junior +tried to make out where the schooner lay, but on every side, as the +_Kestrel_ lay softly rolling in the trough of the sea, a thick bank of +darkness seemed to be closing them in, and pursuit of the schooner by +boats would have been as mad a venture as could have been set upon by +the officer of a ship. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +REPAIRING DAMAGES. + +During the excitement, the bustle of the attack, the lieutenant had +seemed more himself, and he had given his orders in a concise and +businesslike way; but now that they were left to themselves all seemed +changed, and he reverted to his former childish temper, turning angrily +upon Hilary as the cause of all his misfortunes. + +"Never in the whole career of the English navy," he cried, stamping his +bare foot upon the deck, "was officer plagued with a more helpless, +blundering junior than I am. Bless my heart! it is very cold, and I've +no coat on. Mr Leigh, fetch my coat and waistcoat." + +"Yes," he continued, as he put on the two garments, "as I said before, +never was officer plagued with a more helpless, blundering, mischievous +junior." + +"Very sorry, sir. I do my best," said Hilary bluntly. + +"Exactly, sir. You do your best," said the lieutenant; "and your best +is to lay the _Kestrel_--His Majesty's ship _Kestrel_--right in the +track of that French schooner, and but for my fortunate arrival upon +deck we should have been sunk." + +Hilary recalled the fact that he had ordered the helm hard down, and +saved the vessel himself, but he did not say so. + +"I'll be bound to say," continued the lieutenant, "that you were sailing +slowly along without a light." + +"Yes, sir, we had no light hoisted," said Hilary, who, in spite of his +annoyance, could not help feeling amused. + +"Exactly. Just what I expected," continued the lieutenant. "Then pray, +sir, why, upon a dark night like this, was there no light?" + +"My superior officer gave me orders, sir, that we were to keep a sharp +lookout for French boats cruising the channel, and burn no light." + +"Hah! Yes, I think I did give some such orders, sir, but how was I to +know that it would turn out so dark, eh, sir? How was I to know it +would turn out so dark?" + +"It was very dark, sir, certainly," said Hilary. + +"Yes, atrociously dark. And I distinctly told you to keep a sharp +lookout." + +"Yes, sir, and we did." + +"It looks like it, Mr Leigh," said the lieutenant, pointing forward. +"Bowsprit gone, and all the forward bulwarks, leaving us helpless on the +water, and you say you kept a good lookout. Mr Leigh, sir, you will be +turned out of the service." + +"I hope not, sir. I think I saved the ship." + +"Saved? saved? Good gracious me, Mr Leigh," said the lieutenant, +bursting out laughing; "what madness! Here, Waters--Tully--do you hear +this?" + +"Ay, ay, your honour." + +"And what do you think of it?" + +"As we'd all have gone to the bottom, sir, if it hadn't been for Mr +Leigh here," said Waters, pulling his forelock. + +"Oh!" said the lieutenant sharply; "and pray what do you think, Tully; +and you, bo'sun?" + +"Think just the same as Billy Waters, your honour," said the boatswain. + +"And that 'ere's just the same with me," growled Tom Tully, kicking out +a leg behind. "He's a won'ful smart orsifer Muster Leigh is, your +honour; and that's so." + +"Silence, sir! How dare you speak like that?" cried the lieutenant +furiously. "Now, Mr Leigh," he added sarcastically, "if you will +condescend to assist, there is a good deal to see to, for the forepart +of His Majesty's ship _Kestrel_ is a complete wreck from your neglect. +I am going below to finish dressing, but I shall be back directly." + +Hilary returned his officer's sarcastic bow, and then gave a stamp on +the deck. + +"Which I don't wonder at it, your honour," said Tom Tully, in his low +deep growl: "I ain't said not nowt to my messmates, but I'll answer for +it as they'll all be willing." + +"Willing? willing for what?" cried Hilary. + +"Shove the skipper into the dinghy with two days' provision and water, +sir, and let him make the shore, if you'll take command of the little +_Kestrel_." + +"Why, you mutinous rascal," cried Hilary. "How dare you make such a +proposal to me? Hold your tongue, and go forward, Tom Tully. Duty on +board is to obey your superiors, and if they happen to be just a little +bit unreasonable, you must not complain." + +"All right, your honour," said Tom Tully, giving his loose breeches a +hitch; "but if the skipper was to talk to me like he do to you--" + +"Well, sir, what?" + +"I'd--I'd--I'd--" + +Tom Tully had taken out his tobacco-box, and opened his jack-knife, with +which he viciously cut off a bit of twist, exclaiming: + +"That I would!" + +He said no more, but it seemed probable that he meant cut off his +commander's head; and he then rolled forward to help the carpenter, and +the whole strength of the crew, whom the first rays of a dull grey +morning found still at work hauling in the tangle of spar and rope; and +soon after, a stay having been secured to the wreck of the cutwater, a +staysail was hoisted, and the cutter pretty well answered her helm. + +Hilary felt less disposed to take the lieutenant's words to heart, for +he knew that if he were charged with neglect of duty the evidence of the +men would be quite sufficient to clear him; so, after turning the matter +over and over in his mind, he had cheerily set to work to try and get +the cutter in decent trim, and, as the morning broke, crippled as she +was in her fair proportions, she sailed well enough to have warranted +the lieutenant in making an attack, should the schooner have come in +sight. + +But there was no such good fortune. Both the lieutenant and he swept +the horizon and the cliff-bound coast with their glasses, and the +_Kestrel_ was sailed along close inshore in the hope that the enemy +might be seen sheltered in some cove, or the mouth of one of the little +rivers; but there was no result, and at last, very unwillingly, the +cutter's head was laid for Portsmouth, and the lieutenant went below to +prepare his despatch. + +"How long shall we be refitting, carpenter?" asked Hilary, after a long +examination of the damages they had received, and a thorough awakening +to the fact that if it had not been for that turn of the helm they must +have been struck amidships, and sent to the bottom. + +"All a month, sir," said the carpenter. "There'll be a deal to do, and +if we get out of the shipwright's hands and to sea in five weeks I'll +say we've done well." + +It was galling, for it meant four or five weeks of inaction, just at a +time when Hilary was getting intensely interested in the political +question of the day, and eagerly looking forward for a chance of +distinguishing himself in some way. + +"Who knows," he said to himself, "but that schooner may have borne the +Young Pretender and his officers to the English coast. If it did I just +lost a chance of taking him." + +Ah! he thought, if he could have taken the young prince with his own +hand. It would have been glorious, and he could have shown Sir Henry +that he was on the way to honour and distinction without turning traitor +to his king. + +And so he went on hour after hour building castles in the air, but with +little chance of raising up one that would prove solid, till they passed +by the eastern end of the Isle of Wight, went right up the harbour, and +the lieutenant had a boat manned and went ashore to make his report to +the admiral. + +To Hilary's great disgust he found that he was not to go ashore, but to +remain in charge of the cutter during the repairs, for the lieutenant +announced his intention of himself remaining in the town. + +But Hilary had one satisfaction--that of finding that the lieutenant had +made no report concerning his conduct on the night of the collision. In +fact, the lieutenant had forgotten his mad words almost as soon as he +had spoken them, for they were only the outcomings of his petty +malicious spirit for the time being. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +OFF HIS GUARD. + +The carpenter's four weeks extended to five, then to six, and seven had +glided away before the cutter was pretty well ready for sea. Urgent +orders had been given that her repairs were to be hastened, and the crew +was kept in readiness to proceed to sea at once, but still the dockyard +artificers clung to their job in the most affectionate manner. There +was always a bit more caulking to do, a little more paint to put on, new +ropes to reeve; and when at last she seemed quite ready, an overlooker +declared that she would not be fit to go to sea until there had been a +thorough examination of the keel. + +It was during these last few days that Hilary found a chance of going +ashore, and gladly availed himself of his liberty, having a good run +round Portsmouth, a look at the fortifications; and finally, the weather +being crisp, sunshiny, and the ground hard with frost, he determined to +have a sharp walk inland for a change. + +"I declare," he cried, as he had a good run in the brisk wintry air, "it +does one good after being prisoned in that bit of a cutter." + +He had been so much on board of late that he experienced a hearty +pleasure in being out and away from the town in the free country air. +The frost was keen, and it seemed to make his blood tingle in his veins. +He set off running again and again, just pausing to take breath, and it +was only when he was some miles away from the port and the evening was +closing in that he began to think it was time to turn back. + +As he did so he saw that three sailors who had been for some time past +going the same way were still a short distance off, and as he passed +them it seemed to him that they had been indulging themselves, as +sailors will when ashore for a holiday. + +"What cheer, messmate!" said one of them in his bluff, frank way. "Is +this the way to London?" + +"No, my lad; you're on the wrong road. You must go back three miles or +so, and then turn off to the right." + +"I told you so, Joe," the man exclaimed in an injured tone. "What's the +good o' trusting to a chap like you? Here, come along and let's get +back." + +"I sha'n't go back," said the one addressed; "shall you, Jemmy?" + +"Not I," said the other. "Can't us get to London this way, captain?" + +"Yes," said Hilary laughing; "if you go straight on, but you'll have to +go all round the world first." + +"There!" cried the one addressed as Jemmy; "I told you so, matey. Come +along." + +"Don't be a fool," said the first sailor. "Lay holt of his arm, Joe, +and let's get him back; it'll be dark afore long." + +Hilary could not help feeling amused at the men; but as he trudged on +back towards Portsmouth he saw that they were trying to make up for lost +ground, and were following him pretty quickly. + +Once they made such good use of their legs that they got before him; +then Hilary walked a little faster and passed them, and so on during the +next two miles they passed and repassed each other, the sailors saying a +cheery word or two and laughing as they went by. But soon this was at +an end; they seemed to grow tired, and during the next mile it had grown +dark, and the sailors walked on one side of the road, Hilary on the +other. + +At last the sailors seemed to have made up their minds to get right away +from him, walking on rapidly, till all at once Hilary heard voices +talking loudly, and as he came nearer he could distinguish what was +said. + +"Come on. Come, Jem, get up." + +"I want a glass," growled another voice. + +"Never mind. Wait till we get on the London road," cried the man who +had been addressed as Joe. + +"I want a glass," growled the man again; and as Hilary came close up he +saw that one of the men was seated in the path just in front of a +roadside cottage, and that his two companions were kicking and shaking +him to make him rise. + +"I say, your honour," said one of the men, crossing to Hilary, "you're +an officer, ar'n't you?" + +"Yes, my man." + +"Just come and order him to get up, quarterdeck fashion, sir, and I'd be +obleeged to you. He won't mind us; but if you, an officer, comes and +orders him up, he'll mind what you say. We want to get to the next town +to-night." + +Hilary hesitated for a moment, feeling loath to trouble himself about +the stupid, drunken sailor, but his good nature prevailed and he crossed +the road. + +"Here, my lad," he said sharply, "get up directly." + +"Going to turn in!" said the fellow sleepily. + +"No, no. Nonsense," cried Hilary, giving him a touch with his foot. +"Get up and walk on." + +"Sha'n't," said the man. "Going to sleep, I tell you." + +"Lookye here, Jemmy," said the sailor who had first spoken, "you'll get +your back scratched, you will, if you don't get up when you're told. +This here's a officer." + +"Not he," grumbled the man sleepily. "He ar'n't no officer, I know. +Going to sleep, I tell you." + +"Get up, sir," cried Hilary sharply. "I am an officer." + +"Bah! get out. Only officer of a merchant ship. You ar'n't no reg'lar +officer." + +"If you don't get up directly, you dog, I'll have the marines sent after +you," cried Hilary. + +The man sat up and stared. + +"I say," he said, "you ar'n't king's officer, are you?" + +"Yes, sir, I am." + +"What ship?" + +"The _Kestrel_." + +"Oh, that's it, is it?" he grumbled. "Beg your honour's pardon. I'll +get up. Give's your hand." + +Half-laughing and at the same time proud of the power his rank gave him, +Hilary held out his hands to the man, who took them tightly and was in +the act of drawing himself up, when the young officer felt himself +seized from behind and held, as it were, in a vice. Just at the same +moment the door of the cottage was opened, there was a bright light +shone out, and before he could realise his position he was forced into +the place, and awoke to the fact, as the door was banged to, that he had +fallen into a trap. + +"You scoundrels!" he cried furiously; "do you want to rob me?" And he +saw that he was in the presence of half a dozen more men. + +"Silence, sir!" cried an authoritative voice. "Stand back, my lads. It +was very cleverly done." + +"Cleverly done!" cried Hilary. "What do you mean, sir? I desire you +let me go. Are you aware that I am a king's officer?" + +"Yes, I heard you announce it, and you are the man we have been looking +after for days," said the one who seemed to be in authority; and by the +light of a bright wood fire Hilary could make out that he was a tall, +dark man in a long boat-cloak, which he had thrown back from his breast. + +"Then I advise you to set me free directly," said Hilary. + +"Yes, we shall do that when we have done," said the leader, from whom +all the others stood away in respect; and as the light burned up the +speaker took off his cocked hat, and Hilary saw that he was a singularly +handsome man of about forty. + +"When you have done!" cried Hilary. "What do you mean?" + +"Be silent and answer my questions, my good lad," said the other. "You +are the young officer of the _Kestrel_, and your name is Hilary Leigh, I +believe?" + +"Yes, that is my name," cried Hilary sharply. "By what right do you +have me seized?" + +"The right of might," said the man. "Now look here, sir. Your vessel +is now seaworthy, and to-morrow you will get your sailing orders." + +"How do you know?" cried Hilary. + +"Never mind how I know. I tell you the fact, my good lad. You will be +despatched to watch the port of Dunquerque, to stop the boat that is +supposed to come to land from this coast on the king's business." + +"I suppose you mean the Pretender's business," cried Hilary quickly. + +"I mean His Majesty Charles Edward," said the man, "to whom I wish you +to take these papers." And he pulled a packet from his pocket. + +"I? Take papers? What do you suppose I am?" + +"One who will obey my orders," said the man haughtily, "and who will +never be able to play fast and loose with his employers; for if he were +false, no matter where he hid himself, he would be punished." + +"And suppose I refuse to take your papers and become a traitor?" said +Hilary. + +"I shall make you," said the stranger. "I tell you that the voyage of +your cutter suits our convenience, and that you will have to take these +papers, for which service you will be amply rewarded." + +"Then I do refuse," said Hilary firmly. + +"No; don't refuse yet," said the stranger with a peculiar look in his +countenance. "The despatches must be taken. Think of the proposal, my +good lad, and then reply." + +As he spoke Hilary saw him take a pistol from his breast-pocket, and, if +physiognomy was any index of the mind, Hilary saw plainly enough that if +he refused to obey this man's orders he would have no compunction in +shooting him like a dog. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +CAPTAIN CHARTERIS. + +Hilary felt the cold perspiration breaking out on his face, as he +thought of the loneliness of the spot where he was, and of his +helplessness here in the hands of these desperate men, who were ready to +brave all for their cause. He saw now that he had been watched almost +from the outset, and that he had been marked as one likely to carry out +their designs. Perhaps, he thought, Sir Henry had had something to do +with the seizure; but he gave up the idea directly, giving his old +friend credit for too much honourable feeling towards him to have him +trapped in so cowardly a manner. + +These thoughts came quickly as he stood watching the leader of the party +by whom he was surrounded--men who were ready at the slightest movement +to spring upon him, and secure him, should he attempt to escape. + +"I suppose," said Hilary's questioner, "you know what I am?" and he +looked at the young officer sternly. + +"Personally, no," replied Hilary, boldly; "but your behaviour shows me +that you are traitors to the king." + +"No, sir," cried the other fiercely; "we are faithful followers of the +king, and enemies of the German hound." + +"How dare you speak like that of His Majesty!" cried Hilary quite as +fiercely; and he took a couple of steps forward, but only to find +himself seized and dragged back. + +"Hold the young rascal tightly," said the officer. + +"Yes, hold me tightly," cried Hilary, "you cowards!" + +"I am having you held tightly for your own sake," said the officer, +taking up and playing with a large pistol he had laid on the table +before him. "I should be sorry to have to shoot so distinguished a +follower of Hanoverian George." + +Hilary bit his lip and remained silent. It was of no use to speak, of +less account to struggle, and he stood facing his captors without +flinching. + +"Now," continued the leader, "as you have got rid of your little burst +of passion, perhaps you will be reasonable. Listen to me, young man. +Your position as second officer on board that despatch cutter will bring +you frequently to both sides of the Channel, so that you will have ample +opportunities for carrying messages for us without risk, and,"--he +paused here, watching the young man intently--"greatly to your own +profit. Do you hear?" + +"Yes," said Hilary shortly. + +"We shall not have merely one despatch for you to take, to be paid for +with so many guineas, my lad, but there will be a regular correspondence +carried on, and you will make from it a handsome sum, for we recompense +liberally; something different to your munificent pay as officer of the +_Kestrel_." + +Hilary still remained silent, and his tempter pulled a bag of coin from +his pocket and threw it heavily upon the table. + +"Of course the task is rather a risky one, and deserves to be paid for +generously. That I am ready to do. In fact, you may name your own +price, and anything in reason will be granted. At the same time I warn +you that we shall put up with no trifling, and I may as well say that it +is impossible to escape us. We have emissaries everywhere, whose duty +it is to reward or punish as the case may require. Come, I see you are +growing reasonable." + +"Oh, yes! I am quite reasonable," said Hilary smiling. + +"That's well," said the officer; "cast him loose, my lads, and stand +more aside. Now, Mr Hilary Leigh," he said, as his orders were obeyed, +"I am glad to find so dashing and brave a young fellow as you finds +himself ready to join the good cause. I ask you to swear no oaths of +fidelity. I shall merely give you this despatch and a handful of gold +coin, and you will bring the answer here at your earliest opportunity." + +"And suppose I refuse?" said Hilary. + +"Refuse? Oh, you will not refuse," said the officer banteringly. "It +would be a pity to rob Hanoverian George of so brave and promising a +young officer." + +"What do you mean," said Hilary. + +"Oh nothing--nothing," said the other coolly. "We might, perhaps, think +it necessary, as you know so much, to shoot you." + +"Shoot me!" cried Hilary. + +"Y-e-es; you see you know a good deal, my young friend, but we should +bury you decently. You broke up the rendezvous at Rorley Place, and +spoiled the smuggler's landing, did you not?" + +"I did," said Hilary boldly. + +"Yes. And you were kept a prisoner there, were you not?" + +"I was." + +"And escaped and made signals with the smuggler's lanterns to bring down +the cutter's crew upon the party, did you not?" + +"I did. It was my duty." + +"Yes, you thought it was, my good lad. Let me see, you nearly captured +Sir Henry Norland, too, did you not?" + +"I should have taken him if he had been there," replied Hilary; "but I +was glad he was not." + +"Why?" + +"Because he was an old friend." + +"Let me see," continued the officer; "Sir Henry asked you to join us, +did he not?" + +"Several times," said Hilary quietly. + +"Ah, yes! I suppose he would. Came to see you when you were a +prisoner, I suppose?" + +"He did." + +"But he is not a good diplomat, Sir Henry Norland. By the way, what did +he offer you?" + +"The captaincy of a man-of-war." + +"Young as you were?" + +"Young as I am." + +"But that was in prospective. Hard gold coin is much more satisfactory, +Mr Hilary Leigh," said the officer, pouring out some bright golden +guineas upon the table. "Of course you thought that Charles Edward +might not come to the throne, and that you would never get your--get +your--" + +"Traitor's pay," said Hilary sharply, finishing the sentence. + +"Don't call things by hard names, young man," said the officer sternly. +"And let me tell you that I know for a certainty that your position in +Hanoverian George's service is a very precarious one. Strange things +have been told of you." + +"Very likely," said Hilary coldly. + +"I believe your officer has reported upon your conduct." + +"I can't help that," said Hilary coldly. "I have always served his +majesty faithfully and well." + +"Even to taking pay from the other side?" said the officer with a +mocking smile. + +"It is a lie," cried Hilary angrily; "I never tampered with my duty to +the king." + +"Till now," said the officer laughing. "There, there, there, my lad, +I'm not going to quarrel with you, and we will not use high-sounding +phrases about loyalty, and fealty, and duty, and the like. There, I am +glad to welcome you to our side. There are a hundred guineas in that +bag. Take them, but spend them sensibly, or you will be suspected. If +I were you I would save them, and those that are to come. Here is your +despatch, and you will see the address at Dunquerque. Be faithful and +vigilant and careful. There, take them and go your way. No one will be +a bit the wiser for what you have done, and when you return to port +bring your answer here, and give it to anyone you see. One word more: +do not trust your lieutenant. I don't think he means well by you." + +"I know that," said Hilary scornfully. + +"Never mind," said the officer; "some day, when we are in power, we will +find you a brave ship to command for your good services to Charles +Edward. But there, time presses; you must get back to your ship. +Here!" + +He held out the bag of gold coin and the despatch, and he smiled +meaningly as Hilary took them, one in each hand, and stood gazing full +in the officer's face. + +There was a dead silence in the room, and the dancing flames lit up +strangely the figures of the tall well-knit man and the slight boyish +figure, while, half in shadow, the sailors stood with all the intentness +of disciplined men, watching what was going on. + +"Look here, sir," said Hilary, speaking firmly, "if I did this thing, +even if you came into power--which you never will--you would not find me +a captain's commission, but would treat me as such a traitor deserved. +There are your dirty guineas," he cried, dashing the bag upon the table, +so that the coins flew jingling all over the room; "and there is your +traitorous despatch," he continued, tearing it in half, and flinging it +in the officer's face. "I am an officer of his majesty. God save the +king!" he shouted. "Now, shoot me if you dare." + +He gave one sharp glance round for a way of escape, but there was none. +A dozen men stood there like statues, evidently too well disciplined to +move till the appointed time. Doors and windows were well guarded, and +with such odds Hilary knew that it would be but a wretched struggle +without avail. Better, he thought, maintain his dignity. And he did, +as he saw the officer pick up the pistol from the table and point it at +his head. + +A momentary sensation of horror appalled Hilary, and he felt the blood +rush to his heart, but he did not flinch. + +"I am a king's officer," he thought, "and I have done my duty in the +king's name. Heaven give me strength, lad as I am, to die like a man!" + +He looked then straight at the pistol barrel without flinching for a few +moments. Then his eyes closed, and he who held the weapon saw the young +man's lips move softly, as if in prayer, and he dashed the pistol down. + +"There, my lads!" he cried aloud to the men, "if ever you see a +Frenchman stand fire like that you may tell me if you will. Hilary +Leigh," he cried, laying his hands smartly on the young man's shoulders, +"you make me proud to be an Englishman, and in a service that can show +such stuff as you. Here, give me your hand." + +"No," cried Hilary hoarsely. "Stand off, sir; cajolery will not do your +work any more than threats." + +"Hang the work, my lad," cried the other. "It was rather dirty work, +but we want to know our men in times like these. Give me your hand, my +boy, I am no traitor, I am Captain Charteris, of the _Ruby_, and I have +had to try your faith and loyalty to the king. Here, my men, you did +your work well. Pick up those guineas; there should be a hundred of +them. You may keep back five guineas to drink his majesty's health. +Bo'sun, you can bring the rest on to me." + +"Ay, ay, sir," said a thickset dark man, saluting, man-o'-war fashion. + +"Come, Mr Leigh, you and I will walk on, and you shall dine to-night +with the admiral. I told him I should bring you to dinner, but +Lieutenant Lipscombe has given you so bad a character that the admiral +declared you would take the bribe, and have to go to prison and wait +your court-martial. Here, you need not doubt me. Come along." + +Hilary felt giddy. The reaction was almost more than he could bear. He +felt hurt and insulted that such a trick should have been played upon +him, and he was ready to turn from the captain in an injured way. + +The latter saw it and smiled. + +"Yes," he said, taking the young man's arm, "it was a dirty trick, but +it was a necessity. We have several black sheep in the navy, my lad, +and we want to weed them out; but after all, I do not regret what I have +done, since it has taught me what stuff we have got in it as well. +Come, shake hands, my dear boy, you and I must be great friends from +now." + +Hilary held out his hand as he drew it from the other's arm, and they +stood there gripping each other for some seconds in a cordial grasp. + +"I don't think I could have stood fire like you did, Leigh," said the +captain, as they were entering Portsmouth, the latter proving to be a +man of a genial temperament that rapidly won upon his companion. + +"I hope you could, far better, sir," said Hilary frankly. + +"Why? How so, my lad?" + +"I felt horribly frightened, sir." + +"You felt afraid of death?" said the captain sharply. + +"Yes, sir, terribly. It seemed so hard to die when I was so young, but +I would not show it." + +"Why, my dear boy," said the captain enthusiastically, as he clapped +Hilary on the shoulder, "you are a braver fellow even than I thought. +It takes a very brave man to confess that he was afraid; but don't you +mind this. There was never a man yet in the full burst of health and +strength who did not feel afraid to die. But come, we won't talk any +more of that, for here is the admiral's dock." + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +AT THE ADMIRAL'S. + +It was with no little trepidation that Hilary entered the room where the +admiral was waiting Captain Charteris' return, and as soon as he saw +that he came with a young companion, the handsome grey-haired old +gentleman came forward and shook hands with Hilary warmly. + +"I'm glad to see you," he said. "If you have passed Captain Charteris's +test I know that we have another officer in the service of whom we may +well feel proud. At the same time, Mr Leigh, I think we ought to beg +your pardon." + +Hilary hardly knew whether he was upon his head or his heels that +evening, and it was like a revelation to find how genial and pleasant +the reputed stern and uncompromising port-admiral could be. There was +an excellent dinner, political matters were strictly tabooed, and the +two officers talked a good deal aside. No further allusion was made to +the _Kestrel_ till it was time to go on board, a fact of which Hilary +reminded the admiral. + +"To be sure, yes. Keep to your time, Mr Leigh. By the way, before you +go will you tell me in a frank gentlemanly spirit what you think of +Lieutenant Lipscombe." + +"No, sir, I can't," said Hilary bluntly. + +The admiral looked angry on receiving so flat a refusal, but he calmed +down directly. + +Then, recollecting himself, Hilary exclaimed, "I beg your pardon, sir; I +hope you will not ask me. I would rather not say." + +"Quite right, Mr Leigh; I ought not to have asked you, for you are not +the proper person to speak, but you will tell me this, I suppose," he +added with a smile. "You will not be sorry to hear that Lieutenant +Lipscombe will be appointed to another vessel." + +"I am both sorry and glad, sir," replied Hilary, "for he is a brave +officer, even if he is eccentric." + +"Eccentric!" said Captain Charteris. "I think he is half mad." + +"But you do not ask who will be your new commander!" + +"No, sir," said Hilary; "I shall try and do my best whoever he may be." + +"Good!" said the admiral; "but I'll tell you all the same--shall I?" he +said laughing. + +"Yes, sir, I should be glad to know," replied Hilary. + +The old admiral stood looking at him attentively for a few moments, and +then said quietly: + +"You." + +Hilary half staggered back in his surprise. + +"Me? me, sir? Do you mean that I shall be appointed to the command of +the _Kestrel_? I have not passed my examination for lieutenant yet." + +"No, but you will, Mr Leigh, and I have no doubt with credit. I have +been having a chat with my friend the captain here. It is a novelty, I +own, but the _Kestrel_ is a very small vessel, and for the present you +will have with you a brother officer of riper years, who, pending his +own appointment to a ship, will, as it were, share your command, and in +cases of emergency give you his advice. Of course all this is to be if +I obtain the sanction of the Admiralty, but I think I may tell you this +will come." + +Hilary was so overpowered by this announcement that he could only +stammer a few words, and Captain Charteris took his hand. + +"You see, Mr Leigh," he said, "we want a dashing, spirited young +officer of the greatest fidelity, a man who is brave without doubt; +ready-witted, and apt to deal with the smuggling and fishing craft +likely to be the bearers of emissaries from the enemy's camp. We want +such an officer at once for the _Kestrel_, and in the emergency, as we +find those qualities in you, the admiral decides to set the question of +years aside, while, as his spokesman and one to whom he often refers for +counsel--" + +"And takes it," said the admiral smiling. + +"I cannot help giving my vote in your favour. Mr Leigh," he said, +speaking very sternly now, "in the king's name I ask you from this time +forth to set aside boyish things and to be a man in every sense of the +word, for you are entering upon a great responsibility; and Lieutenant +Anderson, who comes with you, will never interfere, according to his +instructions, unless he sees that you are about to be guilty of a piece +of reckless folly, which in your case is, I am sure, as good as saying +that he will never interfere." + +"The fact is, Mr Leigh," said the admiral kindly, "Lieutenant Lipscombe +unwittingly advanced your cause, and it was solely on account of what +has occurred coming to my ears that you were to-night put to so severe a +proof. Now, good-night. You will receive your despatches to-morrow +morning, and lieutenant Anderson will come on board. Then make the best +of your way to Dunkerque, and I need hardly say that I shall be glad to +see you whenever you are in port on business or for pleasure." + +"And I as well, Leigh," said Captain Charteris. "Some day let's hope +that I shall be an admiral, and when I am I shall wish for no better +luck than to have Captain Leigh in command of my flagship. But that +will be some time ahead. Now, good-night." + +Hilary said good-night and made his way out into the fresh night-air, +wondering if it was all true, and whether he was not suffering from some +attack of nightmare; but the streets and the docks all looked very real, +and when he reached the cutter and was saluted by the watch he began to +think that there was no doubt about it, and he began, as he lay awake, +to consider whether he ought not at once to take possession of the +lieutenant's cabin. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY ONE. + +IN COMMAND. + +The memory of that dinner and the words that he had heard filled +Hilary's dreams that night. He was always waking up with a start, +nervous and excited, and then dropping off again to dream of being +lieutenant, captain, admiral, in rapid succession. Then his dreams +changed, and he was helping Sir Henry and saving Adela from some great +danger. Then he was in great trouble, for it seemed that he had been +guilty of some gross blunder over his despatches, and he seemed to hear +the voices of Captain Charteris and the admiral accusing him of neglect +and ingratitude after the promotion given him. + +It was therefore weary and unrefreshed that he arose the next morning, +glad to have a walk up and down the deck, which had just been washed; +and as he soon began to revive in the cold fresh air, he felt a +sensation of just pride in the smart little cutter now just freed from +the workpeople and shining in her paint and polish. New sails had been +bent and a great deal of rigging had been newly run up. The crew, glad +to have the cutter clean once more, had made all shipshape. Ropes were +coiled down, Billy Waters' guns shone in the morning sun, and all that +was wanted now was the order to start. + +Hilary went below and had his breakfast, which he had hardly finished +when the corporal of marines came down with a despatch. + +"Boat from the shore, sir," he said, saluting. + +Hilary took the packet, which was addressed to him, and as he opened it +the colour flushed into his face and then he became very pale. + +The despatch was very short. It ordered him to take the cutter outside +instantly and wait for the important despatches he was to take across to +Dunkerque. Above all, he was to sail the moment Lieutenant Anderson +came on board with the papers and stop for nothing, for the papers were +most urgent. + +But with the letter was something else which made his heart throb with +joy--what was really his commission as lieutenant, and the despatch was +addressed to him as Lieutenant Leigh. + +As soon as he could recover himself he rose from the table cool and +firm. + +"Is the boat waiting, corporal?" + +"No, sir. It went back directly." + +Hilary could not help it; he put on his hat with just the slightest cock +in the world, went on deck, and gave his orders in the shortest and +sharpest way. + +The men stared at him, but they executed his orders, and in a very short +time the cutter was out of the basin, a sail or two was hoisted, and, as +if rejoicing in her liberty, the _Kestrel_ ran lightly out to a buoy, to +which, after what almost seemed like resistance, she was made fast, the +sails being lowered, and the cutter rose and fell upon the waves, +fretting and impatient to be off. + +The mainsail was cast loose, jib and staysail ready, and the gaff +topsail would not take many minutes to run up in its place. Then, as if +fearing that the blocks might run stiff and that there would be some +delay at starting, Hilary gave his orders and the mainsail was run up, a +turn or two of the wheel laid the cutter's head to the wind, and there +she lay with the canvas flapping and straining and seeming to quiver in +her excitement to be off once more. + +"Poor old gal! she feels just as if she was just let out of prison," +said the boatswain affectionately. "How well she looks!" + +"Ay, she do," said Billy Waters. "Well, Tom Tully, my lad, how d'yer +feel?" + +"Ready for suthin' to do, matey," said the big sailor. "But when's old +Lipscombe coming aboard?" + +"I d'no," said the gunner. "Wish he wasn't coming at all. Wonder where +we're for. I've a good mind to ask Master Leigh. He'll tell me if he +can." + +"Ay, lad, do," said the boatswain. + +Just then Hilary came out of the cabin with a red spot in each cheek, +and began walking up and down the deck and watching for the coming boat. + +"Is all ready and shipshape, boatswain?" he said. + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +"Your guns well lashed, Waters?" + +"Ay, ay, sir, and longing to have a bark. Beg pardon, sir, shall I get +the fishing-lines out?" + +"No!" said Hilary shortly. + +"All right, sir. But beg pardon, sir." + +"What is it, Waters?" + +"Is the lieutenant soon coming aboard? His traps ar'n't come yet." + +"No," said Hilary firmly. "He's no longer in command." + +"Then I says three cheers, my lads," cried Billy Waters excitedly. +"Leastwise, if I may." + +"No. Stop. No demonstrations now, my lads. We are just off on +important business, and I must ask you to be ready and smart as you have +never been before." + +"Which, if it's Muster Leigh as asks us, sir," said Billy Waters, "I +think I may say for the whole crew, from my mates here to the sojers, as +there ar'n't one who won't do his best." + +"It is not Master Leigh who asks you," said Hilary flushing, as the +whole of his little crew now stood grouped about the forward part of the +deck. "This is no time for speeches, my lads, but I must tell you this, +that I ask you as your commander, the newly-appointed officer of the +_Kestrel_, Lieutenant Leigh." + +Billy Waters bent down and gave his leg a tremendous slap; then, turning +short round, he slapped the same hand into that of the boatswain, and +the whole crew began shaking hands one with the other; the next moment +every cap was flying in the air, and then came three hearty cheers. + +"Which, speaking for the whole crew, as I think I may," said Billy +Waters, glancing round to receive encouragement in a murmur of +acquiescence, "I says, sir, with my and our respex, success to the +_Kestrel_ and her new commander, and--" + +"Hooroar!" cried Tom Tully. + +"Boat from the shore, sir," cried the man at the side. + +Hilary stepped quickly to the bulwark, to see that a boat well manned by +a party of sailors was rapidly approaching, and, what took the young +commander's attention, a naval officer seated in the stern sheets. + +"So that's my companion, is it?" said Hilary to himself, and he watched +the officer very keenly as the boat came rapidly alongside, the officer +sprang on board, waved his hand, and the boat pushed off at once. + +"Your despatches, Lieutenant Leigh," he said, quietly, as he saluted the +young officer, who saluted in return. "You have your orders, sir. You +stop for nothing." + +"For nothing," said Hilary, taking the packet from the newcomer's hands. +"I presume sir, you are--" + +"Lieutenant Anderson, at your service," said the other rather stiffly. + +Then Hilary's voice rang out sharp and clear in the keen morning air. +Up flew the staysail, and away and up ran the jib, bellying out as the +rope that held the head of the cutter to the great ring of the buoy was +slipped; the _Kestrel_ gave a leap, the great mainsail boom swung over +to port, the cutter careened over, the water lapped her sides, and began +as it were to run astern in foam, and away went the swift little craft, +as if rejoicing in her freedom, and making straight for the eastern end +of the Isle of Wight. + +The newcomer walked up and down, watching the proceedings for a time, +glancing occasionally at the receding shore, and Hilary rapidly gave +order after order, feeling a strange joy and excitement as for the next +quarter of an hour he was busy, and kept pretty close to the sailor at +the wheel. + +All at once there was a puff of smoke from one of the forts, and the +deep roar of a gun. + +"Hullo!" cried Hilary. "What does that mean?" + +"Practice, I should say," replied the newcomer. "Nothing that concerns +us. You have your orders, sir." + +"Yes," said Hilary, "and I'll obey them;" and away sped the _Kestrel_, +her young commander little thinking that he had been made the victim of +a clever plot, and that he was bearing despatches to the enemy such as +might set England in a blaze. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY TWO. + +A TROUBLESOME MENTOR. + +"Those sound to me like signals of recall," said Hilary to his +companion, as gun after gun was fired, the last sending a shot skipping +before the bows of the _Kestrel_. + +"Yes, they must be; but not for us," said Lieutenant Anderson coolly. + +"Why, there's a signal flying too," said Hilary, as he took his glass. + +"Yes, that's a signal of recall too," said the other coolly. "I wonder +what ship they are speaking to? The _Kestrel_ sails well." + +"Gloriously," said Hilary, flushing with pleasure; "and I know how to +sail her, too. Well, Mr Anderson, now we're getting towards clear +water, and there's time to speak, let's shake hands. I'm very glad to +see you, and I hope we shall be the best of friends." + +"I'm sure we shall," said the newcomer, shaking hands warmly. "Ah! that +shot fell behind us. We're getting beyond them now." + +"Oh, yes; there's no fear of their hitting us," said Hilary laughing, as +the _Kestrel_ careened over more and more as she caught the full force +of the wind. "If we go on at this rate it will almost puzzle a +cannonball to catch us. I know there is no vessel in Portsmouth harbour +that could with this wind." + +"Do you think not?" said the lieutenant. + +"I'm sure not," said Hilary gaily; and they walked the deck chatting as, +by degrees, they passed the Isle of Wight, making the open channel more +and more, while Lieutenant Anderson--the real--was closeted with Admiral +and Captain Charteris, all puzzled at the sudden flight of the +_Kestrel_, which had set sail without her despatches, and also without +what the old admiral called ballast for the young commander, namely, +Lieutenant Anderson, who had gone off with his despatches directly after +his counterfeit, only to find the cutter gone. + +Signal guns and flags proving vain, there was nothing for it but to send +another vessel in chase of the _Kestrel_, but it was hours before one +could be got off, and meanwhile the swift despatch boat was tearing on +towards her destination, with poor Hilary happy in the blind belief that +he was doing his best. + +There was something very delightful in feeling that he was chief officer +of the _Kestrel_, that the duty of the swift little cutter was to be +carried out without the wretched cavilling and fault-finding of the late +commander. Everything seemed to work so smoothly now; the men were all +alacrity, and they saluted him constantly with a bright smile, which +showed that they shared his pleasure. + +The breeze was brisk, the sun came out, and Lieutenant Anderson, the +self-styled, proved to be a very pleasant, well informed man, who very +soon showed Hilary that he had not the slightest intention of +interfering in any way with his management of the cutter. + +"No," said Hilary to himself, "I suppose not. As they told me, he is +only to interfere in cases of emergency, or when I am doing any foolish +thing; and that I don't mean to do if I can help it." + +Towards afternoon the wind fell light, and the great squaresail was +spread, but it made little appreciable difference, and as evening came +on, to Hilary's great disgust the wind dropped almost completely. + +"Did you ever know anything so unfortunate!" cried Hilary; "just when I +wanted to show the admiral what speed there was in the little _Kestrel_ +as a despatch boat." + +"Unfortunate!" cried his companion, who had been struggling to maintain +his composure, but who now broke out; "it is atrocious, sir. Those +despatches are of the greatest importance, and here your cursed vessel +lies upon the water like a log!" Hilary stared. + +"It is very unfortunate," he said; "but let's hope the wind will spring +up soon after sundown." + +"Hope, sir!" cried the other. "Don't talk of hope. Do something." + +Hilary flushed a little at the other's imperious way. He was not going +to prove so pleasant a companion as he had hoped for, and there was that +worst of all qualities for a man in command--unreason. + +"I am to take your advice, sir, in emergencies," said Hilary, +restraining his annoyance; "what would you suggest for me to do?" + +"I suggest, Lieutenant Leigh!" exclaimed the other, stamping up and down +the little deck. "I am not in command of the cutter. It is your duty +to suggest and to act." + +"Yes, sir, and I will," replied Hilary. + +"It is a question of vital importance--the delivery of these +despatches--and every moment lost means more than you can imagine. +Come, sir, your position is at stake. You command this cutter: do +something to get her on." + +Hilary looked up at the flapping sails, which hung motionless; then out +to windward in search of cats'-paws upon the water; then at his men, who +were lounging about the lee side of the cutter; and then back at his +companion. + +"Really, sir," he said at last, "I am quite helpless. You are more +experienced than I. What would you advise me to do?" + +"And you are placed in command of this cutter!" said the other +ironically. "Why, a child would know better. Have out the boats, sir, +and let the men tow the cutter." + +"Tow, sir!" cried Hilary; "why, it would be exhausting the men for +nothing. We could not make head against the current we have here." + +"It will save something, sir," said the other; "and I order you to do it +at once." Hilary felt the hot blood flush into his face, and the order +was so unreasonable and absurd that he felt ready to refuse, especially +as he knew his own power, and that there was not a man on board who +would not be at his back. But he recalled his duty, and feeling that +this was a case of emergency, where he ought to obey, he ordered out the +two boats; lines were made fast, and soon after the men were bending +well to their work, while the stout ash blades bent as they dipped in +rhythmical motion, and sent the clear water plashing and sparkling back +into their wake. + +The men worked willingly enough, but Hilary saw to his annoyance that +they glanced at and whispered to one another, and it seemed very hard +that he should be forced to inaugurate his first day in command by +setting his men to an unreasonable task, for it was mere waste of +energy. + +But even now it was done the officer seemed no better satisfied, but +tramped up and down the little deck, uttering the most angry expressions +of impatience, and at last abusing the cutter unmercifully. + +"Well," thought Hilary, "he has dropped the mask, and no mistake. It is +not going to be such smooth sailing as I expected. Never mind; one must +have some bitters with the sweet, and after all he is only angry from a +sense of being unable to do his duty, while I was taking it as cool as +could be." + +For quite five hours the boats were kept out, the men being relieved at +intervals; and at the end of those five hours the cutter had not +advanced a mile, when Hilary seized the speaking-trumpet, and hailed +them to come on board. + +"Stop!" cried the officer. "Why have you done that, sir, without my +permission?" + +This was too much for Hilary, and he spoke out: "Because, sir, I am in +command here, and there is no occasion for the men to row any longer." + +"I insist, sir, upon their keeping on with the towing." + +"And I insist, sir," replied Hilary, "on the men returning on board." + +"I shall report your conduct," cried his officer. + +"Do so, sir," replied Hilary, "if you think it your duty. In with you, +my lads. Let go the halyards there, and down with that squaresail. +Quick with those boats. There will be a squall upon us directly." + +He had proved himself on the alert, guided as he had been by the signs +of the weather, and the great squaresail had hardly been lowered, the +boats made snug, and a reef or two taken in the mainsail, before the +wind came with a sharp gust, and the next minute the _Kestrel_ was +sending the water surging behind her in a long track of foam. + +"Ah! that's better," cried the officer, whose ill-humour seemed to +vanish on the instant. "How painful it is, Mr Leigh, to be lying like +a log, and all the time with important despatches to deliver!" + +"It is, sir," said Hilary quietly. + +"I declare there were times when I felt disposed to jump overboard and +to swim on with the despatches." + +"Rather a long swim," said Hilary drily; and he thought it rather odd +that the other should think of swimming on with the papers that he had +locked up in the cabin despatch-box, and that again in a locker for +safety. + +"Well, yes," said the other, "it would have been a long swim. But tell +me, Mr Leigh, about what time do you think we shall make Dunkerque?" + +"If this wind holds good, sir, by eight o'clock to-morrow morning." + +"Not till eight o'clock to-morrow morning!" cried the other furiously. +"Good heavens! how we crawl! There, have the reefs shaken out of that +mainsail, and send the cutter along." + +Hilary looked aloft, and then at the way in which the cutter lay over, +dipping her bowsprit from time to time in the waves. + +"I think she has as much canvas upon her as she can bear, sir." + +"Absurd! nonsense! You can get two or three knots more an hour out of a +cutter like this." + +"I could get another knot an hour out of her, sir, by running the risk +of losing one of her spars; and that means risking the delivery of the +despatches." + +"Look here, Mr Leigh," said the officer; "you seem to be doing all you +can to delay the delivery of these despatches. I order you, sir, to +shake out the reefs of that mainsail." + +Hilary took up the speaking-trumpet to give the order, but as he held it +to his lips he felt that he would be doing wrong. He knew the cutter's +powers intimately. He saw, too, that she was sailing her best, and he +asked himself whether he would not be doing wrong by obeying what was, +he felt, an insensate command. Surely there must be some limit to his +obedience, he thought; and more than ever he felt what a peculiar +position was that in which he had been placed, and he wondered whether +Captain Charteris could be aware of the peculiar temperament of his +companion. + +Hilary lowered the speaking-trumpet, as the cutter rushed on through the +darkness. + +"Well, sir," said his companion, "you heard my orders?" + +"I did, sir," replied Hilary. "Here, bosun." + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +"How much more canvas will the cutter bear?" + +"Bear, sir?" said the experienced old salt; "begging your pardon, sir, I +was going to ask you if you didn't think it time to take a little off if +you don't want the mast to go." + +"Silence, sir!" said the officer. "Mr Leigh, these despatches must be +delivered at all hazards. I order you again, sir, to risk more canvas." + +Hilary stood for a moment undecided, and his thoughts flashed rapidly +through his brain. + +This man was unreasonable. He did not understand the _Kestrel's_ +powers, for she was already dashing at headlong speed through the sea, +and he wanted him to run an unwarrantable risk. At all hazards he would +refuse. He knew his duty, he felt that he was a better seaman than his +mentor, and he turned to him quietly: + +"My orders were, sir, to refer to you for advice in times of emergency; +but I was not told to run risks that my commonsense forbids. The cutter +will bear no more canvas, sir, for the wind is increasing. In half an +hour we shall have to take in another reef." + +"If you dare!" said the officer, laying his hand upon his sword. + +"I dare do my duty, sir," replied Hilary, ignoring the gesture; and the +cutter dashed on through the darkness of the night. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY THREE. + +DELIVERING DESPATCHES. + +The men had been witnesses of all that took place, and had heard the +officer's angry words, respecting which they talked in a low tone, Billy +Waters more than once saying that he didn't like the lookout forrard-- +the "forrard" being the future, and not the sea beyond the cutter's +bows. + +As the night wore on the officer had become very friendly. "I was +wrong, Mr Leigh. Put it down, please, to my anxiety. I beg your +pardon." + +"Granted," said Hilary frankly. "I would not oppose you, sir, if I did +not feel that I was right." + +"I am glad I am in the company of so clever a young officer," the other +replied. "Now about rest. I am too anxious to lie down to sleep. I +will take charge of the deck while you go and get a few hours' rest." + +"Thank you, no," said Hilary quietly; "I, too, am anxious, and I shall +not be able to sleep till we are in port and the despatches are +delivered." + +"But there is no need for both of us to watch, my dear sir," said the +other blandly. + +"Then pray go below, sir," said Hilary. "You may depend on me." + +The officer did not reply, but took a turn or two up and down, and as +the time glided on he tried again and again to persuade Hilary to go +below, which, in his capacity of chief officer, holding his first +command on a dark night and upon an important mission, he absolutely +refused to do. + +Towards morning on two occasions the officer brought him glasses of +spirits and water, which Hilary refused to take; and at last, fearing to +make him suspicious, the officer desisted and stood leaning with his +back against the side, wrapped in a cloak, for it was very cold. + +The light in front of the wheel shone faintly upon him as Hilary walked +slowly fore and aft, visiting the lookout man at the bows and the man at +the wheel; and at last, in the gloomy darkness of the winter's morning, +Hilary saw the Dunkerque lights. + +"We're in sight of port, Mr Anderson," he said as he walked aft. + +"Indeed!" said the other starting, and the wind gave his cloak a puff, +showing for a moment what Hilary saw was the butt of a pistol. + +"What does he want with pistols?" said Hilary to himself; and after a +short conversation he again went forward, feeling curiously suspicious, +though there seemed to be no pegs upon which his suspicions could hang. + +But he was not long kept in suspense and doubt. When they were about a +couple of miles from the entrance to the port a boat manned by eight +rowers came towards them, and Hilary noticed it directly. + +"What does that boat mean?" he said sharply. + +"Don't know. Can't say," the officer replied. "Perhaps a man-o'-war's +boat coming to meet us for the despatches." + +Hilary was not satisfied, but he said nothing. He merely resumed his +walk to and fro. + +"Now then, bosun," he said, "have your men up ready. It will be down +sails directly." + +"Not yet awhile, Mr Leigh," said the officer. "The _Kestrel_ does not +fly--she crawls." + +"Waters," said Hilary as he passed out of his companion's sight, "make +no sign, but lay a bar or two and some pikes about handy for use if +wanted, and give the men a hint to be ready if there's anything wrong. +Quietly, mind." + +Billy Waters nodded, and as Hilary walked back to where the officer was +standing he became aware that the gunner had taken his hint, but it was +all done so quietly that it did not catch the officer's attention. + +"That boat means to board us," said Hilary, as their proximity to the +land sheltered them from the wind and their progress became slow. + +"Offer to pilot us, perhaps," said the officer. "No; it is as I said." + +"Ahoy, there! Heave-to!" shouted the officer in command of the boat. + +"What boat's that?" cried Hilary. + +"The _Royal Mary's_. Have you despatches on board?" + +"My orders were to deliver my despatches myself at a certain address," +thought Hilary; "this may be a trick." + +"On special business," cried Hilary back. + +"Nonsense, Mr Leigh!" cried the assumed Lieutenant Anderson. +"Heave-to, sir. I order you! Hi, my lads there, down with the sails." + +"No sails don't go down for no orders like that," growled the boatswain; +but by skilful management the boat was already alongside and the bowman +had caught the bulwark with his hook. + +"Keep back!" cried Hilary sharply. + +"Are you mad?" cried the man by his side, now throwing off his cloak, +and with it his disguise, for he caught Hilary by the collar and +presented a pistol at his head. "Quick, there, up with you!" + +Hilary struck up the pistol, but the next instant he received a heavy +blow on the forehead and staggered back as, to his horror, the crew of +the boat, well-armed and headed by Sir Henry Norland, leaped aboard and +drove back the two or three of the crew who were near. + +"At last!" cried Sir Henry to the false lieutenant. "I thought you +would never come, Hartland. Have you the papers?" + +"Yes, all right," said the gentleman addressed, "and all's right. +Here." + +He had thrust his hand into his breast when there was a shout and a +cheer as the stout crew of the _Kestrel_, headed by the gunner and armed +with pikes and capstan-bars, charged down upon them. + +There was a shot or two. Hilary was knocked down by his own men as he +had struggled up; the false lieutenant was driven headlong down the +companion hatch, and in less than a minute Sir Henry Norland and his men +were, with two exceptions, who lay stunned upon the deck, driven over +the side, to get to their boat as best they could. Then as Hilary once +more gained his feet the assailing boat was a quarter of a mile astern. + +"The treacherous scoundrel!" cried Hilary. "Oh, my lads, my lads, +you've saved the cutter. But tell me, did that fellow get away?" + +"What! him as I hit down the hatchway for hysting your honour?" said Tom +Tully. "He's down below." + +Hilary and a couple of men ran to the hatchway, to find the false +lieutenant lying below by the cabin door, with one arm broken, and his +head so injured that he lay insensible, with the end of a packet of +papers standing out of his breast. + +Hilary seized them at once, and then, as a light broke in upon his +breast, he ran to the locker, opened it and the despatch-box, and longed +to open the papers he held. + +But they were close in to the port, and, resolving to deliver the +despatches, he left the false lieutenant well guarded, leaped into one +of the boats, and was rowed ashore to the consul, to whom he told his +tale. + +"It has been a trick," said that gentleman; "there is no such street in +the town as that on the despatch, and no such officer known." + +"What should you do?" cried Hilary. Then, without waiting to be +answered, he cried, "I know," and, hurrying back to his boat, he was +soon on board, and with the sails once more spread he was on his way +back to Portsmouth with the despatches, and three prisoners in the hold. + +Before he had gone many miles he became aware of a swift schooner +sailing across his track; and though, of course, he could not recognise +her, he had a strong suspicion that it was the one that had nearly run +them down. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. + +A GOOD FIGHT FOR IT. + +Before long he found that it evidently meant to intercept him, and he +had the deck cleared for action and the men at quarters. + +"They want the despatches they tricked me into carrying," cried Hilary; +"but they go overboard if I am beaten." + +To secure this he placed them in the despatch-box, in company with a +couple of heavy shot, and placed all ready to heave overboard should +matters go wrong. + +He knew what was his duty in such a case, though; and that was to run +for Portsmouth with the papers, fighting only on the defensive; and +this, to the great disappointment of his men, he kept to. + +The schooner commenced the aggressive by sending a shot in front of the +cutter's bows, as an order to heave-to, but the cutter kept on, and the +next shot went through her mainsail. + +"Now, Billy Waters," said Hilary, "train the long gun aft, and fire as +fast as you can; send every shot, mind, at her masts and yards; she is +twice as big as we are, and full of men." + +"But we'd lick 'em, sir," said the gunner. "Let's get alongside and +board her." + +"No," said Hilary sternly; "we must make Portsmouth before night." + +Then the long gun began to speak, and Hilary kept up a steady running +fight, hour after hour, but in spite of his efforts to escape, the +schooner hung closely at his heels, gradually creeping up, and doing so +much mischief that at last the young commander began to feel that before +long it would be a case of repelling boarders, and he placed the +despatch-box ready to throw over the side. + +Closer and closer came on the schooner, and man after man went down; but +still Billy Waters, aided by the boatswain, kept firing with more or +less success from the long gun, till at last the time came when the +schooner's crew were firing with small arms as well, and Hilary knew +that in another minute they would be grappled and the enemy on board. + +He paused with the despatch-box in his hand, ready to sink it, while +Billy Waters was taking careful aim with the long gun. Then there was +the puff of smoke, the bellowing roar, and apparently no result, when +all at once there was a loud crack, a splash, and the cutter's crew +cheered like mad, for the schooner's mainmast went over the side with +its press of sail, and the foremast, that had been wounded before, +followed, leaving the swift vessel a helpless wreck upon the water. + +She would have been easy of capture now, but under the circumstances +Hilary's duty was to risk no severe fight in boarding her, but to +continue his course, and this he did, passing a gunboat going in search +of him, the despatches he had left behind having gone by another boat. + +Answering the hail, Hilary communicated with the commander, who in +another hour had captured the schooner, and the next morning she was +brought into Portsmouth harbour with her crew. + +Meantime Hilary had reached Portsmouth and been rowed ashore, where he +went straight to the admiral's house. Captain Charteris was with the +admiral, and both looked very stern as he told his tale. + +"A bad beginning, Lieutenant Leigh," said the admiral, "but it was a +clever ruse on the enemy's part. But you are wounded. Sit down." + +"Only a scratch or two, sir," said Hilary piteously, for he felt very +weak and quite overcome as he handed his papers. + +Just then he became aware of the presence of a plainly-dressed +gentleman, to whom the admiral, with great deference, handed the +captured despatches. He opened them--Hilary's first. + +"Yes," he said, "a clear case; all blank. Now for the others." + +As he opened the packet he uttered a cry of joy. + +"This is news indeed. My young officer, you have done more than you +think for in capturing these. Captain Charteris, instantly--marines and +sailors, you can take them all." + +"Yes, young man," continued the stranger, "this is a proud day for you. +It is a death-blow to the Pretender's cause. You have done great +things." + +"In the King's name--hurrah!" cried Hilary feebly, as he waved his hat; +then he reeled and fell heavily upon the floor. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. + +MEETING OLD FRIENDS. + +Hilary Leigh's scratches were two severe wounds which kept him in bed +for a couple of months, during which he learned that the despatches he +had brought back after turning the tables on the Pretender's followers +had, as the high official had said, given such information that by their +means a death-blow was given to the plots to place Charles Edward upon +the English throne; and when he was once more about, it was to join his +little vessel, with his lieutenant's grade endorsed, and in a span new +uniform, of which he was deservedly proud. + +The cutter had been pretty well knocked about in the fight, but she was +once more in good trim, and her crew, who had received a capital share +of prize-money for their part in the capture of the schooner, received +him with three cheers. + +For years after, the _Kestrel_ swept the Channel pretty clear of +smugglers and enemies, and continued so to do long after Hilary had +joined Captain Charteris's ship, taking with him the principal members +of his crew, Billy Waters rapidly becoming gunner of the great +man-of-war, and Tom Tully remaining Tom Tully still, able seaman and +owner of the biggest pigtail amongst five hundred men. + +Five years had elapsed before Hilary again saw Sir Henry Norland, and +this was one day in a French port, when the greeting was most cordial. + +"No, Hilary, my boy," he said, as he led the lieutenant to a handsome +house just outside the town. "I shall not come back to England to live. +Our cause failed, and I have given up politics now. The English +government have left me alone, or forgotten me, and I won't come back +and tell them who I am." + +"And you don't feel any enmity against me, Sir Henry, for behaving to +you as I did?" + +"Enmity, my dear boy!" cried Sir Henry, laying his hands affectionately +upon the young man's shoulders; "I was sorry that we were on opposite +sides, but I was more proud of you than I can tell. Many's the time I +said to myself, I would that you had been my son." + +Just then Hilary started, for a graceful woman entered the room, to gaze +at him wonderingly for a moment, and then, with a mutual cry of +pleasure, they ran forward to catch each other's hands. + +Sir Henry uttered a sigh of satisfaction, one that was not heard by the +young people, who were too much wrapped up in each other's words, for +this was a meeting neither had anticipated, and they had much to say. + +Who is it that needs to be told that Hilary saw Adela Norland as often +as he could, and that being high in favour with the government, and soon +after made captain of a dashing ship, he should ask for, and obtain +permission, for Sir Henry Norland to return? + +This permit giving him free pardon for the past Hilary himself took to +the French port, where he behaved very badly, for he told Adela Norland +that he would not give it up unless she made him a certain promise, and +this, with many blushes, she did, just as Sir Henry came into the room. + +"Ah!" he said laughing, "I expected all this. Well, Hilary, I have no +son, and you want to take away my daughter." + +"No, sir," said Hilary; "I only want to find you a son, and to take you, +free from all political care, once more home." + +And this he did, making his name a brighter one still in the annals of +his country, for many were the gallant acts done by the brave sailor +Captain Hilary Leigh, for his country's good, and in the King's name. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's In the King's Name, by George Manville Fenn + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE KING'S NAME *** + +***** This file should be named 23386.txt or 23386.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/3/8/23386/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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