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- float: left; - margin-right: 1em } - -.align-right { clear: right; - float: right; - margin-left: 1em } - -.align-center { margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto } - -div.shrinkwrap { display: table; } - -/* SECTIONS */ - -body { margin: 5% 10% 5% 10% } - -/* compact list items containing just one p */ -li p.pfirst { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0 } - -.first { margin-top: 0 !important; - text-indent: 0 !important } -.last { margin-bottom: 0 !important } - -span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 1 } -img.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; max-width: 25% } -span.dropspan { font-variant: small-caps } - -.no-page-break { page-break-before: avoid !important } - -/* PAGINATION */ - -.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.lineno { position: absolute; left: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.lineno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.toc-pageref { float: right } - -@media screen { - .coverpage, .frontispiece, .titlepage, .verso, .dedication, .plainpage - { margin: 10% 0; } - - div.clearpage, div.cleardoublepage - { margin: 10% 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; } - - .vfill { margin: 5% 10% } -} - -@media print { - div.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10% } - div.cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 10% } - - .vfill { margin-top: 20% } - h2.title { margin-top: 20% } -} - -/* DIV */ -pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } - -</style> -<title>JACK HARDY</title> -<meta name="PG.Rights" content="Public Domain" /> -<meta name="PG.Title" content="Jack Hardy" /> -<meta name="PG.Producer" content="Al Haines" /> -<link rel="coverpage" href="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<meta name="DC.Creator" content="Herbert Strang" /> -<meta name="DC.Created" content="1907" /> -<meta name="MARCREL.ill" content="William Rainey" /> -<meta name="PG.Id" content="43334" /> -<meta name="PG.Released" content="2013-07-27" /> -<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> -<meta name="DC.Title" content="Jack Hardy" /> - -<link href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" rel="schema.DCTERMS" /> -<link href="http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators" rel="schema.MARCREL" /> -<meta content="Jack Hardy" name="DCTERMS.title" /> -<meta content="jack.rst" name="DCTERMS.source" /> -<meta content="en" scheme="DCTERMS.RFC4646" name="DCTERMS.language" /> -<meta content="2013-07-28T06:16:19.847400+00:00" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.modified" /> -<meta content="Project Gutenberg" name="DCTERMS.publisher" /> -<meta content="Public Domain in the USA." name="DCTERMS.rights" /> -<link href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43334" rel="DCTERMS.isFormatOf" /> -<meta content="Herbert Strang" name="DCTERMS.creator" /> -<meta content="William Rainey" name="MARCREL.ill" /> -<meta content="2013-07-27" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.created" /> -<meta content="width=device-width" name="viewport" /> -<meta content="EpubMaker 0.3.20a7 by Marcello Perathoner <webmaster@gutenberg.org>" name="generator" /> -</head> -<body> -<div class="document" id="jack-hardy"> -<h1 class="center document-title level-1 pfirst title"><span class="x-large">JACK HARDY</span></h1> - -<!-- this is the default PG-RST stylesheet --> -<!-- figure and image styles for non-image formats --> -<!-- default transition --> -<!-- default attribution --> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="clearpage"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="align-None container language-en pgheader" id="pg-header" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>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 </span><a class="reference internal" href="#project-gutenberg-license">Project Gutenberg License</a><span> -included with this eBook or online at -</span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a><span>.</span></p> -<p class="noindent pnext"></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<div class="align-None container" id="pg-machine-header"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>Title: Jack Hardy -<br /> -<br />Author: Herbert Strang -<br /> -<br />Release Date: July 27, 2013 [EBook #43334] -<br /> -<br />Language: English -<br /> -<br />Character set encoding: UTF-8</span></p> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-start-line"><span>*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>JACK HARDY</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-produced-by"><span>Produced by Al Haines.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span></span></p> -</div> -<div class="align-None container coverpage"> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 76%" id="figure-46"> -<img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Cover" src="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">Cover</span></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container frontispiece"> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 78%" id="figure-47"> -<span id="surrender-in-the-king-s-name-shouted-jack"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=""Surrender, in the king's name!" shouted Jack. *Page* 121" src="images/img-front.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">"Surrender, in the king's name!" shouted Jack. </span><em class="italics">Page</em><span class="italics"> </span><a class="italics reference internal" href="#id1">121</a></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container titlepage"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="x-large">JACK HARDY</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><em class="italics medium">A Story of English Smugglers in the Days of Napoleon</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><em class="italics medium">By</em></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="large">HERBERT STRANG</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><em class="italics small">Author of</em><span class="small"> -<br />Fighting on the Congo -<br />In Clive's Command -<br />On the Trail of the Arabs, etc.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY -<br />WILLIAM RAINEY, R. I.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">INDIANAPOLIS -<br />THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY -<br />PUBLISHERS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container verso"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="small">COPYRIGHT 1906, 1907 -<br />THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="small">PRESS OF -<br />BRAUNWORTH & CO. -<br />BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS -<br />BROOKLYN, N. Y.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">CONTENTS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span></p> -<p class="noindent pnext"><span class="medium">I </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#the-road-to-luscombe">The Road to Luscombe</a><span class="medium"> -<br />II </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#monsieur-de-fronsac">Monsieur De Fronsac</a><span class="medium"> -<br />III </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#a-fight-in-luscombe-market">A Fight in Luscombe Market</a><span class="medium"> -<br />IV </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#congleton-s-hollow">Congleton's Hollow</a><span class="medium"> -<br />V </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#a-midnight-excursion">A Midnight Excursion</a><span class="medium"> -<br />VI </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#signals">Signals</a><span class="medium"> -<br />VII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#the-best-laid-schemes">The Best-Laid Schemes</a><span class="medium"> -<br />VIII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#congleton-s-folly">Congleton's Folly</a><span class="medium"> -<br />IX </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#close-quarters">Close Quarters</a><span class="medium"> -<br />X </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#a-prisoner-of-france">A Prisoner of France</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XI </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#a-break-for-freedom">A Break for Freedom</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#the-capture-of-the-glorieuse">The Capture of the *Glorieuse*</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XIII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#off-luscombe">Off Luscombe</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XIV </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#a-discovery">A Discovery</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XV </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#tar-and-feathers">Tar and Feathers</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XVI </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#a-run-at-sandy-cove">A Run at Sandy Cove</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XVII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#diamond-cut-diamond">Diamond Cut Diamond</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XVIII </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#the-battle-of-binsey-cove">The Battle of Binsey Cove</a><span class="medium"> -<br />XIX </span><a class="medium reference internal" href="#some-appointments">Some Appointments</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#surrender-in-the-king-s-name-shouted-jack">"Surrender, in the king's name!" shouted Jack</a><span> . . . Frontispiece</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#steady-mr-gudgeon-steady-cried-jack">"Steady, Mr. Gudgeon, steady!" cried Jack</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#jack-with-a-straight-right-hander-sent-him-spinning-over">Jack, with a straight right-hander, sent him spinning over</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#if-you-make-a-movement-i-shall-fire">"If you make a movement, I shall fire"</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-road-to-luscombe"><span class="bold x-large">JACK HARDY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER I</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE ROAD TO LUSCOMBE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The first time Jack Hardy met Mr. Nathaniel -Gudgeon was also the occasion of his first visit -to Luscombe.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It happened in this way.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-by, my boy," said his father, as Jack -clambered on to the roof of the coach at the -</span><em class="italics">White Hart</em><span>, Southwark, "and be sure you don't -forget your Cousin Bastable, or your mother -will never forgive you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, father. I'll take a look at him if I -get a chance. I say, coachman, you'll let me have -a drive?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The coachman could not turn his head, because -the collar of his coat was stiff and his neck -brawny; but he screwed his left eye into the -corner, winked, and gave a hoarse chuckle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've seed Jack Tars on donkeys, and orficers -on hosses," said he. "Lor' bless you, I knows 'em."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Which was the beginning of an argument that -lasted all the way to Guildford.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was on his way to Wynport to join H.M.S. </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>. -Ten miles beyond Wynport lay the -little village of Luscombe, and two miles beyond -Luscombe was Bastable Grange, where his -mother's cousin, Humfrey Bastable, lived. Jack -had never seen Mr. Bastable; a hundred years -ago relatives separated by a hundred miles of -turnpike road saw very little of one another. -But Mrs. Hardy had been very fond of her -Cousin Humfrey when they were boy and girl -together, and now that her son was going within -easy walking distance of Bastable Grange, she -insisted that Jack should go over and pay his -respects.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack had just been transferred to the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> -from the frigate </span><em class="italics">Ariadne</em><span>, much to his disgust. -In the </span><em class="italics">Ariadne</em><span> he had hoped to have an -opportunity of joining Admiral Nelson's fleet and -fighting the French; the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> was engaged in -the humdrum and much less heroic work, as -Jack regarded it, of hunting smugglers. But -Jack was of a cheerful disposition, and by the -time he arrived at Wynport he had forgotten his -disappointment, for the coachman had let him -take the ribbons for five good miles of the road, -and he had nearly upset the coach in a ditch, -nearly massacred a flock of geese, and nearly -taken off the wheel of a carrier's cart, which was -excitement enough for one day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he arrived at Wynport he found that it -would be three or four days before the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> was -ready for sea. To Jack's eyes she appeared -anything but furious, shored up high and dry in the -yard, with huge balks of timber supporting her -hull. "Wretched cockle-shell!" he said to -himself, as he looked at her. But, having several -days to spare, he thought he might as well spend -the time in looking up his Cousin Bastable. -Lieutenant Blake, commanding the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>, -good-naturedly gave Mr. Midshipman Hardy leave -to visit his mother's relatives, so Jack slung his -valise on to a carrier's cart that would jog to -Bastable in the course of the day, and started to -trudge over the cliffs. He had been told that he -might save a matter of an hour by taking the -shorter road by Wickham Ferrers; but it was a -bright September day, exceptionally hot for the -time of year, and there was more chance of a -breeze by the cliffs. Besides, Jack preferred -when he could to keep within sight of the sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had no company for the first part of the -journey, and that was a trial to a lad of Jack's -sociable disposition. As became a midshipman -of his Majesty's navy, he was ready to talk freely -with peer or peasant. The few people he saw -were going in the opposite direction, and though -in pleasant country fashion they "passed the time -of day," there was no occasion for stopping to -chat. But, about five miles out of Wynport, he -saw just ahead of him, on the winding white -road, a man with a wooden leg, stumping along -beside a donkey-cart. The man had a broad back -and looked a sturdy fellow. The day being hot -he had stripped off his coat, which dangled from -a nail in the tail-board of the cart; and he -carried in his left hand a glazed hat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was almost abreast of the cart when the -man heard his footsteps, turned, and seeming to -recognize him, pulled his forelock and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Morning, sir, morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good morning. Uncommon hot, isn't it? -You seem to know me?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not to say know, sir. I've seed ye, that's all. -I've been to Wynport; I goes there twice a week -with my old moke here, and a cargo of fruit or -vegetables, times and seasons according. And -when I goes to Wynport, in course I looks up -old messmates."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You've been a sailor, then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nigh thirty year, sir! Joe Gumley my name: -ranked A.B. when I got my leg shot off in a' -action with a French privateer six year ago. In -course I were discharged then. I were a fisherman -till they pressed me for the navy, so when I -were no more use to his Majesty, sir, I come -back to my native place, which be Luscombe, -sir, and what with fishing and gardening and -such like I manage to make both ends meet, as -they say. I've got a tidy bit of cottage at a low -rent from Squire Bastable—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh! he's my cousin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, if you'd said uncle, sir—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, he's my mother's cousin; my second -cousin, I suppose."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not having any myself, I don't know second -from first. Howsomever, as I were saying, I've -give up the fishing now; but I keep to the -gardening—not an easy job with this stump of mine, -'cos when I'm digging the misbehaving thing -will sink in, and it takes a terrible time to be -always heaving it out. Like as if you was to have -to drop anchor and heave it again every knot -you made. But I've got over that there little -contrariness by taking a square bit of board -with me now. When I'm going to dig, down -goes the board, I sticks my stump on that, and so -we gets on as merry as you please, 'cos when I -want to shift, all I've got to do is to kick the -board along a few inches, and there we are."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, but how came you to know me?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Only seed you, sir. I was over at Wynport, -as I were saying, and only this morning I comed -across my old messmate, Ben Babbage, what was -pressed along o' me. He's now bo'sun of the -</span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>, and we was having a smoke and a chat -about old times when you come down the yard -along o' the lieutenant, and Ben says to me: -'Joe,' says he, 'that's Mr. Hardy, the new -midshipman.' That's how I knowed your name, but -I didn't know as how you was cousin to squire, -though to be sure, now I look at you, sir, you do -seem to have something of his figurehead about you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Talking of figureheads, that's a queer-looking -thing yonder."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He pointed to a tower that just showed above -the trees in the distance. In shape it was not -unlike a mushroom, the top and part of the stalk -being visible.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That?" said Gumley. "Queer, indeed. That -be Congleton's Folly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And who was Congleton?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A man, sir, leastways a madman. Where he -hailed from no one knowed, but years and years -ago, when I was a' infant in arms, Congleton -suddenlike come to Luscombe. He was a man -about fifty then, and 'twas said that having -waited to that age to fall in love, he got it very -bad with a widder, who wouldn't have him. -Love seems to be like measles, better had young. -Well, Congleton took it so to heart that he made -up his mind to live forlorn and lonely ever more. -So he built a kind o' summer-house in the -Hollow yonder; and when he tired o' that he set a -small army o' laborers building the Folly, for -so it got to be called; and there he lived for a -dozen years in one room at the top all by -himself, seeing nobody, having his food sent up -twice a week by a pulley. And then he died. -Congleton's Folly 'twas called then, and so it be -called to this day: a sort of wilderness all round -it, and a fearsome place on a dark night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old tar talked on, Jack doing the listening, -until they came to a spot where, just after -the road crossed a deep chine cutting through -the cliff to the sea, there stood a large -farm-building by the roadside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is that one of my cousin's farms?" asked Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sir, that be Mr. Gudgeon's freehold."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack glanced at it idly. It was an old roving -building of stone, with gables and mullioned -windows, many barns and outhouses hemming it -in. Across the road was the farmyard, with a -large pond skirting the roadway; and beyond it -a level triangular stretch of pasture and -cornland extending to the edge of the cliff, which -here jutted out prominently into the sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just before they reached the farm-house, Jack -noticed a dense cloud of smoke pouring from -one of the chimneys.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The kitchen chimney's afire, I suppose," he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir. Mr. Gudgeon do have a bad lot -o' chimbleys. And there's a many in Luscombe, -too. Plenty of jobs hereabouts for a good sweep! -And there's Mr. Gudgeon himself—Nathaniel's -his chrisom name."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A very big burly man, curiously short in the -legs, made his appearance in the doorway, and -walking backwards across the road, watched the -black column of smoke drifting slowly eastward -on the light breeze.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So closely was his attention fixed that he did -not at once notice the pedestrians or the -donkey-cart, and not until he had backed almost across -the road did he suddenly catch sight of Joe -Gumley. Then he started slightly, and his -attention being now divided between the old sailor -and the chimney on fire, he failed to observe a -deep rut left by a passing wagon, that had -evidently been driven into the pond to allow the -horses to drink.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The result of the oversight was unfortunate. -One of the short legs disappeared into the rut; -there was a wild flourish of arms; and then the -big unwieldy body toppled backward into the pond.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack could not forbear smiling. Gumley gave -a quiet chuckle, and to Jack's surprise stumped -on, not offering to help the farmer out. But the -lad sprang forward impulsively, splashed into -the water, and held out his hands to the miserable -dripping object still floundering there, unable -to gain a foothold on the clayey mud of the -bottom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Steady, Mr. Gudgeon, steady!" cried Jack -encouragingly. "Haul on, sir. Yo heave -ho! and up we come!"</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 76%" id="figure-48"> -<span id="steady-mr-gudgeon-steady-cried-jack"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=""Steady, Mr. Gudgeon, steady!" cried Jack" src="images/img-008.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">"Steady, Mr. Gudgeon, steady!" cried Jack</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank'ee, sir," said Mr. Gudgeon, spluttering. -He had evidently swallowed more of the -muddied water than he cared for. "But -how—ugh!—how do you—ugh!—know my name, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, that old sailor man told me—Gumley, -you know: we hitched on some miles up the -road there."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, yes, of course: yes, yes. I'm all of a -flutter, sir; my heart goes pit-a-pat. Ugh! That -water is rank, and—and I—I feel quite upset. -It was Gumley; of course it was: and he told you -my name. Yes, to be sure. And you, sir, I might -guess, are a king's officer, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, yes! My ship's the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, to be sure! Come in, sir. You must -dry your boots. Take them off, sir. I will take -off my wet things and be with you in a few -moments. Sit you down, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Gudgeon had led Jack into a large -stone-flagged room, with a low ceiling of whitewashed -rafters. He disappeared, and Jack, left to -himself, took off his boots and stockings and sat on -the broad, high ledge of the window. In one -corner he noticed a long leather-bound telescope, -and taking it up he looked out to sea. A few fishing -boats dotted the shining surface, their brown -sails just appearing above the edge of the cliff. -In the offing a large lugger lay, apparently hove -to. He was still peering through the glass when -the farmer returned, carrying a tray with bottles -and glasses. A servant came after him, and took -away the wet boots and stockings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, sir," he said. "You have your choice. -Here is brandy, and sloe gin, and cider—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thanks, Mr. Gudgeon, a glass of cider for -me; 'tis a cool drink for a hot day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To be sure," rejoined Mr. Gudgeon; -"though for myself I find brandy the best cure -for the flutters. You were taking a peep -through my spy-glass, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes: a good glass."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not bad, sir, not bad. And a clear day. But -not much to see, sir, to-day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No. There's a lugger in the offing; and -French by the cut of her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Surely not, sir," cried Mr. Gudgeon, taking -up the glass. "Dear, dear! I'm all in a flutter -again, sir. A French lugger, sir! 'Tis surely too -near our coast to be safe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, and I hope the </span><em class="italics">Pandora</em><span> will catch her; -she's sailing this afternoon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To be sure, sir. The impudence of these -Frenchmen! But I don't think she's French, -after all; there's a lugger much like her down -in Luscombe yonder. And you're an officer of -the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>? I've seen the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> more than once, -sir. She cruised about a good deal last winter on -the lookout for smugglers. But she's laid up at -Wynport now, I'm told."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, or I shouldn't be here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! I wondered, now, what brought you to -this quiet little place. Maybe you have friends -in the neighborhood, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm going to see my cousin, Mr. Bastable. I -dare say you know him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Know the squire! To be sure: a customer of -mine. Ah! as I was saying, there's a good deal -of smuggling on this part of the coast: so the -common talk is, sir. Luscombe yonder is -suspected, so 'tis said. Mr. Goodman, the new -riding-officer, has his eye on the village. But up -here on the cliff I don't hear much of what goes -on. I keep myself to myself, sir—lead a quiet -life; anything out of the way puts me in a -flutter at once. And when will the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> be ready -for sea?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In four or five days."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To be sure! And you are Mr. Bastable's -cousin! Well, now, to be sure! 'Tis early days -for the smugglers, sir: they don't begin, so I've -heard, much before October; their work needs -dark nights; but I hope you'll put 'em down, sir, -I do. They're getting the neighborhood a bad name."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Mr. Gudgeon, we'll do our best to polish -it up for you. Now, d'you think those things -of mine are dry? I am getting hungry, and my -cousin, I hope, keeps a good table."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To be sure, sir; a fine man, Mr. Bastable. -Though I'm only a poor working farmer, and -keep myself to myself, I hope I may count -Mr. Bastable a friend. You will give him my -respects, Mr.—?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jack Hardy: that's my name. Thanks for the -cider, Mr. Gudgeon: mighty good stuff. Good-by. -I hope you'll be none the worse for your sousing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, sir. I hope not. I shall take no -harm unless I get a return of the flutters."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He went with Jack to the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is your way, sir," he said, pointing to a -path that ran irregularly across the fields to the -right. "The coast winds a good deal here; you -would not think it, but the path will bring you -near to the sea. Bastable Grange is on the cliff, -sir, the other side of Luscombe, a fine airy -position, though too near the coast if the French -should land, </span><em class="italics">I</em><span> say."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack set off at a good pace, vaulted the many -stiles that crossed the field path, and in less than -half an hour found himself approaching a fine -old red-brick house nestling among trees at the -edge of the cliff. He paused for a few moments -before lifting the latch of the gate to take a look -round. There, in a hollow between the two -cliffs, lay the village of Luscombe, its few -cottages straggling from the beach up the slope. -Two or three fishing smacks lay alongside the -short stone jetty: others rocked gently in the -little bay. A turn of the path hid them from sight -for a minute or two; when next they came into -view Jack was surprised to see one of the smacks -making under full sail out to sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Smart work that!" he thought. "There was -no sign of her putting off a few minutes ago. -The Luscombe fishers would make good king's -men, by the look of it; they'll have a visit from -the press-gang one of these days."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He watched until the smack rounded the -point; then he turned, opened the gate, walked -up the gravel path, and pulled the bell at the -door of Bastable Grange.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="monsieur-de-fronsac"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER II</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">MONSIEUR DE FRONSAC</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Jack was shown into a little snuggery, where -he found a red-faced, blue-eyed gentleman -sitting deep in a comfortable arm-chair, his legs -perched on a smaller chair. His black hair was -tied in a short queue; he had curly side -whiskers: and he wore the full uniform of the -Dorsetshire yeomanry—a tight red coat with a high -stock, white buckskin breeches, and big Hessian -boots that came to the knee.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A young gentleman to see you, sir," said the -servant.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How d'ye do, Cousin Humfrey?" said Jack, -advancing with a smile and outstretched hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who in the world are you?" said Mr. Bastable, -clutching the arms of his chair, his eyelids -squeezed together oddly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh! I'm Jack Hardy. Mother said I was to -be sure and call. My traps are coming after."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They are, are they? You're a pretty cool -young spark, aren't you? I must take it, I -suppose, that you're my Cousin Millicent's boy, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course, Cousin Humfrey. She said you'd -be glad to put me up for a day or two, if I -reminded you what friends you and she were, I -don't know how many years ago."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She did, eh? Well, you'd better give an -account of yourself. How old are you, and what -are you doing in these parts? I don't suppose -you came all the way from London to remind -me of your mother."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm sixteen, sir, and just appointed to the -</span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>—you know, the revenue cutter now repairing -at Wynport. I've got a few days' leave, so -I've just walked over."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So I should suppose. Your boots look as if -you'd walked through half a dozen horseponds -on the way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Only one, cousin," replied Jack, laughing. -"That was in helping a friend of yours, who -tumbled over through walking backwards -looking at a chimney on fire: Mr. Gudgeon, the -farmer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A friend of mine, eh? Well, not exactly," -said Mr. Bastable dryly. "So his chimney was -afire."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, though I must say he took it pretty -coolly; didn't seem to remember it when he got -back into the house."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh! You went into the house, then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, he gave me some cider, and drank some -brandy himself for the flutters. He's not quite -the shape for the flutters, cousin, is he? Looks -pretty solid."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And he made himself agreeable, eh? You -told him who you were, I suppose?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, yes! And he as good as said he was glad -the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> was getting ready for sea. Luscombe's -getting a bad name for smuggling, it appears, -and 'tis time some of us came along. Don't you -think so, cousin?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Quite time, quite time!" replied Mr. Bastable. -Jack fancied he caught a twinkle in his -half-closed eyes. "Father and mother quite well, -eh? And how long have you been a king's officer?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A couple of years, cousin. Of course I had -to serve two years as a volunteer first; then two -years ago I was put on the books of the </span><em class="italics">Ariadne</em><span>, -second-rate frigate, Captain Bagot. Why on -earth they transferred me to the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> I can't -tell—just as the </span><em class="italics">Ariadne</em><span> was going out to join -Admiral Nelson's fleet, too. I call it disgusting."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No doubt they thought you'd be more useful -to the revenue. Well, your traps are coming -after you, you said? Get off those boots and -I'll introduce you to your cousins. I suppose -they're your cousins, if I'm one. Ah! here's the -first!"—as the door burst open, and a girl ran -in. She wore a white muslin dress with a pink -sash, and a chip hat was swinging on her arm. -Seeing a stranger she stopped, and her cheeks -flushed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come, Kate," said her father, "this is your -cousin, Mr. Midshipman Hardy, come to pay -us a visit."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Kate Bastable made the formal little courtesy -of those days, to which Jack returned his best bow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I came to tell you dinner is nearly ready, -father," said the girl.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Goodness alive, and I haven't got out of my -regimentals yet! Run and send your mother -here, Kate; she must say which room your cousin -is to have. We dine earlier than you fine London -folks, my lad. You're a good trencherman, I'll -be bound."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm pretty sharp set after my walk, cousin, -and we fellows can usually do our duty with -knife and fork."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"As well as in other matters, eh?—catching -smugglers, for instance. Well, come along; -we'll find my wife and see what she can do for -you in the way of slippers."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was perfectly satisfied with his dinner, -and with his new-found relatives. Mrs. Bastable -and he became good friends at first sight. She -was a pleasant, fresh-colored woman of forty, -quiet in manner and speech, but with a shrewdly -humorous eye. Kate was fifteen. She said little, -but took stock of her new cousin as he chattered -at the dinner-table. The last member of the -family was Arthur, a boy of twelve, who, Jack found -afterward, was not nearly so shy as he looked. -An only son, he had not been sent to school, but -was tutored at home. The tutor formed the sixth -at table, a slight man of about thirty, with a very -swarthy skin and intensely black eyes, good -features, and a glittering smile. He was introduced -to Jack as Monsieur de Fronsac, a Frenchman -of a noble house. He had emigrated a few years -before, and settled in England as a teacher of -languages and mathematics. Monsieur de -Fronsac bowed and smiled when the introduction was -made, and said that he was charmed and -delighted to meet an officer of the king's so -excellent navy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack found that he was expected to do most of -the talking. His cousins plied him with -questions about the latest news in London. What -was happening in India? Had Spain declared -war? What did the people in London think of -the chances of a French invasion? Jack was -equal to the demands made upon him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, as to India," he said, "a day or two -before I left we got advice that that Mahratta -fellow, Holkar, had invaded our territories and -General Wellesley was after him. He'll soon -settle his hash. And Admiral Keith is going to -have a shot at those flat-bottomed boats that -Boney has got at Boulogne. They'll never cross -the Channel, not they. Praams they call 'em: -miserable tools; a storm would knock 'em to -pieces; they can't hug the wind; and the -eight-pounder they've got mounted aft is a fixture, -so that if we laid a small boat alongside, the gun -would be useless, and they'd only have musketry -to resist with. And the poor wretches on board -get so seasick if there's the least swell that they -lie about groaning in the hold, too weak to lift a -musket. One of 'em was captured last year by -a gun-brig of ours; she'd got a little leeward of -Boulogne and couldn't get back, and our brig -had her by the heels as she was steering large for -Calais. Our fellows don't believe old Boney -intends to send 'em across at all, but only wants -to frighten us. By George! I wish he would, -though. We'd make ducks and drakes of his -praams, there's not a doubt about that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But they might row over in a calm," suggested -Mr. Bastable; "then our cruisers would -be helpless."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, if they did, cousin, there'd be a chance -for you. I'd like to see the yeomanry cavalry -dashing at 'em as they landed, sabers out, cut and -thrust, ding-dong, over you go. Oh, it won't be -so easy as Master Boney imagines. Don't you -think he's off his chump, cousin?—Beg pardon, -Cousin Sylvia, I mean cracked; that is, -mad—why, 'tis said he's had a medal struck to -commemorate his invasion; his own precious head -on one side and a figure of Hercules strangling -the sea monster on the other. The sea monster's -us, you know, Monsieur. And he's got the words -'Struck at London, 1804,' on the thing—isn't -that cool cheek? Better have waited till he got -to London—don't you think so, cousin?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thus he chattered on, amusing his relatives -with his frank boyish confidence, and especially -pleasing Monsieur de Fronsac, as it appeared, -for the French tutor was constantly showing his -teeth as he smiled.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is good to hear," he said once. "I like -it. I do not lov dis Napoleon; truly he is a -monstair."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Makes a breakfast of babies, don't he?" said Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's rubbish, of course," said Mr. Bastable. -"But he's a monster all the same, as Monsieur -says; and I warrant if he does manage to -escape you blue-coated gentlemen of the navy -he'll find us redcoats ready to meet him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Monsieur de Fronsac retired immediately -after dinner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gone to scribble poetry," said Mr. Bastable -with a smile, when the door was shut. "He's a -decent fellow, and knows a heap of mathematics. -I fancy he must have been crossed in love, for -he's always writing poetry about the moon or the -trees or the sea—so Arthur says, for he never -shows his stuff to me. Now, we're early birds -here, Jack. We'll play a rubber with the ladies, -if you please, and then to bed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At breakfast next morning Mr. Bastable was -in particularly good humor. He had been out -early, so he said; there was nothing like a ride -before breakfast for freshening one up and -improving one's appetite.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By the way, Jack," he added, "when I was -out I heard that the smugglers made a capital -run last night—the first of the season."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The villains!" cried Jack; "under my very -nose!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Taking advantage of the </span><em class="italics">Fury's</em><span> being laid -up for repairs, you see. But no doubt you'll put -a stop to it when once you get to work—eh, -Jack?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack fancied there was something quizzical -about his cousin's smile as he said this, and -wondered whether the squire was "smoking" him. -But he answered cheerfully:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll see, cousin. I don't know what sort of -man Lieutenant Blake is: only saw him for the -first time yesterday; but if he's anything of a -goer we'll give the smugglers a warm time, I promise them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And how will you set about it, cousin?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't know, for my life!" said Jack with a -laugh. "But there are forty ways of catching -flies, and about the same number of tying knots; -and we'll find out a way, you may be sure. By -the by, cousin, can you tell me how to get to the -cottage of an old tar named Joe Gumley? I had -a chat with him yesterday as I came here, and -I'd like to look him up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I can tell you. He's a tenant of mine. -But he won't see you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you mean?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just what I say. He won't see you. He lives -by himself and never admits a visitor. He's most -unpopular with the village folk, and has to -tramp to Wynport to sell his garden stuff."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why don't they like him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah, well! The truth is he's an oddity, a very -queer fellow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This explanation by no means satisfied Jack, -and he made up his mind to visit Gumley as he -had intended. The sailor's cottage stood some -distance farther along the cliff. After breakfast -he set off alone toward it. Within ten minutes -he came to a stout wooden fence tipped with -nails, and so high that he could only just see over -it. Then the view of the cottage itself was -hidden by a mass of bushes and trees, the foliage of -which, though tinged with autumn brown, was -still thick. There was a gate in the fence, but -no latch and no bell.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An 'I'm-the-king-of-the-Castle' look about -this," thought Jack. He lifted his cane and dealt -the gate several smart raps. Immediately he -heard a dog rushing down the garden, barking -angrily. Standing on tiptoe he peered over, and -saw an immense bulldog, thick-set, broad-chested, -with an enormous and most ugly head, showing -his teeth viciously. The moment the dog -caught sight of Jack he redoubled his barking -and dashed forward against the fence, as if -furious to get at him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good dog, good dog!" said Jack soothingly. -"What's the matter with you, you son of a -ten-pounder? I say, Gumley—ahoy! ahoy! Gumley!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He raised his voice to a singsong, and sent the -call rolling toward the cottage, rather enjoying -the din made by himself and the dog, with a -hundred echoes from every dell and hollow in -the cliff. In a minute or two he saw the sailor -stumping round the bushes, his head bare, his -shirt open at the neck, a spade in one hand, and -in the other a little square board.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, 'tis you, Mr. Hardy, sir. I was digging -turnips at the back. Lor', sir, all Luscombe will -know you've bin here, with this terrible row and -all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't care if they do, and it was your dog -that made the row."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A good dog, sir. Living alone by myself, -you see, I need a watch-dog. Come in, sir, come -in."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had removed a padlock, drawn two bolts -and loosed two bars on the inner side, and -thrown the gate open. Jack stepped into the -garden, keeping an eye on the bulldog, which had -ceased to bark as soon as Gumley appeared, but -walked slowly round and round the visitor, sniffing -at his legs as if choosing the best place for a -bite.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's no cause for alarm, sir—leastways -not while I'm on deck. I'd best introduce you -proper like, then you'll be safe any time, fair -weather or foul. This here's Comely; and this -is Mr. Hardy of the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>: twiggy-voo, as the -mounseers say? Now pat him, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack felt a little uneasy, but knowing that it is -best to put a bold face on it, whether with dogs -or men, he stooped and patted the massive head. -With an expression that seemed to him more -sinister than ever, the dog stuck out a red tongue -and licked his hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now all's snug and shipshape, sir. Comely's -your friend for life."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Queer name that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"True, sir. It was like this. I had a notion of -calling him Handsome, 'cos handsome is as -handsome does, and he does most uncommon -handsome. But thinking it over between -watches, as you may say, it seemed like poking -fun at the poor beast that couldn't hit back, and -I cast about for a name that would mean the -same but not quite so strong. I tacked about for -a time without catching a fair breeze, sir. Then -all at once I remembered a word in my Bible: -'black but comely.' Comely's a good name, -thinks I, and his muzzle's black, and my name's -Gumley, so Comely it shall be: and Comely it is, -sir. We're a pair, I can tell you, Comely and -Gumley."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A capital match," said Jack laughing. "But -I say, why do you barricade yourself in like -that?" Gumley had replaced padlock, bolts and -bars. "Any one would think you were making -ready to stand a siege."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, I won't say 'tis to be ready for -Boney's landing, and I won't say 'tisn't."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was now stumping up the path toward the -cottage, and said no more. Jack saw that he did -not mean to enlighten him, and changed the -subject.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I say, Gumley, why didn't you help Mr. Gudgeon -out yesterday? You went on and left -me to do it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir. The truth is, Mr. Gudgeon and -me bean't, so to say, on speaking terms."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack felt that there was something puzzling -about all this. Gumley was not popular with the -villagers, Mr. Bastable had said; the old sailor -had confessed to a feud or at least a coolness -between himself and his neighbor on the opposite -cliff. There was an honest look about his -weather-beaten face; he did not seem to Jack -morose or ill-tempered. What was at the bottom -of this strange attitude of antagonism, shown by -the man's somewhat elaborate defenses? Well, -after all, it did not matter to Jack; his leave -would be up in a few days, and then his duty -would take him to sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He sat for some time in Gumley's trim little -parlor, where everything bespoke the handy -Jack Tar, chatting about sea life in general and -the </span><em class="italics">Ariadne</em><span> in particular. Then the talk came -round to Jack's new vessel, the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>, and -brought up the question of smuggling.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Gudgeon said that a good deal goes on -about here," said Jack, "and by George! my -cousin, Mr. Bastable, told me that the villains -ran a cargo ashore only last night. I suppose he -met the riding-officer as he went for his morning -canter. Did you hear anything of it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not a word, sir. I keep myself to myself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, Mr. Gudgeon said much the same thing, -I remember. But I suppose you hear talk in the -village sometimes?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never bin into the village since I gave up -fishing, sir. I get all my victuals from Wynport, -and often don't set eyes on the village folk -from week-end to week-end, except at Church at -Wickham Ferrers on Sunday."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why you're quite a hermit—almost as bad -as Congleton."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"True, sir, but I've never bin crossed in love, -'cos I never seed a maid I fancied afore I lost my -leg, and there's ne'er a maid would take a fancy -to a poor chap with a stump like this. And I'm -afeard of going like Congleton, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, but, Gumley, never mind about that. -Tell me straight out, man; are the people in -Luscombe below there smugglers or not—the -whole crew of 'em, I mean?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, since you put it plain, sir, I wouldn't -be surprised if some of 'em think a sight more of -French brandy than of Jamaica rum."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's no answer, you old rascal. Well, I'm -going down to the village to have a look round. -I saw some neat little smacks at the jetty -yesterday, and one of 'em put out pretty smartly, too: -was uncommonly well handled."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, you be a fine, mettlesome young -gentleman; but if so be as I might advise you, -I'd say keep your weather-eye open. If so be -they are a smuggling lot below—well, they won't -be exactly main pleased to see a king's officer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bless you, they won't know me. I'm not in -uniform, you see. Nobody knows who I am but -my cousins and you and Mr. Gudgeon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"True, sir; and me and Mr. Gudgeon keeps -ourselves to ourselves, to be sure."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-fight-in-luscombe-market"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER III</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A FIGHT IN LUSCOMBE MARKET</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Jack was accompanied to the gate in quite a -friendly way by Comely. He smiled as he heard -the click of the lock and bolts behind him, and -thought a good deal about Joe Gumley as he -made his way down the steep cliff path to the -fishing village below. It was quite a small -village: a few cottages clustered about a cobbled -square, with others climbing the cliff, each with -its little bit of garden.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The harbor was protected by a natural breakwater -of rock running out to sea, and forming an -excellent defense against the southwest gales. -A few brawny fishermen were lounging about in -jerseys and sou'westers, hands in pockets, pipe in -mouth. Jack tried to enter into conversation -with them, but found them strangely taciturn. -They looked hard at him before answering his -questions, used few words, and gave him very -little information. Mr. Bastable laughed when, -meeting Jack at luncheon, he learned how he -had spent the morning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They're not a talkative set," he said, "and -were probably somewhat overcome by the presence -of a king's officer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But how did they know I'm a king's officer, -cousin? We fellows don't go blabbing about: I -didn't tell 'em, and only Gumley and old -Gudgeon know, besides you and my cousins."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps it was Kate that told them. Ladies -are great gossips, they say."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm sure Kate doesn't go gossiping with -fishermen; do you, Kate?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Indeed, no," said Kate, "'tis a shame to say -so, father."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I didn't say so, now did I, Jack? I said -'perhaps.' You don't suppose I went and boasted -of having a king's officer as my guest, Mr. Midshipman -Hardy; and Mr. Gudgeon and Gumley -keep themselves to themselves, as they told -you, my boy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I can't make it out, and it doesn't matter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Probably they won't know you again in your -uniform, Jack."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you wear a dirk, cousin, and a belt with -pistols in it?" asked Arthur eagerly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may be sure he does," said Mr. Bastable; -"looks a regular bucaneer, I've no doubt. -You'll give old Gudgeon the flutters if he sees -you in all your war-paint, Jack."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, come now, cousin!" protested Jack. -"Our fellows don't look half so fierce as you -yeomen. Boney will be terrified if he catches sight -of your big hats and red coats."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"De uniform of de yeomen is ver' fine," said -Monsieur de Fronsac, smiling. "It is quite -beautiful. Dat is vat I say to Monsieur Arthur; -dat de Monstair Bonaparte vill tr-r-emble ven -he see de brave English yeomen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was interested in Monsieur de Fronsac. -He had never met a Frenchman before, and he -studied him as he might have studied a strange -animal. After lunch he spent some time with the -tutor, and learned something of his history. It -appeared that on leaving France, a few years -before, he had gone to live on his estates in -Martinique, hoping there to escape the dangers to -which, as a royalist, he would be exposed at -home. But on the advent of Napoleon Bonaparte -to power his property had been confiscated -by the Bonapartist governor. He himself had -been proscribed; he fled to Jamaica, thence to -London. It was hard for poor </span><em class="italics">émigrés</em><span> to pick -up a living. Happening to hear that a school in -Wynport required a teacher of mathematics he -had come down from London, only to find that -the place had been filled. But luckily Mr. Bastable -was at the time in search of a tutor for his -son. De Fronsac heard of it from the master of -Wynport school: he applied and was accepted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But I hope vun day to get back my estates, -ven dat Monstair, dat impertinent from Corsica, -lose his life, or ven he shall be reject from de -throne he goes so impudent to seize."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack became a little tired of Monsieur de -Fronsac's references to the Monstair. He never -spoke of Bonaparte without tacking on the -epithet. Of course, he had good reason for hating -the First Consul if he had lost all his property -and been compelled to teach for a living; but it -was not the English way to call names—and -always the same name. Jack set it down as one -of the peculiarities of Frenchmen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That evening, after dinner, the conversation -once more came back to the subject which was -then discussed more often than any other among -the good people of the south coast—the expected -landing of the French. Mr. Bastable was -inclined to think that with so long a coast-line -open to him, and so many possible landing-places, -Bonaparte would only have to choose his -time carefully to be able, with any kind of -luck, to make his descent. But Jack scoffed -at the idea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What about Nelson, and Collingwood, and -Keith, cousin? They'd smash him before he got -half-way across."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But Nelson is away in the Mediterranean, -isn't he? He can't be everywhere at once, Jack."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And every one can't be a Nelson, but we can -do our best."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder where Boney would think of landing. -Somewhere west, not Pevensey like the -Conqueror: too near London. The Conqueror -sailed from Boulogne, didn't he?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't think so, cousin: Boulogne isn't in -Normandy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Still, I'm pretty sure it was Boulogne. Monsieur -will know. We'll ask him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll go and find him; hope I shan't interrupt -his flow of poetry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack hurried off, and learned that the tutor -had gone out some little time before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He said he were gwine fur a promenade," -said the servant whom Jack asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Which way did he go?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Down along by Congleton's Hollow, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'll go after him. Tell your master -I'll be back soon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A footpath over the fields led to Congleton's -Hollow, about a mile and a half from the -Grange. Jack had visited the spot in the -afternoon with his cousin Arthur. They had climbed -over the half-ruined wall, and wandered about -in the dense plantation. Under the trees it was -quite dim, even in daylight; and where there -were no large trees the ground was thickly -covered with a tangle of bushes and ferns. -Blackberries and nuts grew in abundance, and the boys -had gathered them by handfuls, regardless of -scratches, or rents in their clothes. Rabbits -scurried across the path from patches of tall -brake; squirrels blinked out of the foliage. The -place had a wild beauty of its own—the -romantic charm of a spot seldom visited by men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Delightful as it had been in the afternoon -sunlight, it seemed to Jack more delightful still in -the dusk of this beautiful September evening. -The moon was just rising, throwing pale shafts -of light through the trees, deepening the -shadows. An owl hooted from the top of the Folly; -as Jack picked his way through the brake he -heard the whisk of scared rabbits. By the time -he reached a part of the ruined wall whence he -could look over a stretch of open country he had -almost forgotten his errand. He sat on the wall, -dangling his legs. There, across the fields to his -right, the moonbeams shone on the weathercock -on Gudgeon's roof. Luscombe was out of sight -in the dip of the cliffs, but he fancied he could -hear the grinding of the surf on the shingle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly he started. The light southeast -breeze blowing toward him brought the sound -of low voices a little way ahead. Was it -Monsieur de Fronsac speaking? Jack thought he -recognized the low smooth tones. Should he go -on? That would be to risk overhearing the -speakers. He hesitated; he heard another voice, -deeper, rougher; then both voices together, as -if in altercation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This won't do!" thought Jack. "I'd better -clear out." So he sprang lightly down from his -perch and began to retrace his steps, walking -slowly as he had come, and looking back every -now and again to see whether the tutor was -following. At last, just as he reached the first of -half a dozen stiles between himself and the -Grange, he saw Monsieur de Fronsac's figure -come into the moonlight from the shade of the -trees half a mile behind. He was alone. Jack -sat on the stile and waited.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Frenchman walked with downcast eyes -and for a few moments did not perceive him. -Catching sight of him at length, he seemed to be -startled, for he halted and made a strange -upward movement of the right hand. But his -pause was only momentary. He came on again, -and as soon as he was near enough to see clearly -who was sitting on the stile, he showed his teeth -in a brilliant smile, and called softly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hi! Monsieur Jack, I see you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'm pretty solid, Monsieur," returned -Jack with a smile. "The place looks lonely -enough for a ghost, don't it? I'd come to meet -you; got a question to ask."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! truly de place is romanesque. It demand -poesy. Often do I come here, in evenings ven -de moon is bright, to compose poesy. It please -me, it console me in my miseries. I come dis -minute from composing a poem about de moon. -Vill I declaim it? Is Monsieur interested?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, fire away!" said Jack. He thought he -might as well humor this singular Frenchman. -"Stop a bit, is it in French or English? If it's -in French it'll be clean over my head."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, it is in English. I compose alvays in -English since dat Monstair have maltreat me. I -recite it: listen:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"'</span><em class="italics">De moon, she shine in de sky</em></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><em class="italics">O lovely! O sharming!</em></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><em class="italics">Ven I look, vat can I? I sigh.</em></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><em class="italics">Vat fine zing for farming!</em><span>'</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"I explain dat: Your so difficult language have -not good rhymes: and dere needs one for 'sharming.' I -recollect myself to have seen de farmers -making hay by de moonlight. Dat also vas -sharming sight, so I put him in my verse."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"First-rate," said Jack. "Go on; I like that bit."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have no more complete at present. It take -so much to seek your English rhymes. Now in -my language—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Monsieur de Fronsac began a long -course on French poetry, keeping up a steady -flow of talk which lasted till they reached the -Grange. Not till they were entering the -drawing-room together did Jack remember the -question he had gone to ask.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Jack, I'm right, eh?" called Mr. Bastable.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Pon my life, cousin, I forgot to ask. Monsieur -has been entertaining me with poetry and -things, and drove the question clean out of my -head. Where did William the Conqueror sail -from, Monsieur?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not know, I regret to say."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Bastable laughed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, we're none the wiser. Come, Jack, -take a hand at cards. We've been waiting this -half-hour."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Jack was alone in his bedroom, and -thought of his meeting with De Fronsac, he felt -vaguely uneasy. Why had the tutor been so -anxious to explain his walk? Why had he talked -on and on so glibly about such a dull subject as -French poetry, with the evident desire to prevent -Jack from talking? Why had he made no -reference to his companion in the Hollow? His -friends, his private business, were, of course, no -concern of Jack's; but the position of De -Fronsac in the Bastable household scarcely seemed -consistent with stealthy meetings in retired spots, -and Jack, without knowing why, did not like it. -But he slept none the less soundly, and had -almost forgotten it by the morning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The third day of his visit Jack had pretty -much to himself. The ladies drove early into -Wynport to see a dressmaker, and would not -return till late; Arthur was engaged with his -tutor; and Mr. Bastable had to go to the county -town on yeomanry business. Jack spent part of -the day in roaming about the cliffs, and in the -afternoon went down to the shore, to bathe and -watch the fishing-boats go out. Dinner had been -put back an hour, so that he delayed his return -to the Grange somewhat later than usual.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he made his way up the hill, turning off -through a narrow lane to the left, he tripped -over a cord that had suddenly been drawn tight -in front of him. There had been rain during the -morning, and the place had been carefully chosen -by the practical jokers, who betrayed their -presence by a subdued chuckle from an alley-way -on Jack's right as he fell head forward into a -pool of mud.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack had served an apprenticeship in the art -of practical joking in the </span><em class="italics">Ariadne</em><span>. Not for -nothing had he been for two years a "youngster" in -a midshipman's mess. He knew that the best -way to discourage the gentle sport in others was -to take summary vengeance on the joker—if he -could get at him. He picked himself up in a -trice, dashed into the alley-way—so narrow that -there was scarcely room for more than one to -pass at a time—and saw before him the back of -a hulking form disappearing into the dusk, and -hiding, as Jack judged from the clumping of -heavy boots, a number of his fellow conspirators -in front.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The fugitive was tall, but his clumsy body -seemed too heavy for his short legs, and he -moved slowly. Jack was upon him just as he -emerged from the narrow alley into the open -square of the village. Catching sight, with the -readiness of one accustomed to use his eyes, of a -convenient muck-heap—there were always -convenient muck-heaps in town or country a -hundred years ago, when sanitary inspection was -still undreamed of—Jack neatly tripped the -burly figure into its soft and odorous embrace. -There was a great yell from the other fugitives, -who stopped their flight when they found that -they were not in immediate danger; and as they -closed in toward the spluttering victim, now -slowly raising himself, Jack saw that they were -some of the boys and youths of the village, whose -eyes he had often noticed upon him as he passed -through. And there was something strangely -familiar in the attitude of the hobbledehoy -struggling clumsily to his feet. He was not a fisher -lad; where had Jack seen him before? The cries -of the crowd enlightened him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fight un, Bill Gudgeon!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Heave un into midden, Billy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Black his eyes!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Give un a nobbier!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Bill Gudgeon, like his father, was -inclined to keep himself to himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not if I knows it," he said slowly, as he -sheered off. "Maister and me be quits now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Chok' it all!" cried one of his companions, -a sturdily built, black-browed, bullet-headed -fisher youth of some eighteen years. "If so be -you woan't fight, Billy Gudgeon, I will, so there -then. Be you afeard, maister?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I don't think I'm afraid of you," said -Jack, "but I don't see what we've got to fight -about. As your friend yonder said, we're quits. -And I'm in a hurry. Good night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Boo! boo!" yelled the rest, encouraged by -this seeming display of the white feather. "Rare -plucked un to fight Boney! Afeard of Jan -Lamiger! Boo! boo!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jan Lamiger slouched forward as Jack was -turning away, and as an earnest of battle -cleverly flicked off his hat. Jack was round in -an instant.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well, Jan, or whatever your name is, -if you're set on fighting, I suppose I must oblige -you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He took off his coat, folded it, and placed it -carefully on a stone pillar hard by: then he -picked up his hat, set it on top, and rolled up his -shirt-sleeves. The young fisherman meanwhile -divested himself of his jersey, and listened with -a smug smile to the encouraging hints and -practical instructions of his mates.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack felt a trifle bored. It was much beneath -his dignity as a midshipman of his Majesty King -George to be fighting fisher lads in the open -fish-market of Luscombe, but it would have been -still more beneath his dignity to refuse the -challenge and have the pack of fisher lads at his -heels. He was relieved to find that the Square -was quite deserted save for the group about him. -A few seconds earlier he had had an impression -that there were a number of fisher folk about. -The people had, in fact, hastily retired into their -cottages when they saw what was afoot. They -had no objection to the lad's trouncing a king's -officer, but when that officer happened to be a -relative of Squire Bastable at the Grange it was -perhaps just as well not to countenance the fight -openly. For they had no doubt that Jan Lamiger -would win. He stood half a head higher than -the midshipman, and was probably three stone -heavier. And, moreover, he had some little -reputation in the neighborhood as a boxer and -wrestler. Had he not thrown all comers at -Wickham Fair? And knocked Tom Buggins, -the light-weight, clean out of time at -Casterbridge only last month?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a somewhat rough battle-ground; the -cobbles of the Square would make a hard fall; -but neither of the combatants had chosen the -spot, nor did it occur to them to seek a more -convenient place for their encounter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Those were the days in which skill in the use -of the fists was a real title to consideration among -all classes, high and low. And fortunately for -Jack, it was an art cultivated with great -perseverance by the young gentlemen of -H.M.S. </span><em class="italics">Ariadne</em><span>. A new midshipman had to fight his -way into the right to call anything his own. So -frequent were the battles on board, that the art -had reached a very high degree of perfection. -Even the muscular heroes of the prize-ring -might have envied the quickness of eye, the -wariness, the nimbleness of movement, the skill -in feint, of these young warriors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The group had become by this time enlarged -by the addition of several other boys, big and -small, eager to see the fight and the imminent -discomfiture of the king's officer. They drew -away to give the principals fighting room. The -two at once got to work. In the first half-minute -Jack found that he had no novice to deal with, -and that in sheer physical strength he was -hopelessly outmatched. But the big lumbering fisher -had nothing like the quickness of wit or the -science of the slighter midshipman. Hitherto he -had won his bouts by staying power added to a -certain rudimentary knowledge of fisticuffs that -might pass for skill among the yokels at a -country fair. But in all his previous battles he had -never met an opponent who forced the pace like -this one. Where was he? He seemed to be on all -sides at once. Jan dealt what he firmly believed -was a staggering right-hander, only to hit air -and to feel a smart tap on the left side of his chin. -He flung out his left hand, and before he knew -what was happening, he felt a similar tap on the -right side. This kept things even, but it spoilt -Jan's temper. He forgot his science in his -irritation, and lurched forward to give full effect -to his weight and height. The result was -disastrous. Where did that whack in the left eye -come from? He had hardly realized that he -could not see quite so well as usual, when -something very hard and knobby came into his right -eye, and while the stars were still dancing before -him a neat left-hander from Jack sent him reeling -back on to the cobblestones, where he sat up -and peered about him dazedly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was clear that the battle was over in a single -round. There was no fight left in Jan. The -crowd was silent now. Several were assisting -Jan to rise, and Jack quickly rolled down his -sleeves, put on his hat and coat, and walked -away, leaving the Square by the alley through -which he had entered it. Perfect stillness -reigned in the village; but Jack was conscious -that the windows and doorways were now filled -with faces watching the scene. He smiled as he -left the village behind him.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="congleton-s-hollow"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER IV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">CONGLETON'S HOLLOW</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Jack was beginning to enjoy himself. There -is something bracing in antagonism: the -knowledge that he was regarded as an enemy by the -people of Luscombe, so far from daunting him, -whetted his appetite for duty. He made up his -mind to say nothing to Mr. Bastable of what had -occurred.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he got back to the Grange he found the -household bubbling with an excitement of its -own. Mr. Bastable had brought back with him -two new suits of yeomanry uniform, and Tony, -the coachman, and Andrew, the groom, had just -fitted them on and were displaying their finery -to the admiring eyes of Molly, the cook, and -Betty, the housemaid. The men grinned -sheepishly as Jack passed them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bean't they fine, Measter Jack?" said Molly, -giggling.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Splendid! You won't be afraid of Boney now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sakes alive, no, sir! But I be mortal afeard -o' William's blunderbuss. It do look a terrible -deathly instrument, to be sure; and what would -happen to us if it went off by accident goodness -only knows."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>William was the gardener, who, though too -old and bent to make an efficient yeoman, had -been armed, like Overcombe, the butler, with a -blunderbuss, Mr. Bastable having thought it -worth while to give the men of his household -weapons of defense.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You never know," he said to Jack; "Boney -may land or he may not; if he lands, the more -men we have to fight him, the better; and a -blunderbuss behind a wall may do some damage. -I'm going to exercise 'em every day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And what about Monsieur de Fronsac, -cousin? Will you arm him, too?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I didn't intend to. I thought I could -hardly expect him to fight against his own -countrymen. But he is so bitter against the -Monster that he declares he won't remain -neutral. While his countrymen lick the feet of the -Monster, he says, he disowns 'em. He's got a -pistol, and uncommon handy he is with it, too. -There he is," he added, as a loud report was -heard; "he's practising behind the coach-house. -Let us go and see what he can do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Fronsac smiled when he saw them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You see, Messieurs, I exercise myself," he -said. As he spoke he stooped and lifted a horn -button from the ground. Walking up to the wall -he placed the button edgewise against a brick; -turned, stepped a dozen paces, swung round, and -almost without seeming to take aim, fired. The -button was shattered into small fragments.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack could not but envy the Frenchman's skill.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You must have had plenty of practice, Monsieur," -he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, truly. Ve of the noblesse know to use -de pistol, assuredly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next day there was to be a yeomanry parade -at Wickham Ferrers. Arthur begged off his -lessons for the day, wishing to go with Jack to see -the training. There were no horses for them to -ride or drive, Mr. Bastable's three being -required to mount himself and his men, so they had -to walk. It was only six miles; they started -early, and were on the field before the troops -arrived. They got a good deal of amusement out -of the scene. Many of the yeomen were raw -recruits who found the management of horses -and arms at the same time somewhat beyond -them. Falls were frequent, and the officers got -very red in the face with the exertion of -commanding and countermanding. When the -parade was over, the two boys had early dinner -with Mr. Bastable and the other officers at the -</span><em class="italics">Wickham Arms</em><span>, and started to walk back in the -cool of the evening.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They came by a path that led past the tower -once inhabited by the melancholy Congleton. -Jack looked up at it, wondering what sort of -place that lonely room at the top was. But -Arthur said that the only doorway was strongly -barricaded, and Jack was not inclined to waste -time in breaking in. Another half-mile brought -them to the middle of the Hollow. Jack had not -mentioned the incident of two nights before; it -would seem too much like prying into De -Fronsac's affairs; but he was thinking of it when a -shot rang out from the depths of the copse, -followed by a cry. Arthur paused in the act of -capturing a belated butterfly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's that, Jack?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A cry for help! Come on!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He vaulted the wall; after a moment's hesitation -Arthur scrambled over; and they dashed -toward the thickest part of the wood, Jack a few -yards ahead. Heedless of scratches and tears -they pushed through the tangle in the direction -of the sounds, and, Jack suddenly finding -himself blocked by a thick clump of brambles, -Arthur came panting up to him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Over there, Jack, I think!" he said. "I heard -some one moving."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He pointed to the left. They listened; there -was no sound but the ripple of a tiny stream.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's go on!" said Jack in a whisper, pointing -ahead. "'Twas there the sound first came from."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He disentangled himself from the bush, not -without damage to hands and clothes, and skirting -the obstacle, the two pushed still deeper into -the wood, dim in spite of the glow of the westering -sun. In a few moments they saw through the -trees a more brightly-lit patch of ground, and -came to an open glade, covered with fern and -tall grass run to seed. At the far side stood the -ruins of a large timber summer-house, built of -logs something like those of the pioneers in -America of which Jack had read. It was -somewhat dilapidated. But what took his attention -immediately was the figure of a man sitting on -one of the fallen logs, apparently stanching with -a red handkerchief a wound in the head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the two boys made their appearance at the -edge of the glade the man started and tried to -rise; but he staggered back with a groan, and -continuing clumsily to stanch his wound, eyed -them sullenly with uneasy suspicion as they approached.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack went up to him impulsively.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We heard a shot and a cry. Did you call -out?" he asked. "You are hurt. Can we do anything?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man was an undersized, mean-featured, -ill-conditioned looking fellow. He had a low -beetling brow, and his cheeks were black with -the unshorn growth of several weeks. He was -evidently badly hurt, and, villainous though he -looked, Jack was eager to aid him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is nothing," said the man, in a low and -surly tone, with a slight foreign accent. "I am -getting better, if only the bleeding would stop!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack could see the handkerchief was drenched -with blood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You were shot! Who fired?" he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah, who? I want to know. It was all at once. -I did not see."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And how did it happen, then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, I walk along, looking straight in front, -when behind me a shot is fired. I feel the pain. -I call out; the pain indeed is no little; see, the -bullet cut my scalp three inches long, at least. -A little lower, and without doubt I am a dead man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And you did not see who fired?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, how can I? I turn round; but the villain -hears you as you come, and he escapes. That way -I hear him go."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He pointed in the direction suggested by Arthur.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was some robber, without doubt," he added.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack looked uneasily around. Where was the -man? Perhaps still in the copse ready to repeat -his shot. But with another glance at the victim -Jack felt that there was something strange in his -story. Who would rob an ill-clad, dirty-looking -fellow like this? He did not appear worth the -pains. And what had brought him to the -Hollow? He was certainly a foreigner; the copse -was off the highway; what was he doing there?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From beneath his black shaggy brows the man -was keenly watching. Apparently he saw by -Jack's expression that doubts were crossing his -mind. Still dabbing his head he began to speak again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am unlucky. I am of Spitalfields, a silk -weaver. At Wickham Ferrers I have at the inn -fine silks. I visit the nobility and gentry; they -give me orders. I am on my way to the house of -Mr. Bastable—the squire, people call him. He -is rich; his lady will buy my silks."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But this is not the way to Mr. Bastable's."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is it not? They told me there was a short cut -through the wood. Ah! the villains! It is a trap. -They had me here to shoot me. Yes, that is it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And your samples?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man started.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, my samples," he said hurriedly, looking -round. "They steal them. But I have others at -Wickham Ferrers, at the inn. I go for them at -once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He rose as he spoke. Erect, he stood a head -shorter than Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I beg you keep close to me till we are out -of the wood. Ah! I feel sick, I am not able to -walk so far. I am shaken; I can not wait on a -lady this evening. Can you tell me a lodging in -the village?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you know of one, Arthur?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's old Mother Philpot; she could put -him up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I thank you. Philpot: I will remember the -name."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys walked with him until they reached -the edge of the plantation. Then Arthur pointed -out the path that led down to the village; the -man refused their offer of further assistance, and -when he had gone from sight they struck off at -an angle toward the Grange.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Arthur was greatly excited at the incident, and -talked about it all the way home. Jack was -puzzled. It seemed so unlikely that a peddler -carrying silks should go so far out of his way, and -that he should be set upon and robbed of a -bundle of samples when the more valuable bulk of -his wares lay at Wickham Ferrers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At dinner he mentioned the occurrence. Mr. Bastable -was as much annoyed as concerned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This won't do," he said. "We're a peaceable -and law-abiding folk here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The smugglers, cousin?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh! the smugglers!" Mr. Bastable's face -again wore that strange quizzical smile that Jack -had noticed whenever smuggling was mentioned. -"That's another matter. I say we're a law-abiding -folk. There hasn't been a robbery, an assault, -or anything of that kind, for years. So near the -Grange, too. As a justice of the peace, I must -see that fellow and get a description of the -assailant; we'll raise the hue and cry and have him -fast by the heels, I warrant him. I'll send Tony -to Mother Philpot at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He said he didn't see the man who fired the -shot."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nonsense. How could any one take his samples -without being seen?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Permit me," said De Fronsac, smiling. -"From vat Monsieur Jack says, de poor man is a -compatriot. He is a weaver of Spitalfields, but -he talk viz a foreign accent. De French families -in Spitalfields have been dere so many generations -dat dey are now English; dey vould have -no accent, and dis poor man must be, as I myself, -a victim of de troubles in France of dis day—perhaps -he is a victim of dat Monstair. Vill it -not be convenient dat I go to see him at his lodgment, -and speak to him in his own language, and -learn all dat he has to tell?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis very good of you, Monsieur; but I don't -want to spoil your dinner, and this must be done -at once, or the villain will get away."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"De dinner, it is noding!" said De Fronsac -with a smile, not perceiving the little grimace -that for an instant showed itself on Kate's lips, -or the glance exchanged between her and her -mother. "I vill go at once. I do anyzing to serve -a friend like you, Monsieur," he said, with a low -bow as he rose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After De Fronsac's departure the family -discussed the incident at length, Mr. Bastable -becoming more and more indignant as he thought -of the outrage committed in that quiet spot and -so near his own doors. But Jack felt very -uneasy. He could not help connecting the event -with the voices he had heard in the copse two -nights before. The speakers had seemed to be in -altercation; one of them had been De Fronsac. -And De Fronsac had offered to go and question -the injured man. Jack wondered whether he had -better tell his cousin what was passing through -his mind, but he did not like to make him uneasy -or suspicious if, after all, there was no cause for -it. So he decided to say nothing—at least, until -De Fronsac had reported the result of his interview.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The family were in the drawing-room when -the tutor returned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have accomplish' my mission," he said. "I -am hot; I valk fast. De man is indeed, I regret -to say, a compatriot. He is in England from a -young man; vid his parents he arrive fourteen -years ago, ven de troubles began. I dink he is -honest man. He see only very little bit of de -man vat shoot him, but it seem he vas short, and -zick, and vid red hair. Dat is vun zing he know: -de man had de hair red."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Red-haired men are as common as blackberries -in these parts," said Mr. Bastable. "That -won't help us much. Why didn't the fellow use -his eyes to better purpose? I warrant, if a man -shot me I'd know a little more about him. -However, I'll send Tony to Wickham Ferrers, and -we'll have some men out scouring the country. -Unluckily 'tis getting dark."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Bastable went to bed later than usual that -night, in case the man should be caught and -brought before him as a justice of the peace for -committal. But the searchers had made no -discovery, and the squire at last retired, going -round the house with more than usual care to -see that doors and windows were carefully -bolted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning they were seated at breakfast -when Tony knocked at the door and came in -with a face full of news.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Please, sir, there's bin housebreaking now. -Mother Philpot's house were broke into last -night, and the Mounseer carried off."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! what!" shouted Mr. Bastable with a -very red face, holding upright the knife and fork -with which he was carving a fine piece of -pickled pork.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis true, sir. Mother Philpot were just -gwine up along to roost, when there come a -knock at the door. She opened, poor soul, and -three men with faces black as sut pushed past. -One caught her by the arm and told her to be -mum and no harm would come o't; t'others went -into Mounseer's chimmer and pulled un out as -soon as they'd got his coat and things on, and -took un away. He was all a-shaking, sir. -Mother Philpot says, says she: 'A were a-trembling -like an apsen, and so were I!'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This is monstrous!" cried Mr. Bastable, -pushing back his chair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Alas! my compatriot is in danger yet still," -said De Fronsac, carefully folding his napkin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And the silks! I had set my heart on a -plum-colored dress, Humfrey," said Mrs. Bastable.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Silks! Fiddlesticks! 'tis an outrage; 'tis -contempt of court! 'tis—'tis—hang it! I don't know -what it isn't. Tony, get my horse saddled. I'll -ride over to Wickham myself, and get the colonel -to scour the country with dragoons, or we'll -send to Budmouth for those fellows of the German -Legion, and see what they're good for. We -can't allow this sort of thing in Luscombe, and -by George! we won't."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The angry squire strode away, leaving his -breakfast unfinished.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your poor father will be so hungry, and so -bad-tempered all day," said Mrs. Bastable, -whom nothing seemed to ruffle. "Jack, will you -carve the pork? You have not finished, -Monsieur de Fronsac?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Absolutely, Madame," said the Frenchman -with a bow and a smile. "Dere is yet an hour -before ve study; I vill valk to de village and -back. De fresh air it is salubrious; and de -fishermen interess me. My estates vere in Brittany; -and in my days of youth I pass much time among -fishermen. Ven I come back, ve vill study de -properties of angles, Monsieur Arthur."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And with a smile Monsieur de Fronsac left -the room.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-midnight-excursion"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER V</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A MIDNIGHT EXCURSION</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"I know!" said Arthur that evening, coming -up to Jack, who was practising skittles in an -alley behind the house. He looked up slyly in -Jack's face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You do, do you? And what do you know?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"About you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I suppose you do. I'm Jack Hardy, -son of Major James Hardy, late of the East -India Company's service, and—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Didn't he touch you at all?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who? Father? Yes, he used to lay it on -pretty thick when I was a young un like you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jan Lamiger, I mean."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, that's it, is it? And what do you know -about Jan Lamiger, may I ask?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tony told me. He says Jan Lamiger has got -two black eyes and a green nose. Oh! don't I -wish I'd seen it! Just don't I!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, my young cockchafer, you hold your -tongue about it. I don't want it all over the -country that a king's officer has been sparring -with a lout like Jan Lamiger."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right. You needn't be stuck up about it. -Did he go squash?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your language is not very choice, Master -Bastable. Hullo! There's Gudgeon's chimney -on fire again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's always on fire."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you mean?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So it is—in the winter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I s'pose he doesn't have fires in the -summer, but it isn't winter yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't care. I've seen the chimney smoking -away like that often enough; sometimes twice a -week."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's rather curious, isn't it? Doesn't he -ever have 'em swept?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know. I asked Bill Gudgeon about it -once, and he said they can't afford sea-coal, and -burn up all their muck like that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just the sort of answer I should expect from -him. Well, there's your tutor coming to teach -you a, b, ab, b, a, b, bab. Cut away!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I say!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, what is it now?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I hate Frenchmen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A very wise and proper thing for an English boy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And I hate lessons."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very wrong. You'll grow up a dunce and -disgrace to the name of Bastable. Cut!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bother!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He made a wry mouth and went slowly away. -Jack smiled.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He'll do!" he said to himself. "But I wonder -why Gudgeon's chimneys seem so uncommonly -foul. I think I must pay Bill's father a visit -some day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He mentioned the matter of the chimney to -Mr. Bastable when that gentleman returned -later in the day, after starting the chase for the -rogues who had dared to disturb the peace of -law-abiding Luscombe. Mr. Bastable laughed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, Gudgeon has an uncommon quantity of -muck on his farm," he said, "but some good stuff, -too—some uncommonly good stuff."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack did not regard this as a very satisfactory -explanation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That night he was roused from a very heavy -sleep by a touch on his arm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who's that?" he cried, springing up at once.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Only me," said Arthur in a whisper. "I say, -Jack, I heard some one moving about below. It -seemed to be in De Fronsac's room."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, he's stumping about doing some more -poetry perhaps. Go to bed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But I believe he's gone out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis rather a close night. Perhaps he wanted air."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I believe he knows something about that -fellow who was shot. I watched his face."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oho!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was surprised to find that the boy's -suspicions jumped so nearly with his own.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here, who've you told that to?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Only you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's all right. I'm going out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So am I," was the quiet rejoinder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't think so. I'm not going to make a -row opening doors. I'm going out at the window."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you do, I will, too."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right. Go and pull on some things and -be back here in fifty-nine seconds. Sharp!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boy hurried away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Fronsac's room was just below, on the -ground floor. It had once been a parlor, but -little used, and when the tutor begged to have it -for his bedroom, Mrs. Bastable made no -objection. It had French windows opening on to the -lawn, and De Fronsac said it would be so -convenient for him, for he could go out before the -household was astir, and compose poems on the -Dawn, or satiric odes to the Monstair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Arthur was back as soon as Jack had pulled on -his coat, breeches, and boots.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ever climb down a rain-pipe?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, you've got to now. I'll go first, to be -ready to pick up the pieces. Hist! What's that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack had spoken in a whisper. Now through -the open window he heard a sound as of a latch -falling. Going to the window he peered -cautiously out from behind the curtain. For a few -moments he saw nothing. It was a dark night, -but the moon was rising, and he thought he -detected a dark figure moving along in the shadow -of the wall. The figure went furtively on until -the wall ended and a fence began; then Jack lost -sight of it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You were right, Arthur," whispered Jack. -"Don't look like making up poetry, either. Come -along."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Looking out to make sure that the figure was -no longer in sight, he slipped over the window-sill, -slid down the rain-pipe with a sailor's ease, -and in a few seconds stood on the lawn. Arthur -hesitated for a moment at the sill, then, plucking -up his courage, he let himself over and grasped -the pipe. For a few feet he managed well -enough; then he lost his head and his grip -together, and came down with a rush, to be caught -by Jack, who staggered under his weight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well tried, youngster. No damage done?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No," replied Arthur, not thinking it necessary -to tell that he had two or three grazes on his -wrists and legs, and that he had knocked his nose -against one of the joints of the pipe.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The two boys hurried down the garden, -passed through a gap in the fence made by -removing two of the palings, and set off in the -reverse direction, toward the front of the house. -Jack chose this course almost by instinct; -somehow he felt sure that De Fronsac was making -toward the cliff. Between this and the house ran -the highroad. On reaching the road, Jack looked -up and down: it ran straight for at least a third -of a mile in each direction. No figure was in -sight; yet Jack was sure that unless De Fronsac -had actually run he could not have already got -so far as a third of a mile ahead; and the road -lay so white in the moonlight that no person -could move along it without being plainly seen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No good going on unless we can see him," -said Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps he has gone by the beach," suggested -Arthur.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right. The tide's full, but there's always -room to walk at the foot of the cliffs. We'll -chance it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They ran across the road, vaulted the low wall -on the other side, and doubled over the two fields -separating them from the edge of the cliffs. As -they approached the steep zigzag leading down -to the shore they went more carefully. They did -not immediately begin the descent, but made -their way to a jutting portion of the cliff whence -they could get a good view of the shore on either -hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We can't see him if he's down there," said -Arthur, still in a whisper.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, the shadow's too black," replied Jack. -"And we can't hear him, either. Wish it was -sand! The rollers make such a noise on that -shingle, and the tide's too high for any one to -walk on the sands."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But he had hardly finished speaking when, -looking to the left, he saw a black shade on the -shingle, at a point where a mass of rocks at the -foot of the cliff interrupted the direct path. It -moved a few yards, and again disappeared. That -was enough for Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There he is!" he whispered. "Take care, -youngster; we don't want any broken necks."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Quickly lowering himself over the steep side -of the cliff until his feet touched the zigzag path, -he began to race down as quickly as the need for -quietness permitted, Arthur following somewhat -less rapidly. At the foot he waited for his cousin, -then both set off toward the village, the direction -in which they had seen the shadow move.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He almost wished now that he had refused to -let Arthur come with him, for while the sound -of one person running on the loose shingle might -pass unheard, it was not so likely that two could -run with the same security. But he did not care -to send the boy back now, so they went on -together, more slowly than he would have done -alone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Fronsac must have walked rapidly, for it -was not until they had nearly reached the village -that they caught another glimpse of him. Then, -however, the gap in the cliff brought him well -into view, and the boys had no difficulty in -following. He kept straight on across the deserted -harbor and on to the footpath at the other side -running up the cliff,—a short cut for pedestrians -leading to the highroad a little short of -Gudgeon's farm. Not far up, however, the path -forked, a narrow track leading down again to -the beach, which it reached about two hundred -yards farther east.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack had to wait until De Fronsac had -disappeared before he followed him across the open -space around the harbor, for if he had chanced -to turn he must have caught sight of any one -behind. Thus, when the boys reached the fork of -the path, they were uncertain whether to -continue up the cliff, or to turn down to the right.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Listen!" said Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Holding their breath they waited. Was that -a faint sound from above?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let us chance it," said Jack, and up they -went, following the steep winding path until it -brought them once more to the highroad. They -glanced up and down; there was nothing to be -seen, only Gudgeon's farm about a stone's throw -to the right, and the bare white road winding -down-hill past it and up-hill to the left. They -were again at fault; presumably De Fronsac, to -avoid the very loose shingle near the village, had -chosen the cliff path, only to turn to the right -and continue his road by the beach.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If that's it," said Jack, "we can easily make -sure. Remain here by the wall so that you can't -be seen. I'll go on."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He ran on tiptoe along the road past Gudgeon's -house standing black and silent, crossed -the little bridge over the chine, and, vaulting the -wall, hastened to the edge of the cliff. He -should now at least be level with the Frenchman -if he was still walking along the beach eastward, -for on the road Jack had run much faster than -was possible on the shingle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Here again, however, the cliff cast a black -shadow. He could see nothing; nor, listening -intently, could he detect any sound from below, -save the slow wash of the high tide. But in a few -moments his practised ear caught another sound. -Surely that was the faint thud of oars working in -row-locks out at sea. Yes: a quarter of a mile -eastward he saw a boat cross the white path of -the moonbeam across the water and creep -shoreward. And beyond, straining his eyes, he -thought he saw in the shimmering moonlight the -shape of a larger vessel, motionless.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Whew!" he whistled softly, "that's the -Frenchman's little game!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was convinced that there must be some -connection between the approach of the boat and -De Fronsac's suspicious movements. What was -it? He thought of Arthur, remaining by -himself in Gudgeon's field.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Better fetch the youngster," he said to himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He raced back to the spot and told Arthur -what he had seen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You had better come with me. Who knows -what this will lead to?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They returned together and hurried along the -cliffs, keeping well away from the edge to avoid -being seen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She's making for Laxted Cove," said Arthur -when he saw the boat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How far away?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"About half a mile. We'll have to fetch round -it and approach from the other side if we're to -see what's going on."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come on, youngster; hold your wind."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They pounded along at a steady pace over the -rough bent. The surface was very irregular, and -more than once the boys tripped and almost fell -headlong as some sudden irregularity of the -ground betrayed their steps. In spite of all their -haste, by the time they had reached a point -beyond the cove whence they could look down in -security, the boat had already been beached, and -men were landing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boys lay flat on their faces, peering over -the edge of the cliff that fell here almost -perpendicular to the beach. The men below were -speaking in low tones; Jack caught a few words -of French, he thought. They were apparently -impatient to be off. He could not distinguish -their faces, nor even their dress, for having come -up the beach from the water-line they were now -in the shadow of the cliffs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly there was a low hail; immediately -afterward the sound of footsteps. From the -darkness of the undercliff there stepped three -men carrying a heavy bundle. They staggered -somewhat noisily across the shingle toward the -waiting boat. Behind them two other figures -came out of the blackness and stood just below -the boys, as if watching the proceedings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The three men met those who had landed from -the boat. Jack saw the bundle transferred from -the one party to the other, and with a start he -recognized that it was the form of a man, well -trussed up. It was carried to the boat and stowed -with scant ceremony in the bows. Then the boat -was pushed off, the men wading until she was -fairly afloat. They sprang on board, gave a low -farewell to the men on the beach, and seizing the -oars pulled rapidly out to sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The men who had borne the prisoner watched -the receding boat until it was lost to sight, then -trudged off toward the village. The other two -had already disappeared. Jack wished he could -have seen who they were, but the man nearest -him had been all the time in shadow, and the -others had been too far away to be recognized.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I say, Jack," said Arthur, "what shall you do?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's just what I'm wondering. If I'd only -got a few men here I'd go down to the village -and demand an explanation of this strange business, -in the king's name. But if I went alone I'd -make a fool of myself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd go with you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then there'd be two fools instead of one. -They could knock us on the head and send us to -join that bundle on the boat. I wonder who he -is. Surely they haven't decoyed De Fronsac here -and carried him off to the Monster!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He wouldn't like that, would he?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, we can't do anything at present. We'd -better get back."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Shall you tell father?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't know. I'll tell you that to-morrow -morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They went back over the cliffs. They had just -crossed the chine when a big figure suddenly -loomed up to the left, appearing from the zigzag -path leading down to the shore. There was no -time to avoid a meeting; indeed, so suddenly -had the man appeared from round a bend in the -path that unless he and the boys had started back -simultaneously there must have been a collision. -The moonlight shone full in the face of the big -man, and Jack recognized him even as Arthur -whispered:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I say! old Gudgeon!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gudgeon recognized the boys at the same moment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Mr. Hardy, sir!" he said, "you put me -in quite a flutter. And you, too, Master Bastable; -well to be sure! As if I had not had enough -flutters for one night! Did you hear a boat, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Saw it, too."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There now! I was kept up late attending to -some lambs" ("Pretty old mutton!" thought -Jack.), "and I thought I heard people moving, -and I came out, and I was sure I saw a boat -putting out to sea. It gave me quite a start. -Perhaps it was some of those smugglers—a -rough lot. But gracious me! 'tis very late for -two young gentlemen to be out; your good -mother would be in a terrible flutter, Master -Bastable, if she knew."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I say, are you going to tell her?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have to consider my duty, Master Bastable. -As to Mr. Hardy, of course he's a king's officer, -and can keep any hours the king likes to let him. -But a boy like you, Master Bastable! Really, -Mr. Hardy, sir, I'm surprised at you. But I -keep myself to myself, I do, and don't meddle -with no man's business as don't concern me. So -this time, Master Bastable, I won't think it my -duty to tell your lady mother what I seed this -night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm going to tell her myself, and what—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Avast there!" interrupted Jack, "you ought -to be very much obliged to Mr. Gudgeon, you -young donkey, for not rounding on you. Good -night, Mr. Gudgeon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And he hauled Arthur away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You young idiot!" said Jack, when they were -out of earshot. "You were going to say you -would tell your mother all you had seen. We -mustn't on any account let them know what we -have found out. That would put them on their -guard at once. Better say nothing at all just -yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right. But why?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Because there's something going on which I -don't understand. De Fronsac may be in it; -Gudgeon certainly is; and if they think we know -too much it will spoil things. Not a word to any -one, mind."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I say, how am I going to get back into your -room? I got down the rain-pipe, but I couldn't -climb up it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't worry yourself, we'll find a way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On reaching the house they saw that De Fronsac's -windows were shut. Jack quickly swarmed -up the pipe and entered his room. In about a -minute down came the end of a knotted sheet. -Arthur caught it, and in a few minutes was -standing beside Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The family were seated at the breakfast-table -next morning when De Fronsac came in.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pardon, Madame," he said, "I am late. Last -night I see a fine moon; it drew me out towards -de so beautiful sea over dere"—he pointed in a -direction exactly contrary to that taken by the -figure followed by the boys—"and I compose a -little poem on de Minotaur—who is, of course, -dat Monstair Bonaparte."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's strange, Monsieur," said Jack, at -whom Arthur had been staring very hard while -the Frenchman spoke. "I could not sleep last -night, and went out for a stroll, and I could have -sworn I saw you coming just the opposite way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! I see you also. I see you drough my -curtains—ven you climb up de pipe. To mariners -dat is, of course, as easy as the staircase; but -as for me, I shudder."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gave you the flutters, eh, Monsieur?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Myself I vould say de tr-r-rembling. De -poem I compose, Madame, it begin—</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"'</span><em class="italics">Is dere a creature vizout shame?</em></div> -<div class="line"><em class="italics">Napoleon—so is he name.</em></div> -<div class="line"><em class="italics">Is dere a creature vizout heart?</em></div> -<div class="line"><em class="italics">Ah! yes!—de Monstair Bonaparte.</em><span>'"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<!-- --> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Yes, but Monsieur," persisted Jack, "I saw -some one uncommonly like you going the other -way, towards Laxted Cove."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah, Monsieur Jack, ve have a proverb, 'In -the dark all cats are gray.' Dat you see some -vun, it is certain; but me—no, Monsieur Jack, -how can it? I vas composing my poem—over -dere."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="signals"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">SIGNALS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In the course of the morning Jack received -from a carrier a note summoning him to rejoin -his ship at once. His cousins were sorry to bid -him good-by, and, though he was eager enough -to return to his duty, he was so much interested -in the strange things that had happened since his -arrival at Bastable Grange that he would have -liked very well to remain a few days longer and -try to unravel the mystery by which he seemed -to be surrounded. Before leaving he took -Arthur aside for a moment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here, youngster," he said, "keep your -eye on De Fronsac. If he tries to pump out of -you what we saw last night, tell him we saw a -boat putting out to sea and wondered whether -the smugglers were at work. Don't say a word -about the man we saw put on board. Don't let -him think we suspect him. And it will be as well -to take a note of the days when he reels off poetry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right.—I say!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"His poetry is fearful rubbish, isn't it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never made any myself, but I fancy I could -do as well as he. Good-by. Remember what I -said."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack returned to Wynport in a carrier's cart. -He went down at once to the harbor, and was -rowed to the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>, which lay at her moorings, -just inside the bar. A stout old mariner was -leaning over the side, smoking a big pipe. One of -his eyes was considerably larger than the other; -a big and very bulbous nose seemed to occupy -the greater part of his face; and a long black -curl hung in a graceful curve over his right -brow. Guessing instinctively that this could be -none other than Ben Babbage, Gumley's friend, -and bo'sun of the cutter, Jack hailed him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> ahoy!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir. Morning, sir, morning, leastways -good arternoon, seeing as how we've just took -in our cargo of dinner. Glad to see you, sir. -Mr. Blake he said we was to get under way the -very minute you came aboard."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack swung himself up, flung a coin to the -boatman, and turned to the old sailor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where's Mr. Blake?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Below, sir, a-laying in his bunk, twisted up -with rheumatics. You're in command, sir, </span><em class="italics">pro -tem</em><span>, as brother Sol used to say."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well; heave the anchor, and run up the -mainsail. You're the bo'sun, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir: name Babbage; not Sol, sir; -that's my brother, and a much better chap nor -me, though, so far. Ben Babbage my name, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Babbage, clear the harbor. I'll go and -see Mr. Blake and get her course. You can call -me when you've fairly crossed the bar."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack went below and found the lieutenant -groaning in his bunk. He was a weather-beaten -sea-dog of forty-five, who had long since given -up whatever dreams of promotion he might at -one time have entertained.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're back, then, Mr. Hardy," he said. -"You see me a martyr to rheumatism: my old -enemy serves me like this every time I go to sea. -Babbage gave you my message?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'll tell you what our orders are. -French privateers are careering up and down -the Channel, dodging our cruisers and swooping -down on our merchantmen. We've got to cruise -at large, keeping one eye on the French, and -t'other on the smugglers. They're expected to -be pretty active just now, when every one's mad -with excitement about these flat-bottomed boats -that Boney is going to invade us with. The </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> -has got to act as a sort of watch-dog."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not much fun about that, sir," said Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sir, no fun, and no glory. Both you and -I, I take it, would sooner sling our hammocks on -a frigate or a line-of-battle ship. But we've our -duty to do, sir, and we can't do more than our -duty, wherever we are. Did you find your -relatives well?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir. Do you know Luscombe?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I've never done this shore-crawling before."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A good deal of smuggling goes on there, I -am told. 'Tis a quiet little place, almost hidden -away in a recess between the cliffs. It doesn't -seem to have been troubled much by the preventive men."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The last riding-officer was a slack-twisted -fellow, it appears, no good for his job. The new -man—I've seen him once or twice here—is -energetic enough, but not too quick-witted, I should -say, and a little inclined to be bumptious."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At this point a sailor put his head in at the -little cabin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you please, sir, Mr. Babbage says we're -off Minton Point, and waits for orders."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well, Turley. Go on deck, Mr. Hardy, -and take a run down Channel. Let me know -what you think of the </span><em class="italics">Fury's</em><span> sailing powers; -we've nothing but our speed to trust to if we -happen to fall in with the enemy in force."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All feelings of disappointment vanished from -Jack's mind immediately as he stepped on deck. -The </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> was in all respects a model cutter. -Jack had admired the beauty of her lines as she -lay in harbor, sitting the water like a sea-bird, -with every promise of speed in the graceful hull, -the long tapering mast and the huge boom -extending considerably beyond the stern. Now -heeling slightly to a stiff sou'-sou'-westerly -breeze, with her great spread of canvas she -seemed to Jack like a sea-bird in flight. A stately -Indiaman that had left port some time before -was working to windward a mile ahead. In -order to test the capacity of the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> Jack brought -her a few points nearer the wind, and found that -he steadily overhauled the huge vessel. Before -nightfall the Indiaman was nearly hull down, -and Jack was satisfied that the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> had the -heels of most craft he was likely to meet on the -coast.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two small brass guns, one forward and one -aft, comprised her whole armament. Jack could -not help contrasting this with the forty huge -guns of the </span><em class="italics">Ariadne</em><span>. The crew consisted of some -five and twenty seamen and marines. Most of -them had seen much service, and one and all -wished they were with Nelson chasing the -French instead of being engaged in what they -considered the humdrum task of watching the -coast. Jack privately thought it might turn out -to be not so very humdrum after all. He soon -made himself acquainted with the crew, and was -rather attracted by a merry-eyed salt named Joe -Turley, a handy man who seemed to live to poke -fun at Babbage the bo'sun. Among the men that -worthy was variously known as Cabbage, -Artichoke, Brussels sprouts, Sparrow-grass, and -Turnip-tops; he was rarely called by his own -name, except to the officers, when he was always -alluded to most respectfully as Mr. Babbage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A fortnight passed away, and Jack, as well as -every member of the crew, was growing very -tired of the uneventful life. Every day was -alike, save for the weather, and that varied little. -The cutter cruised up and down the Channel -between Weymouth and Portsmouth, putting in -occasionally to communicate with the riding-officer -and to take in provisions, but finding -nothing of any importance to do. The smugglers -seemed to be quiet; the only vessels sighted -were British merchantmen passing up or down -Channel under convoy, or fishing-smacks out -from the English ports. The men grumbled at -the lack of chances of obtaining prize money, -and Jack was impatient of the inactivity to -which he was condemned. It was all very well -to keep the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> spick and span, her deck as -white as the sails, her brass rails polished to a -dazzling brilliance; but he would have liked -work a little less domestic—work for the two -brass guns that Joe Turley caressed as though -they were living creatures.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Won't you venture over to the French side, -sir?" Jack asked Lieutenant Blake one day. "We -aren't doing any good hugging our own shore."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I won't. I can't blockade a French port -with a cutter of two guns. If we run too close -to the French shore we might easily be snapped -up, and for nothing at all. Besides, orders are -orders. I've got mine as plain as a pikestaff, and -I can't go beyond 'em."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was disappointed, but clearly there was -nothing to be said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One evening the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> was making toward -Wynport. She had overhauled a suspicious -looking brig passing down Channel, but found that -she was a harmless Portuguese sailing in ballast.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know she was a Portuguese," said Joe Turley -to his messmates on the forward deck. "But -old Turnip-tops, of course he must take his -Bible oath she was a Spaniard, and so we've -wasted three or four hours, on the very night, -too, when we're due at the </span><em class="italics">Goat and Compasses</em><span>."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It had been arranged that half the crew -should have a night ashore at Wynport—the -first since the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> had spread her sails.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"True, old Sparrow-grass is a nuisance, -though he's got a good heart. Here he comes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The bo'sun came forward and joined the group.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, messmates," he said, "we'll be late at -the </span><em class="italics">Goat and Compasses</em><span>, and I'm sorry for that, -but whenever I'm sorry I think of my brother -Sol, who always says, 'Cheer ho! my hearty,' and -slaps your back in a way that warms the very -cockles of your heart. I remember—but what's -that light?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What light, Mr. Babbage?" said one of the men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There, to larboard."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He pointed toward the shore. A strong light -was shining intermittently, remaining steady for -a few seconds, then disappearing, then flashing -out again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis a signal, sure enough," cried Turley; -"but what for? That's the point."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, it ain't the point," said Babbage. "The -point's a good deal east of that light, and it's -Bantock Point."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I meant point in a manner of speaking. -The light's at Luscombe; any one can see that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"More like at Totley."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I say Luscombe, Mr. Babbage," was the -stubborn rejoinder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Totley, I say, and what I say I stick to, as -brother Sol says."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ahoy, there!" called Jack from amidships. -"What do you make of that light, Babbage?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Some one showing a signal from Totley, sir, -two miles t'other side of Luscombe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, it can't be at Totley. That's round a -bend of the shore. It's at or near Luscombe -itself. A smugglers' signal, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Like as not, sir. They've been too quiet of -late: a sure sign of something brewing, like a -calm after a storm, as brother Sol might say."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm pretty sure it's at Luscombe. But 'twill -be rather hard to determine exactly in the -darkness. Run her in a little toward shore, so that -we can take a look at things."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A few minutes later the dim outlines of two -prominent cliffs to the northeast and west-north-west -respectively could be seen. Jack saw that he -could determine the general direction of the -light by those two well-known landmarks. -Accordingly he ordered the cutter to be hove to; -he then took its position with reference to the -two cliffs, and the angle of the light. When this -was done he went below and reported to Lieutenant -Blake, who was enjoying a nap in his tiny cabin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You did very well, Hardy. We'll return -to-morrow and test your observations. There's no -confounded lugger or anything of that sort in -sight, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'll leave things to you. Run closer -in shore, and keep a bright lookout. If there's -nothing in sight, head her for Wynport, but keep -a good offing off Bantock Point."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Carrying out these orders, Jack found that a -mile farther in he lost sight of the light. He -thought it worth while to run out again and see -if it had disappeared altogether, but on -returning to nearly the same spot at which the cutter -had been hove to, he saw that the light was -burning as brightly as ever. All at once it went out. -Jack waited for some time to see if it reappeared, -but the shore remaining in perfect blackness he -saw no good in delaying further, and weathering -the Point, with its spine of jagged rocks -running out to sea, ran straight for Wynport.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They had not gone far when Babbage declared -he saw a sail on the weather beam. Jack -instantly put down the helm, but after cruising -about for some time and finding nothing he -concluded that the bo'sun had been mistaken.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Another facer for old Onions!" whispered -Turley.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At Wynport Mr. Blake put up at the </span><em class="italics">Dolphin</em><span>, -leaving Jack on board. Early in the morning -Jack met Mr. Goodman, the riding-officer, on -his way to the inn. He had been informed, -Goodman said, that the smugglers had made a -run in the night, and that their cargo had been -concealed somewhere about the premises of -Gumley, the one-legged mariner on the hill. -This news surprised Jack. It had never -occurred to him that Gumley could have anything -to do with the smugglers. But when he thought -of Gumley's seclusion, his mysterious ways, the -defenses of his cottage, and his bulldog, he -began to wonder whether dust had been thrown in -his eyes, and the apparently law-abiding -gardener was after all engaged in the illicit trade. -He told Lieutenant Blake what he knew of -Gumley.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Depend upon it, that's your man," cried that -officer. "You'd better search his place, -Mr. Goodman."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Unluckily, sir, most of my men are off -rummaging in another direction and won't be back -till to-morrow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'll lend you some of my crew. And -as you know the place, Mr. Hardy, I'll send you -in charge."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well, sir," said Jack, and he went off -immediately to collect the men. Within half an -hour he set out with a dozen of them, well -armed with pikes and cutlasses. They marched -through the fields and over the cliffs to -Luscombe, avoiding the highroad. Arriving at -Gumley's cottage, Jack rapped smartly on the -gate and was answered as before by a furious -barking from the dog. Gumley was some time -in making his appearance, and Jack, becoming -impatient, pulled off his coat, and hoisted -himself on to the fence. Seeing who it was, Comely -ceased to bark and wagged his tail in friendly -recognition. Jack could not help feeling a little -mean as he stooped and patted the dog's head, -still more when Gumley appeared from the direction -of the cottage, with his board in one hand -and a fork in the other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Morning, sir," he said, with a smile. "I was -looking for another visit from you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm afraid you won't think me very welcome -this time, Gumley," said Jack gravely. "'Tis an -unpleasant job, but I've got to search your -place."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My place, sir? And what do you expect to find?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis reported that the smugglers ran a cargo -ashore last night, and that you've got it, or part -of it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me! And you believe it, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know anything about it. My orders -are to search, and I must do it. A dozen men are -outside: you'd better open the gate and let them in."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very good, sir. But I must lock Comely up -first, sir, else he'll leave the marks of his teeth -somewhere. You're a friend of his; I introduced -you proper myself, but I'll not introduce him to -any preventive men that ought to know better -than to come a-nosing round my little place. -Who said as how 'twas here the smugglers -brought their cargo, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know. Mr. Goodman heard it from -some one."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"One of those villains down in the village, I'll -be bound. Well, I might have expected it, -sooner nor this. I tell you straight out, sir, never -a shilling's worth of smuggled goods have -passed my gate. I'm a king's man, leastwise was -till I got my stump, and arter that I wouldn't -demean myself by going a-smuggling. Howsomever, -orders is orders, and search you must. -I'll just tie up the dog, sir, and then open the -gate, for Gumley bean't the man to shut his -doors upon the king's orders."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gumley's quiet manner made an impression -on Jack, and he was half inclined to leave his -errand unfulfilled. If the man had protested -and blustered Jack would have been at once -convinced that he was guilty, but his readiness to -submit to the search was hardly that of a guilty -man. Then it occurred to him that Gumley -might be trying to throw dust in his eyes again. -At all events, he could not return to Mr. Blake -and confess that he had not carried out orders; -so when the dog was secured and the men -admitted he directed them to begin the search.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was but the work of a few minutes to -ransack the little cottage. Cupboards were opened, -the stone flags of the floor tested, the loft -between the rafters and the roof explored, but -nothing was found. Gumley watched the operations -in silence, puffing at a big pipe in which he -was smoking cabbage leaves.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll have to search the garden now, sir," -said one of the men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gumley took his pipe from his lips.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The garden!" he said. "Well, mind my -artichokes. They bean't ripe, not till the first -frost, and it won't do 'em no good to disturb 'em."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He knew that in expeditions of this kind every -inch of ground would probably be explored. -Smugglers had been known to have cunningly -devised hiding-places beneath the soil, under the -roots of apple trees, or pear trees, or raspberry -bushes. He watched with a grim smile as the -men spread out over the garden, falling on all -fours to smell out any traces of brandy or -tobacco. He said nothing when they dug over a -plot of ground from which he had recently taken -the last of his late potatoes. But when they -approached a flourishing bed of artichokes he -heaved a great sigh, and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There goes two-pun-ten in Wynport market, -and all in the king's name."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack had felt more and more uncomfortable as -the search proceeded. When a square yard of -the plot had been cleared of its tall green stalks -he suddenly shouted:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Give over, men. This is all a blind. There -are no smuggled goods here. Gumley was a -king's man like yourselves. I don't believe he -has anything hidden; we'll sheer off and report -to Mr. Blake that we can't find anything. Some -one must have a spite against you, Gumley."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I could have told you that, sir, but I keeps -myself to myself, and 'twas not for me to stand -up against the king's orders. Messmates all, I'm -sorry you've had your blood warmed for nothing. -Bless you, I don't bear you no ill-will; -orders is orders, and God save the king!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He took off his glazed hat as he spoke.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Gumley I'm sorry we disturbed you. -Look here, take those artichokes up to the -Grange when they're ripe and ask my cousin, the -squire, to give you fifty shillings for them. Say -I said so. Now, men, we'll get back. We owe -the smugglers one for this, and we'll pay it back, -all in good time."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-best-laid-schemes"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>There was a good deal of grumbling among -the men as they trudged back to Wynport. No -man likes to be made a fool of, and a Jack Tar -as little as any.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This is what comes of doing landlubbers' -work instead of fighting the French on sea," -growled Turley.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A heavy rainstorm that came on did not -improve their tempers, and when, just as they -marched into Wynport, they were overtaken by -Mr. Goodman, riding at a smart pace from a -cross-road, they began to mutter uncomplimentary -remarks about the zealous officer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Any luck, Mr. Hardy?" he cried, as he passed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"None," replied Jack shortly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sorry for that. Perhaps your search was not -thorough enough: your men aren't used to it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Confound his impudence!" growled Turley, -as the officer rode on. "One of us is worth three -of his landsharks, anyway."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Jack arrived at the </span><em class="italics">Dolphin</em><span> Mr. Goodman -was just leaving.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Hardy!" cried Lieutenant Blake, as he -entered, "Mr. Goodman tells me you've found -nothing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not a ghost of a thing, sir. Gumley's as -honest as a judge, in my opinion. Some one has -played a scurvy trick on him and us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, look at this."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He handed Jack a dirty, crumpled piece of -paper, on which he read:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Mr. Goodman, sir, a runn will be made at -binsey cove tonite.—From a frend.</em><span>"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Another trick for certain, sir," said Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very likely. Goodman says 'tis a sure sign -the run will be made somewhere else, if made at -all, and in the opposite direction. He wants the -cutter to cruise off Totley Point to-night after -dark. His idea is that if we stand away in the -afternoon as if for Luscombe, we shall lead the -smugglers off the scent; then if we return after -nightfall we shall take 'em unawares. He'll have -a strong force in hiding at Totley Point; that's -where he thinks the run will actually be made, -right under his nose. It would be like the -villains. Only a year ago, just after he came into -this district, he got a similar letter, and the -cargo was run miles away."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, if he's been caught that way once, -the smugglers will hardly expect him to fall into -the trap a second time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm not so sure about that. I don't fancy our -friend Goodman has much of a headpiece. If -he is the simpleton I imagine he is, he will think -that the smugglers will take your view and -expect him to be this time at Binsey Cove. -Therefore, he'll go to Totley. The question is, where -will the run be made?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps the light we saw last night may have -something to do with it. Don't you think, sir, -it would be a good plan if I took a boat's crew -and watched the shore off Luscombe, leaving you -with the rest of the men in the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> to assist -Mr. Goodman in case of need?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not a bad idea, Hardy. We'll drop a boat -some distance out at sea at dusk; you can pull in -with muffled oars if you come across anything -suspicious."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The first thing, sir, will be to find out about -the light we saw."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right. Find Babbage and get the crew together. -We'll be off at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> reached the position from -which the light had been observed it was at once -seen that, unless Jack had been wrong in his -bearings, the signal had not been made from the -village.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was more in the direction of Congleton's -Hollow, sir," said Jack. "We can't see the -Hollow itself, but there's the Folly to the left; you -can just see it over the trees: a tower where an -old hermit lived alone with his broken heart. -That would make an excellent signal station."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You know it, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir. But it didn't look as if it was ever -used now. The only doorway is barricaded, and -my young cousin told me it had been like that -ever since he could remember. He said the top -was supposed to be dangerous, and the place was -boarded up after an accident that happened ever -so many years ago. There was no other way in; -the youngster—an inquisitive little chap—has -tried more than once, and always failed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Humph! Is it worth trying again?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd be mighty glad to see, sir. But I couldn't -do it in daylight. I might be seen from the -village. Yet I could hardly do much good at night -unless some one happened to be there at the time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, we can't risk discovery. We don't want -to scare the signalers away."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wouldn't it be best to land some distance -down the coast one night, and get to the Folly -about daybreak? I'd have the place to myself then."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right. We'll bide our time. Meanwhile, -there's this anonymous letter to remember. I -gave out at Wynport that we're going to run over -to Weymouth; perhaps that will put our -smuggling friends at Luscombe off the scent."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> kept away all day, returning to a -point opposite Luscombe after nightfall. -Lieutenant Blake told off Babbage and Turley and -eight more of the men to accompany Jack, and, -a boat being lowered and provided with muffled -oars, the little party set off, while the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> set a -course for Totley Point, where Mr. Goodman -had a posse of preventive men on the watch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was more than an hour and a half's steady -rowing to the shore, and Jack was not at all sure -where he would strike the beach. Thinking over -the likely places along the shore, he felt certain -that the run would probably be attempted at a -spot not far east of the path up which he had -followed De Fronsac. He wished the smugglers to -get there before him, for if the vessel they -expected had not yet arrived, they would be -keeping a good watch seaward, and his boat would -run a great risk of being discovered. But he had -found out that Turley was born at Wynport and -knew the coast pretty well, having spent several -years as a fisherman in the neighborhood, so that -he was likely to recognize any landmarks as soon -as they came in view.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a still night, and very dark. The oars -made scarcely any noise as the men pulled steadily -in toward the shore. At last Turley declared -that he could just see the copse that crowned a -chine leading down to the beach, near the path -that Jack had followed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're sure, Turley?" asked Jack in a whisper.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sartin sure, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He've got cat's eyes, sir," murmured Babbage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We need them to-night," said Jack, peering -anxiously into the darkness. "Easy all, men."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He listened for sounds along the shore or from -the sea. The breeze was very slight; it had -become less as the boat neared the shore; and if it -continued to die away there would soon be -scarcely enough wind to carry a vessel in.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We're about half a mile off, I think, Turley?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just so, sir," replied Turley.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was about to give the order to pull in a -little closer when the man just in front of him, -who was facing seaward like the other rowers, -raised one hand from his oar, and pointing to the -right said in a whisper:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sail on the larboard quarter, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Glancing backward in the direction indicated, -Jack could just distinguish in the distance a black -shape gliding slowly up. He felt his heart -jumping; the vessel had come so suddenly, so -stealthily out of the blackness. Could his boat be seen -from its deck? It was so low on the water that -he hoped it might pass undetected. The men -were crouching over their oars; there was dead -silence in the boat, the crew scarcely daring to -breathe. The dark shape came steadily on; it -passed, and faded again into the darkness. -Allowing time for it to get nearly in shore, Jack -ordered the men to give way, and the boat again -quickly moved landward. He knew he was risking -discovery, but hoped that the attention of the -watchers on shore would be directed on the -larger vessel, and altogether overlook the -smaller.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The coast hereabouts was rocky, and the -approach to the shore had to be made with care. -Jack heard low voices ahead; he guessed that -the people on shore were giving directions to -those on the vessel.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Channel's narrow, sir," whispered Turley, -"but there's a good depth of water at all states -of the tide; 'tis nigh high tide now, and that -there craft'll be able to run almost on to the -beach and save a good deal of fetching and -carrying."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How far are we out now?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"About a couple of cables' length, to my -thinking, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Easy all, men. Cutlasses ready!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack had already decided that it would be -useless to attempt to land at any point on either -side and creep on the smugglers, for there would -certainly be watchers along the cliff. The attack, -if made at all, must be made direct from the sea. -He feared that, when the men gave way for a -final dash in, the boat might strike a rock; but he -could still see dimly the chase ahead, and the -tide being high, as Turley had said, he resolved -to take his chance of running aground. The boat -had followed quickly in the wake of the larger -vessel; with a little luck a straight dash might be -quite successful, for where the smugglers' craft -drew feet, his own scarcely drew inches, and he -was so much excited at the prospect of his first -encounter with the smugglers, that he was -prepared to run no little risk.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly there was the sound of a sail being -run down, of tackle creaking, of low voices. The -smugglers worked quickly, he knew; the vessel -would scarcely have anchored or otherwise made -fast before they began to carry their cargo ashore. -The moment was come. He caught his breath -for an instant; then, gripping the tiller ropes -firmly, he said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, men, lay out—send her along!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sounds of the muffled oars were smothered -in the noise from the lugger and the men -tramping on shore. So intent were the smugglers on -their work that they were unaware of what was -upon them. The boat dashed straight for the -lugger, which had swung round so that her bow -was first met. There was a shock; then a loud -shout; and as Jack's men swarmed over on to the -lugger's deck, they came face to face with a -small knot of men at the foremast, who had -evidently hurriedly collected to dispute the passage -with the boarders.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now shout answered shout. Barrels were -dropped by the carriers and fell with sharp thuds -on the deck or with loud splashes into the water. -Cutlass clashed on cutlass. At the first alarm the -men on shore came dashing back to rejoin their -comrades, springing across the long double -plank that formed the gangway, to a bold ledge -of rock serving as a kind of natural quay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext" id="id1"><span>"Surrender, in the king's name!" shouted Jack, -rushing forward.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was answered by a vigorous French oath. -Next moment the foremost of the smugglers, -singling out the young officer coming at the head -of his men, aimed a shrewd blow at him with a -cutlass. It was so dark that Jack could barely -see the movement, but he just managed to swerve -out of the way; then, shortening his arm he -lunged, and felt with no little satisfaction that -the weapon had got home.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At this moment he was almost carried off his -feet by the vehemence of his own men, who in -a compact body were sweeping all before them. -In the rush and tumble Jack felt a heavy blow -on his head and staggered, saving his fall by -clutching at a halyard and leaning half-stunned -against the mast.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To the din of shouting and blows was now -added the shrill screech of the bo'sun's whistle. -Having cleared the deck aft of the mainmast, -Babbage and his men were making a dash for -the gangway, upon which the smugglers were -crowding back toward the lugger. But Babbage's -zeal had outrun his discretion. Before he -knew it his party was beset on all sides. French -and English cries were mingled in one furious -babel. No firearms were used; the sound of shots -would carry far in the still night air, and might -bring support to the king's men from a distance. -But cutlasses and hangers were plied with vigor; -the crew of the lugger, reinforced by the men -from shore, outnumbered Jack's party by four to -one, and these had much ado to defend themselves -in their turn from the sturdy assaults of -their opponents.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With an effort Jack pulled himself together -and pressed forward to lend a hand. His men -were being remorselessly driven back. -Doggedly they fought, yielding only inch by inch; -but it was clear that they were outmatched, and -at length, by sheer weight of numbers, they were -forced over the bulwarks into the sea. Turley, -who had all his wits about him, contrived to cut -the painter holding the boat to the lugger's side; -and, hardly aware how he came there, Jack -found himself hanging to the side of the boat, -unable to do more than cling on for dear life. -Two or three men managed to scramble into the -boat; they rowed it ashore. When it beached, -Jack and the men ran up across the shingle -toward the cliffs. In a few minutes they were -joined by others of their party, all dripping wet, -and furious with rage at their defeat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis all through old Turnip-tops," growled -Turley. "The idea of his losing his head that -way!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Anybody seen him?" asked Jack, whose teeth -were chattering; he had not yet recovered from -the blow on his head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never a man, sir. But there's the lugger -making sail. We've lost the cargo and got -nothing for our pains but broken heads and such -like."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack saw the dim shape of the lugger disappearing -seaward. In five minutes every trace of -the smugglers had vanished, except a broken keg -or two on the shingle, from which gusts of the -odor of spirits reached the men gathered in a knot -above. By and by Babbage turned up, declaring -that if it hadn't been for Turley the attack would -have been a great success. Before long the party -was complete, none having been killed, though -several had had a narrow escape from drowning. -They had been saved by the planks of the -gangway, which the smugglers, in their haste to -escape, had allowed to fall into the water.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack wondered why the smugglers had fled -when it would have been an easy matter for them -to overwhelm the king's men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, they were afeard, sir," said Babbage. -"The noise was enough to bring all Dorset upon -'em, and how did they know but that the -riding-officer was nigh, ready to come down on 'em? -And so he ought to ha' bin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, they've let us off easily," said Jack. -"We'd better get our boat afloat and hunt for the -</span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, sir, and won't Mr. Blake be in a fury -when he hears the tale! All we've got is cuts, -bruises, and a ducking!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="congleton-s-folly"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">CONGLETON'S FOLLY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was several hours before the boat fell in -with the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>. Jack and the men were heartily -glad when they saw the cutter's mast-head light. -They scrambled on board, and while the men -had to stand a good deal of rough chaff from -their messmates, Jack's account of his failure -was received by Lieutenant Blake with a quizzical smile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah, my boy, we have to take the rough with -the smooth," was all that officer said. "I suppose -you don't feel in very good trim for that little -expedition you proposed?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Indeed, sir, I'm ready for anything. I must -change my things and have the best supper the -cook can give me; then you can put me on shore -when you please. I've got a bone to pick with -those rascals."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Consequently, about half an hour before -dawn, Jack was landed at a spot about two miles -east of Congleton's Folly. Lieutenant Blake -arranged that the boat should be in waiting for -him three or four hours later some two miles -farther east, at a little cove which was fairly well -sheltered from observation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Keep your weather eye open," were the lieutenant's -parting words.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack climbed the cliff and arrived at the -Hollow just as dawn was breaking. It was a misty -morning; the shrubs and grass were thickly -besprinkled with frost; and he was glad he had -taken the precaution to wear a greatcoat of -frieze, which kept him warm in spite of the -nipping air.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He came to the Folly, and took a more careful -look at it than he had done when he visited the -spot with Arthur. It was a brick tower, about -sixty feet high, built somewhat like a lighthouse, -but four-sided, not rounded. The base was about -twenty feet square; the tower tapered to within a -few feet of the top, where it broadened out so -that it looked not unlike a mushroom on a -particularly long stalk.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the side facing the sea was the doorway -giving access, as Arthur had told him, to a spiral -staircase leading to the single chamber above. -This overhanging part was supported by stout -oaken beams resting on the brickwork of the central -tower. On the inland side, in the floor of this -room, there was a trap-door opening inward; it -was through this that the late Congleton had -been accustomed to hoist his provisions. The -summit of the room was crowned by a parapet, -crenelated like the walls of a fort.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The door, as Jack had already seen, was -strongly barricaded. On the inner face of the -tower, less exposed than the others to the sea -winds, ivy had grown more than half-way up, -and from this a number of sparrows flew -rustling out when Jack appeared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He walked round and round examining the -tower from every point of view. What a strange -man Congleton must have been to choose this -lonely spot in which to pass so many years of a -solitary existence! Jack closely inspected the -doorway. The wood was worm-eaten, the heads -of the iron nails thick with rust, and the -barricading had been so thoroughly done that it -would take a long time to free the entrance. It -was quite clear that no one had gone either in or -out for many years. Yet, if the tower had indeed -been used for signaling, as he suspected, there -must be a way in. Where was it?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He might have thought he was mistaken but -for the marks of many feet around the base of -the turret. The grass had recently been -trampled down, especially on the inland side. Could -there be another entrance, concealed by the ivy? -He pulled the strong tendrils aside, and more -birds came twittering out; but there was no sign -of a second door. Somewhat perplexed, Jack -raised his eyes and scanned the brickwork above, -which the ivy had not yet reached. There was -the wooden trap-door, let in the floor of the -turret chamber, and a foot or two of rusty chain -hanging down.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That must have been part of old Congleton's -machinery for hoisting his stores," thought Jack. -"I wonder if the trap-door is fastened."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was quite clear that it opened inward, for -there was no sign of a bolt outside. When the -room was last used a bolt inside might have -been slipped. If not, the trap-door could be -opened from below. But how could it be -reached? Only by a ladder, apparently. Was -there a ladder hidden somewhere among the -trees? He saw no other means of gaining the -summit, for while the ivy was strong enough to -bear his weight for a good many feet up, the -brickwork above was smooth, in spite of the -weathering it had undergone, and offered no -grip for hands or feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must look for that ladder," he thought. -But after spending at least half an hour in -searching the surrounding thicket he almost -gave up the problem in despair. There was no -sign of a ladder, and he had searched so -carefully that one of the requisite length could not -have escaped his eyes, however well hidden. -What could he do? He did not like the idea of -being beaten; especially as he had already failed -once in his contest with the smugglers. Just then -there seemed nothing for it but to go back to the -boat, and perhaps bring a number of handy men -from the cutter to break open the doorway. But -before doing that he would have one more look.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He returned to the tower. The mist was clearing -somewhat. Once more he scanned each face -of the tower in turn. And now he noticed, on the -inland side, what had escaped him before. On -the brickwork between the ivy and the chamber -there were a number of small apertures dotted -about, forming a kind of pattern—a spiral. The -holes could not have come by accident, for they -appeared to be at equal distances apart. He -counted ten on the bare portion of the brickwork, -and, looking intently, believed he caught -sight of one more where the screen of ivy -thinned off.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His curiosity was now thoroughly awakened. -What was the meaning of these holes? Were -there more, concealed beneath the ivy? He -pulled the strands of the plant aside, and with -eye and hand examined the wall. There were no -more holes, but what was this? He grasped an -iron staple firmly imbedded in the brickwork; -and three feet above, surely that was another!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oho, my hearties!" he thought; "have I got -you at last?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Setting his foot on the lower staple he hoisted -himself up, pulled aside the ivy above his head, -and found, as by this time he expected, still -another staple. Without more ado he began to -climb, nimbly, eagerly, until he had to stop, for -he had come almost to the top of the ivy, and -there were no more staples! What was to be -done now?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>True, there were no more staples, but three -feet above the last was the lowest of the holes -that had attracted his attention. He was able to -examine it. A circular hole, seemingly drilled -with some care; he put his finger in, but could -not touch the end of it. And it appeared to be -bored at a downward angle with the face of the -wall. He felt that he must find out how long it -was, though for the moment he did not see what -good the information would be to him. -Descending quickly, he found a long twig, and -climbing up again, he inserted it into the hole. -About a foot of the twig went into the wall.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The hole is made to receive a movable step, -or I'm a Dutchman," he said to himself. "It's -long enough, and it's bored downward to -prevent the step from slipping out. A mighty -clever notion! The holes must have cost a deal -of work, for the fellow who bored them must -have been pretty awkwardly placed. I wonder -if they were made by old Congleton, or after his -time. Now what I want to know is, where are -those steps?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Once more he descended. The steps, wherever -they were, were probably made of iron, and -there must be about a dozen of them. Where -were they? Were they carried backwards and -forwards between the tower and the house of the -person who used them? That seemed hardly -likely. It was much more probable that they -were hidden somewhere near at hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack hunted about the neighboring thickets. -He might easily have overlooked small objects -when searching for the ladder. But after what -seemed a long time he still found no trace of -them. Determined not to give up his quest, he -was wondering how best he could make steps -for himself when he caught sight of the -summer-house, about two hundred yards away, -where he had found the wounded lace-peddler.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's the place to rummage!" he thought.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He hastened to the summer-house. There -were two rooms. Part of the roof had fallen in -over one of them, and, encouraged by the marks -of muddy boots about the doorway, Jack decided -to search there first. The room was bare; he -turned over the debris on the floor; nothing -rewarded his efforts. But there was the chimney, -a wide square recess in the wall; he would try -that.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He almost shouted for joy when, far back in -the opening, he came upon the object of his -quest—a pile of rusty iron implements that -seemed exactly suited for the purpose. They -were stout rods about a foot long, with a loop at -the end that might serve either as a hand-grip -or a step. And the loop was at just such an angle -with the rod as would correspond with the -apertures in the walls.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were a dozen in all. Gathering them, -no light weight, into his arms, he returned to -the tower, and with two of the rods climbed up -by the staples and tried one in the first hole. It -fitted exactly. He fixed the second, then -descended for the others. Being a sailor he knew -how to avoid unnecessary expenditure of time; -he slung the rest of the fittings over his shoulder -with his handkerchief, and carried them up -with him once for all.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By their aid he mounted to the top of the -tower, and found himself just below the trap-door. -But it was not quite within reach. There -was the hanging chain, however, coming -through a hole in the floor; would that stand a -tug? He made the attempt, intending to hoist -himself up with one hand, and push with the -other against the trap-door. But he found that -when he exerted a little force the chain moved; -it seemed hardly safe to trust to it. He was about -to let it go when he noticed that the trap-door -seemed to have risen slightly. Again he pulled -at the chain, using more force. It gave to his tug, -and as it descended he saw the trap-door open -slowly upward. The chain at length stuck; the -door was wide open, and a rough rope-ladder -was hanging some ten feet below the hole.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack found that if he eased the pressure on the -chain the trap-door tended to fall back. It was -a simple matter to prevent this, for, just at his -hand, there was a staple to which the chain could -be hooked; it was evidently intended for that -purpose. To swing himself on to the ladder was -the simplest of feats, and in half a minute he -had climbed through the open trap and stood in -the turret.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A fine old musty smell, that's what first -struck me," he said afterward. "The dust of -ages; cobwebs galore. Only one window, looking -seaward, and that shut fast. 'Twas stifling -to a fellow used to the fresh air. There was a -ramshackle old bedstead in one corner; a -four-poster, with a canopy and crimson hangings; at -least, they had been crimson; the dust was so -thick on 'em that I couldn't see what the color -was till I'd rubbed a bit of it off. That was -where the old eccentric breathed his last, I -suppose; and no one thought it worth carting away. -In the middle of the room was a deal table and -a chair with a broken back; not another stick of -furniture.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But in the corner near the window I saw -something that told a tale—a pile of kegs, almost -reaching to the low roof. 'Empty or full?' -thought I. I lifted one; it was full. I knew they -weren't old Congleton's property, or they'd -have disappeared with the rest of his furniture. -How did I know he had any? Why, because I -noticed nails on the wall, where pictures had -hung, and a clean patch on one of the walls—cleaner -than the rest, that is—where a bureau or -something of the sort had stood. Besides, no man -who'd have a mahogany bedstead and hangings -that once were splendid would have been likely -to be satisfied with a deal table and a common -rickety chair. They were the kind of things -you'd expect in a plowman's or a fisherman's -kitchen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"At any rate, I saw that somebody had used -the room since Congleton departed this life, for -there were some crumbs on the table, and a -chipped tumbler that smelt uncommonly like -the kegs. Ghosts don't eat bread and cheese and -drink spirits! And there was a coil of rope -under the table, and by the window a cheap sort of -curtain that just fitted. I held it up to see; right -in the middle of it was a round hole. And when -I came to look at the bed I saw that the mattress -had a big dent in it, and no dust on it. Somebody -had had a nap there since old Congleton died.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course I saw all this in a very few -seconds. Then I went on the prowl. I pulled out -the bedstead; by George! didn't it creak! I -thought the old thing would fall to pieces. -Behind it was a cupboard, and in the cupboard a -large bull's-eye lantern, and a long cylinder of -cardboard about eighteen inches long. 'What's -that for?' I thought. It didn't strike me at the -moment, but I took the things out and put them -on the table. The lamp leaked a little; I found -I'd got some spots of oil on my breeches.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When I put them on the table I noticed -something I'd missed before. In the middle was -a sort of pattern in red chalk—a circle with a tail -to it; and at the edge of the table two parallel -strokes. They'd been done some time, for the -marks in the middle were almost hidden by oil -stains. Those stains puzzled me for a bit. I -could have understood wine stains better. But -at last I tumbled to it. That was the place where -the lamp was put for the signaling. I set it down -on the circular mark; it just fitted. But I could -not make out at first what the two straight strokes -at the edge were for. Then I caught sight of the -roll of cardboard and another idea struck me. -I lifted it and stuck it on the bull's-eye; it fitted -like a glove; and when I turned the lantern so -that the handle was over the tail of the circle I -found that the cylinder just reached to the two -marks.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But that only puzzled me more than ever, -for the lantern and cylinder were now pointing -straight at old Congleton's bed. Would you -believe it?—I didn't at first think of turning the -table round! Of course it wasn't a fixture, and -when I did think of it I saw through the whole -scheme. Turned round, the lantern pointed -through the window. The cylinder was a clever -notion. It would prevent the light from the -bull's-eye spreading, so that while it would be -seen a good distance out at sea, it wouldn't -attract notice in the neighborhood, except that a -faint glow might be seen from below. But the -Folly wasn't in sight from the village, and -there'd be precious few of the ordinary country -folk who'd care to be near the spot after dark. -They'd be in mortal fear of seeing old -Congleton's ghost.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was still a little puzzled. What need was -there to mark the place of the lantern so -exactly. Anywhere near the window the light -would be seen clearly enough out at sea. But -now that I had moved the table I noticed four -red marks on the floor. 'Here's another -discovery,' I thought; 'there's a mark for each leg of -the table.' I slewed it around again, so that the -legs stood on the marks. Then it flashed on me; -if the table was always in the same place, and the -lantern always exactly on the marks, the light -would always hit the same point out at sea. 'A -very pretty scheme!' says I to myself. 'Good -master smugglers have all their wits about 'em.'</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was clear as daylight now that the Folly -was a signal-station, and sometimes, as the kegs -showed, a storehouse as well. Of course they -used old Congleton's machinery for hoisting the -kegs. That coil of rope, now! I pulled it over, -and there, just underneath, was a pulley—an -iron bar fitted with a small grooved wheel, and -resting at each end on a wooden block; little -grooves had been chiseled out to keep the bar -steady. And when I came to look at 'em I saw, -as I might have expected, that they'd been oiled -not long before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By this time I'd found out all I wished to -know. The only thing left to be discovered was, -who used the Folly? I made up my mind to get -Lieutenant Blake to let me bring some men to -the place one night when we saw the light, and -catch the men in the act. But before I went -away I thought I'd go down the staircase and -see if there was anything there. I couldn't find -a door, yet the staircase must lead direct into the -room; there was no other. I had another look -at the cupboard, and found after some trouble -that half the back of it was movable—it was a -sliding panel. I pulled it aside; it moved quite -easily; and I stepped through—carefully, I can -tell you, for it was pitch dark.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I got on to the staircase, and went down -gingerly, a step at a time. It was wooden, and -the stairs were pretty rotten; they creaked as I -moved, and I clung on to a rope that made a sort -of hand-rail, afraid of pitching head first to the -bottom. It smelled very close, and I took some -time to go down, for the stairs were narrow, and -as it was a winding staircase they scarcely gave -foothold except at the wall end. At last I got to -the bottom, and then I saw a glint or two of light -coming through chinks in the doorway.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I had only just got there when I fancied I -heard a rustling outside. 'Mercy me!' I thought; -'this isn't signaling time; but I hope no one is -coming for the kegs.' I scrambled up the -staircase a good deal quicker than I picked my way -down, and crawled through the hole in the -cupboard. Then I nearly jumped out of my skin, for -I saw a man sitting on the rickety chair. It was -Monsieur de Fronsac."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="close-quarters"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER IX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">CLOSE QUARTERS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Ah, Monsieur Jack!" said De Fronsac, with -his agreeable smile; "I see you!" Jack laughed. -It was only the Frenchman after all! His fear -that it might be a smuggler was groundless.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes; I'm too black for a ghost; 'tis a -confoundedly dirty place, Monsieur. But how do -you come here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is ver' simple, ver' simple indeed. I came -out in de early morning, to promenade myself, -and to compose a new sonnet on de Monstair. -Behold! Vat do I see? De trap-door of dis -tower is open; and, vat is dis?—assuredly I see -steps mounting up to de very sommit. I am -romantic, as you know, Monsieur; I love de -bizarre. Can I venture myself? Dat old -Congleton—vat a strange, an eccentric! I vould like -to see de place vere he lived so solitaire. I -climb; I have a little fear; but I make de -ascension; I arrive. Ho! Dis, den, is de place. Vat a -magnificent spot for to compose poesy! How -beautiful de spectacle over de blue, blue sea! -Magnificent! Glorious! Old Congleton had a -genius, hein? But you, Monsieur Jack, how -came you here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The same way as you, Monsieur."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! remarkable! You do not compose poesy -in de early morning! You, I t'ink—and your -good cousin t'inks—you sail on de blue, blue sea. -De steps, too; surely dey are new. Never have I -observed dem before. It is remarkable! Old -Congleton—did he ascend de tower in dat -manner? Or perhaps de steps are your vork; you -invent dem, Monsieur Jack?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No," said Jack shortly. He had never liked -De Fronsac's smile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Den of whom? Who invent dem? Dey -demand much care and skill; yes, and industry. -And for vat good to spend so much time? It -vould be easier to valk up de stairs—if de door -is open, of course dat is understood. But truly -it is more romantic—it has more of de fun, as -you English say, to mount on de outside, on little -steps, from hand to foot, vun may say. Yes, and -if in my youth I had not lived much among de -sailors of my little village, assuredly I should -not have had de courage to make an attempt so -perilous. Ve sailors, indeed, have de firm leg, -de fixed eye."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Fronsac's eye was certainly fixed—on -Jack, who had an uncomfortable feeling that the -Frenchman was not only trying to find out from -his manner what he had discovered, but was -talking to gain time. He was resolving to cut -the interview short, when De Fronsac, turning -round suddenly, appeared to catch sight for the -first time of the kegs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! Voila! Ve have it! Dose barrels -Monsieur Jack—you see dem? Dey are put dere -vizout doubt by dese smogglairs. Ah! de -rascals! Certainly ve must tell your good cousin, -Monsieur Bastable. He vill know de means to -take. He vill come, and take an inventaire. -Certainly dat is vat ve must do. You come viz me; -ve both tell him; ve go at vunce."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well," said Jack. "We'll go down. -Will you go first?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I t'ink better you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But I opened the trap-door. You won't know -how to shut it. You go first and I'll see that it is -properly closed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ver' vell. It is a good idea."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Fronsac accordingly stepped on to the -rope-ladder, and descended with a rapidity that -seemed to show he had indeed had no little -experience amongst seamen. Jack followed, closed -the trap-door, and, as he went down, threw the -iron steps one by one to the ground, where the -Frenchman stood awaiting him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now vat shall ve do viz dem?" asked De -Fronsac, when Jack stood beside him. "It vas -you dat discovered dem, Monsieur Jack. It is -to you to decide vat ve do. It is right. You vill -get great honor viz Monsieur Bastable, and de -Lor' Lieutenant, I t'ink you call de great man of -de county."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack did not wish to return the steps to their -original hiding-place. It would be better, he -thought, to hide them among the bushes. -Accordingly with De Fronsac's assistance he -carried them into the thicket, and concealed them -under a heap of dead leaves.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now ve go to de Grange?" said the Frenchman.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. We shall be rather early; Mr. Bastable -will not be up yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He intended to keep De Fronsac in sight until -he had an opportunity of sending a messenger -to the boat for a number of men to remove the -kegs. He did not feel sure that the Frenchman's -visit to the tower was so accidental as he -declared; and a bird in the hand was worth two in -the bush.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They made their way through the undergrowth. -With the frost the trees had now lost -nearly all their leaves, which thickly covered the -grass. Jack led the way, the Frenchman following -a yard or two behind, maintaining a running -fire of small talk, to which Jack replied with an -occasional monosyllable. On the edge of the -Hollow they entered a dense copse; there was a -sudden rustle, and half a dozen rough-clad men -with blackened faces sprang from behind the -trees. Jack's hand flew to his breast-pocket -where he kept his pistol, but before he could -draw it, De Fronsac caught his arm, crying:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Save me, Monsieur Jack, save me!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In spite of his apparent alarm, his grasp was -so firm that Jack was quite unable to draw his -weapon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let me go!" he cried angrily, trying to shake -himself free. But De Fronsac clung to him still -more desperately, repeating his cry "Save -me!" In another moment the men were upon him. -Then at last the Frenchman let go his hold, and -Jack found himself in the grip of two stalwart -fishers. He struggled violently, but in vain, and -in a few seconds more he was lying on the -ground securely gagged and bound.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then his eyes were bandaged, he was blindfolded, -lifted, and carried rapidly for some distance. -When he was set down and the bandage -removed from his eyes, he saw that he was in an -underground chamber, dimly lit through a -barred grating in the roof. He tried to speak, -but his words were choked by the gag.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now you listen to me," said one of the men, -whose voice he thought he recognized. "'Taint -no good shouting or struggling. We've got ye -firm, Mr. Hardy, king's officer though ye be. -So long as you give us no trouble you'll take no -harm. I'm gwine to ease that there gag; but if -you shout, I'll clap it on again and keep it there. -That's plain. Not that it be any good shouting, -for there's never a soul hereabout but the men -who'll guard ye."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was not so foolish as to spend his strength -and his breath uselessly. He saw that he was -helpless, and mentally vowed to be even with De -Fronsac at the first opportunity. Suspicious -before, he now felt certain that the Frenchman had -deliberately trapped him, though he was -amazed to find that the poetical tutor was a -smuggler.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He remained throughout the day in the -under-ground room, guarded all the time by one -man, who sat by the grating and refused to be -drawn into any talk. He was given some bread -and cheese, and spirits and water to drink; and he -spent the long hours in wondering what was to -become of him, and in relishing beforehand the -punishment he meant to administer to De Fronsac -some day. To think of escape was vain; the -men had evidently brought him down by a -ladder, which they had drawn up when they left, -closing and bolting the trap-door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Who were they? Jack wondered. What was -their real connection with De Fronsac? What -would they do with him? What would Babbage -and the men at the boat do when he did not -return? What steps would Lieutenant Blake take -when he found, as he must soon do, that his -midshipman was missing? There was no doubt -that the smugglers would promptly remove the -kegs and the signaling apparatus from the Folly, -and they would have plenty of time to get clear -away before the boat's crew became suspicious.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Late in the afternoon, as Jack guessed by the -dimness of the light through the grating, he -heard voices above. A heavy object was dropped -on the floor; the trap-door was lifted, a ladder -let down, and three men descended into the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You be coming along of us," said the man -who had before addressed him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here, whoever you are—" Jack began; -but he said no more, for the gag was roughly -thrust into his mouth, he was once more -blindfolded, and taken up the ladder. Then he was -lifted from the floor and lowered into what he -judged to be a large empty water-butt.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Double up your knees, Mr. Hardy," said the -man. "You be going a little journey."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no help for it. Jack feeling, as he -afterward said, like a trussed turkey, sat -crouching in the butt. The top was hammered on. -Then the butt was lifted, carried a few steps, and -hoisted on to a cart, which rumbled away. Jack -was more angry than alarmed; the men -evidently intended him no harm, or they would -have knocked him on the head before this; but a -water-butt, even though holes have been bored -in its sides to let in air, is not the most -comfortable of vehicles, and Jack was beginning to feel -cramped and bruised and half-stifled when the -cart stopped. The butt was lowered, not too -gently; Jack was pretty well shaken up. But his -former experience was pleasant compared with -his sensations when the butt was rolled round -and round on its lower edge, as he had seen -draymen rolling barrels of beer. His head fairly -swam by the time the teetotum movement ceased.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he heard voices again, and the creaking -of tackle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm at the shore," he thought. "Surely -they're not going to set me afloat!" The idea of -going adrift in a water-butt made him feel -seasick, till he remembered that it was impossible; -the butt would fill with water, and if they wished -to drown him they would not have taken so much -trouble.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, 'Zekiel," he heard a man say, "was -your tub leaking?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A trifle, but we've bunged it up; 'tis all -shipshape and seaworthy now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis mortal heavy, blamed if 'tisn't."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Course it is; 'tis well-nigh full."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two or three low chuckles followed this -sentence. Then the butt was rolled up what seemed -to be a gradual incline, and dropped a foot or -two with a bump that set Jack's bones clashing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm on a boat," he thought, "this is a voyage -of adventure. Wish to goodness I could knock -the top off this cage of mine and get a little air."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As if in answer to his wish, a few minutes -later, when he felt by the motion that the boat -was putting out to sea, the lid was knocked off, -the gag removed, and he drew a long breath of -relief.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I say, you men," he said, in a husky voice -that sounded like that of a stranger, "undo my -eyes and hands, and let me out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no answer. He remained in his -cramped and uncomfortable quarters for some -hours, his repeated requests to be taken out -passing unheeded. He began to feel very -low-spirited. His body ached all over; his hands -were still bound; and the butt was so narrow that -he could hardly shift his position by an inch. -His chief feeling was no longer rage against De -Fronsac, but an intense longing to stretch -himself. And then, strange as it appeared to him, he -began to feel sleepy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was wakened from a half-doze by a loud -hail, answered by a fainter one from a distance. -A few seconds later he was released from the -butt, and lowered, still bound, over the side of -the vessel into a smaller boat. The boat did not -go far; after a few strokes of the oars Jack felt -a slight bump; he was unceremoniously hoisted -again; and when at last his eyes and hands were -unbound, and he had recovered the use of his -sight, he found himself on board a lugger, whose -crew had the swarthy faces and red caps of -French fishermen. Greetings were exchanged -between the men of the two vessels; then the -French lugger made sail and stood out into -mid-channel.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was too much relieved at having -recovered his freedom to mind where he was -going. For a time he had not even the curiosity to -ask; it was quite enough to breathe freely, and -use his eyes and stretch his limbs. But night was -drawing on, and when a meager supper was -brought to him he asked in French for what -port the vessel was making.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No port, Monsieur," replied the man with a grin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, what place, then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where the captain commands, Monsieur."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And where does the captain command? -Speak out, man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Only the captain knows, Monsieur."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack gave it up. The man's answers were perfectly -polite, but it was evident he had received -orders to tell nothing. Jack was taken below and -made fairly comfortable. When morning -dawned and he was allowed to go on deck there -was no land in sight. But about midday a -coast-line came into view, and in the evening, -after beating about for hours, a strong land wind -keeping the lugger off shore, the skipper -managed to run into a little cove beneath high cliffs. -It was a wild part of the Norman coast; there -were no dwellings where the lugger ran ashore; -and Jack had to tramp for several miles among -the Frenchmen, over a rough road, before they -arrived at a little fishing hamlet. Here he had -to share a pallet bed in the auberge with one of -the fishermen, two others occupying a similar -bed at the other side of the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack and his bedfellow both found it difficult -to sleep, and the Frenchman proved more -loquacious than any of the others. He could -speak no English save a few words, and his -French was so broad a dialect that Jack, who -knew little French at the best, was often at a loss -to understand him. But he understood enough -to learn that he had been kept in an underground -chamber near the Hollow until the time came -when a boat might put off, ostensibly for night -fishing, really to convey the prisoner to the -French lugger, the whereabouts of which would -be known to the Luscombe smugglers. He had -been carried on board the boat from the cart -openly at Luscombe quay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Whose boat was it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was to a man—Monsieur might know -him—who calls himself Goujon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I don't know anybody of that name. -Who is he?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is Goujon; that is all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is he a fisherman? What is he like?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have never seen him, Monsieur. For myself, -I have never put foot to land in England. -But the captain knows him; ah, yes! the captain -knows Goujon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Jack at last went to sleep, wondering who -Goujon could be.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-prisoner-of-france"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER X</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A PRISONER OF FRANCE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Next morning Jack was awakened early and -told that he must march.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very happy," he said, "but where to?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had recovered his spirits. No misfortunes, -no bufferings, can long depress a healthy boy of -sixteen. Consequently when he learned that he -was to tramp to Boulogne, more than fifty miles -away, he received the information with a smile. -His chief thought was: "Perhaps I shall see that -Monstair, Boney himself!" The prospect of a -fifty-mile walk in keen, bright weather did not -daunt him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was accompanied by the skipper of the -lugger and several of the men. Now that they -were on French soil they had lost their -reluctance to talk, and before many miles had been -covered Jack was chatting as freely as his -command of the language permitted, and laughing -at the misunderstandings that occurred on both -sides. He learned one fact that made him feel -sorry. A few days before, Admiral Keith had -exploded some vessels among a hundred and -fifty of the French praams at their anchorage -outside the pier at Boulogne. But this attempt to -destroy the flotilla had not succeeded, the vessels -having been separated by distances too wide for -the explosion to have the destructive effect -intended. The French smugglers were much -elated at Admiral Keith's failure, and amused -Jack by their confident assertion that before long -Bonaparte, or the Emperor Napoleon, as he was -beginning to be called, would make himself -King of England.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Boulogne was reached at the end of the second -day's march. Jack was taken to a commissary of -the forces. He did not learn till some time -afterward what story the skipper told. It was to the -effect that his lugger, while making for -Boulogne from St. Malo, had been becalmed off -Barfleur, within sight of an English frigate -which lay about two miles astern. A boat had -been sent from the frigate to capture the lugger. -Attempting to board, the English crew had -been driven back with severe loss, and this -young officer, who had been foremost of the -boarding party, had been left in the Frenchmen's -hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Whether the commissary believed the story -Jack never knew. Certainly it was acted upon. -He was handed over to the keeper of the town -prison, and lodged in the cells below the old -belfry tower. Next day, however, he was -removed and conveyed under a guard a few miles -westward toward Etaples. As he left the belfry -with other prisoners amid an escort of -gendarmes, he saw riding up the hill towards -Wimereux a group of horsemen, led by a stout little -soldier in brilliant uniform. The gendarmes -saluted; the little man gave a curt and careless -acknowledgment, and cantered on. It was -Bonaparte himself, riding to review the army he was -collecting for the invasion of England. Jack -recognized him by his likeness to the caricatures -he had seen at home.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis something to have seen the wonderful -Boney!" he thought.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not far from Etaples he was placed with a -number of other prisoners, all English seamen, -in an old château about a mile from the sea. It -had evidently been at one time a pleasant -country-house, but from its partly dilapidated -condition Jack inferred that it had suffered during -the revolutionary riots thirteen or fourteen years -before. It was now used as an overflow prison, -the regular prisons of the town being filled. The -English prisoners in France always -outnumbered the French prisoners in England, -owing to the greater enterprise of English -seamen, which often led them to attempt impossible -feats and threw them into the power of the enemy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The prisoners were kept on the top floor of the -château, several rooms having been knocked into -one. The windows were barred; there were two -stories beneath; outside, the walled park all -round the house was regularly patrolled by -sentries; and there was a guard constantly at the -gate. The wall bordering the grounds was about -nine feet high and spiked at the top. These facts -were at once noted by Jack, for the instant he -was shut up he began to think of escape; but the -outlook was not promising.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>If he wished to escape at the first, his longing -was intensified after a few days of prison -regime. There were about seventy prisoners -altogether, and twenty jailers. The treatment -was not far short of brutal. The prisoners had -to sleep on coarse pallets of straw, the stalks cut -so short that they were like beds of spikes. The -food consisted of nothing but brown bread and -more or less dirty water. One and a half sous a -day were allowed by the government to each -prisoner for the purchase of extra food—a -miserably insufficient sum; yet, poor as it was, it -more often found its way into the pockets of the -jailers than into those of the prisoners. The -rooms were never properly cleaned, and the -jailers thought nothing of bullying and assaulting -brutally any man who had the audacity to grumble.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack had the good luck to be spared some of -the worst hardships. He was allowed the use of -a small room off the larger one—a kind of -antechamber, the partition of which was only half -demolished where the separate rooms had been -knocked into one for the reception of the prisoners. -A door opened directly on the staircase; it -was kept closed, and it had a grating through -which the sentry on duty could watch what was -going on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The warders, drafted from two companies of -infantry in the neighboring town, were relieved -daily. This was a precaution taken, no doubt, to -prevent them from getting tired of their job and -relaxing in their watchfulness. At all hours of -the night the steady tramp of the sentries round -the house could be heard by wakeful prisoners -above. And many were wakeful, for their poor -fare was ill calculated to encourage sleep, and as -the days passed they shivered with the cold. It -did not occur to the officer in command, a -rough-tongued captain who had apparently -risen from the ranks, to provide a fire; and when -one of the prisoners ventured to ask for one, he -got a snubbing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was the only officer among the captives. -He learned afterward that officers were often -liberated on parole, but this was entirely in the -discretion of the district commandant, and Jack -was unlucky in coming into the hands of a bully. -He tried to keep cheerful, but it was hard in -such depressing surroundings. The only pleasant -part of the day was the short interval allowed -for exercise in the park. A space was roped off -within which the prisoners might run or walk; -it was a considerable distance from the wall, and -sentries with loaded muskets stood on guard. -There was thus no chance of making a dash for -liberty; but the opportunity of stretching their -legs in the open for twenty minutes was a boon -to men accustomed to the freedom of life on -the sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thus four months passed. Every day was like -another. A little news came to the prisoners at -times through the jailers—how further attempts -to destroy the flotilla of praams at Boulogne had -been defeated; how the English had attacked in -vain Fort Rouge at Calais Harbor; how -Napoleon had been at last crowned emperor by the -pope in the church of Notre Dame. But the -news which Jack eagerly awaited, of a great -victory won by Admiral Nelson at sea, never came.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One day in February, when snow was falling, -a new batch of prisoners was brought in, to the -disgust of the others, for the room was already -overcrowded. But Jack was pleased and vexed -at once to see that the new arrivals were no other -than Babbage, Turley, and a dozen more from -the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well! I never did see!" ejaculated the bo'sun, -when Jack hailed him. "Bless my eyes, sir, but -I thought as you was gone to glory—leastways -to Davy Jones, and so did we all. How did you -go for to come to this here dirty old hulk of a -French prison, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack told the whole story.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What happened to you and the boat?" he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, sir, we waited for you three hours or -more, as we was bid, and when you didn't come -back, I said as how we ought to go up along and -find you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, you didn't!" interrupted Turley; "that -was me. You said our orders was to wait for -Mr. Hardy three hours, and the three hours being -up, 'twas our dooty to go back and tell -Mr. Blake. There, then, old Sparrow-grass!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Evidently Turley supposed that on French -ground the claims of discipline might be -ignored. But he was mistaken.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you mean by Sparrow-grass?" -demanded Jack as sternly as he could.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, I know that his rightful name is -Ben Babbage, but among ourselves, sir, when we -thinks of it, we calls him Turnip—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That'll do, Turley. You'll call Mr. Babbage -by his right name, here and anywhere else; -remember that. Go on, Babbage."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, as I was saying, I said as how we -ought to go up along and find you. So go we -did; but though we spent a couple of hours -a-prowling round that there tower, and about the -village, and went up to the Grange and all, -never a word did we hear of you. So we had to -give it up, and we went back and reported you -missing to Mr. Blake. He put in at Luscombe -himself, and raised a deal of dust, sir, but 'twas -no good. So he reported you to the admiral at -Portsmouth as missing, and we got another -officer in your place, a slack-twisted young—beg -pardon, sir, I was a-going to do what Turley -done, sir, call names; but I won't—leastways, not -in your hearing, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And how did you become prisoners, too?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, sir, a Mounseer's sloop set on us t'other -day when we was running before a stiff gale. -The poor little </span><em class="italics">Fury's</em><span> topmast was carried away -and the mainmast sprung. The sloop hugged -us till the wind dropped; then she came up -alongside and boarded. She had three times our -number, and they must have bred different -Frenchmen in the days when one Englishman -was equal to three; we did our best, as you may -believe; she lost half her men, but the other half -was still double what was left of us, so we had -to haul down our colors, in a manner of -speaking. Mr. Blake and the new midshipman have -been marched off, I did hear, to a place called -Verdun; here's the rest of us, what was left, and -if you'll look out of the window, you'll see the -poor little </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> lying off the quay there. I -s'pose they'll patch her up and call her by a new -name, and that's enough to make any Englishman's -blood boil, it is."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was angry as Babbage at the success of -the sloop in capturing the cutter. But he felt -somewhat cheered at the sight of the faces of his -messmates; and their presence, strangely enough, -set him again thinking of escape. Babbage was -a seasoned and knowing old salt, and Jack -resolved to have a long and private talk with him -at the first opportunity.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But though in the course of a week they had -many such talks—in the park while exercising, -in the little antechamber at dead of night—they -almost despaired of hitting upon any likely plan -of regaining their liberty. There was no chance -of silencing the sentries at the head of the -staircase; any attempt to break open the door would -at once be heard outside, and the whole force of -warders, all soldiers, would be on the alert. The -bars across the windows might indeed be -loosened or forcibly wrenched out, and the -bedclothes—if the material of which they were -made was not too poor—might be torn up and -knotted to form a rope; but a small light was -kept burning in the room all night, and any -work at the windows would certainly be seen by -the sentries at the door and by the men patrolling -outside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah now! if only brother Sol was here!" -sighed Babbage one evening, when Jack and he -had been talking over every plan that suggested -itself, possible and impossible.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What could he do?" asked Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Twas a saying of his, sir, 'Nary a way in but -a way out,' though I said to him, 'What about a -mouse-trap?' Ah, brother Sol 'ud see the way -out of this here trap if any man could."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I wish this brother Sol of yours would -get himself captured and come here. Where is he?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know, sir; I haven't seed him for four -and twenty year. But well I mind the last thing -he said to me when he went away. 'Ben,' says -he, 'God bless you!' I never forgot them feeling -words, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I suppose not. As he isn't here we must do -without him. We </span><em class="italics">must</em><span> get out somehow, -Babbage. I, for one, am not going to rot in France -for half a dozen years. Is there anything we -haven't thought of?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Babbage pursed his lips and pondered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We've thought of everything from window -to ground," he said presently. "The only thing -we haven't thought of is the roof, and we want to -go down, not up—leastways, not yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know. What about the chimney?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No good, sir. Haven't I seed the sergeant -of the guard poke his nose up every day to see -if the bars are safe? They're just fixed so that -no nat'ral man's head could pass between. Must -ha' bin done a purpose."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Does the sergeant examine them carefully?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sir; he just stoops down, and cocks his -head around, and gives a squint up, and many's -the time I'd ha' liked to take advantage of the -sitivation to kick him, only I thought I'd better -not. 'Kicks is poor tricks,' too, as brother Sol -used to say."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'll come into your room to-night, and -have a look at them. Luckily the chimney is on -the same side as the door; the sentry won't see -me. We might be able to loosen those bars and -clear the chimney."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And what then, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd climb the roof and take a look round. -Can't say more at present."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very good, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the small hours Jack crept quietly into the -larger room and got into the chimney unobserved. -The bars were just above his head, and -he very soon decided that with a sufficiently hard -implement he could loosen the mortar about -their ends. That was the doubtful matter. The -knives supplied to a few of the prisoners who -were given meat for their dinner were removed -by the jailers after the meal, and all weapons had -of course been taken from the men before they -were brought into the room. But next morning -Jack managed to force a long rusty nail out of -one of the planks of the floor of his room; it -seemed to him stout and strong enough for his -purpose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was necessary to take the rest of the prisoners -into his confidence. He got Babbage to tell -them what he had in view, and as they were all -Englishmen, with just as keen a longing for -liberty as himself, there was no fear of their -betraying him. As soon as the jailers had -distributed the morning rations he slipped into the -chimney. Half a dozen of the men, gathered as -if casually near the fireplace, screened him from -any one who might suddenly enter the room. He -began to scrape away the mortar at one end of -each of the bars, working as quickly as he could. -Turley swept up with his hand the flakes of -mortar that fell to the floor. By the evening Jack -had worked so well that one bar was loosened -sufficiently to be bent down when the time came. -Then he got some of the men to tear off scraps -of their woolen shirts, and with these he filled -up the holes, so that even if the bar was tested by -the sergeant there was a good chance that it -would hold well enough to prevent discovery.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The scraping occupied him for two more days—one -bar a day. By the time he had finished he -found that the nail which had served him so well -was worn to within half an inch of the head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He determined to make an expedition up the -chimney on that third evening, if circumstances -proved favorable. After the evening meal of -bread and water he got Ben to use his strength in -bending down the bars. Then he crawled -through and began to ascend. It was a tight fit. -The chimney was narrow; but Jack, never stout, -had grown thin on the prison fare, and he -wormed his way up by the aid of projecting -bricks left for the chimney-sweep; those were -the days of chimney climbing. The flue was not -very dirty; evidently no fires had been lighted -below for a long time.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He reached the top without mishap. There -was no chimney-pot. Looking cautiously out, -showing as little of his head as possible, he saw -the sea rippling far below in the distance, -shining ruddy in the glow of the setting sun. A -strong easterly breeze was blowing. To the right -lay the harbor and town. To the left were two -sloops and three or four praams; alongside the -nearest sloop a coasting brig; then two fishing -smacks. A cable's length from these lay the -</span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>, now apparently refitted with new -main- and topmasts, and eastward of her, a little -farther out, a lugger and another smack. Jack -guessed that, besides the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>, only the sloops -and the praams were likely to be armed with -cannon, though the lugger might carry a small gun.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The immediate surroundings of the château -were out of sight, except to his left, being -screened by the parapet of the flat roof some feet -away from the chimney. Except at one point, -where the roof of an outbuilding rose nearly to -the same elevation as the part where he was -perched, there was a sheer drop of fifteen feet -from the top of the chimney-stack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a sloping roof, and Jack made up his -mind to crawl down it until he came to a chimney -of the outbuilding, from which a thin spiral of -smoke was rising. But he waited until the dusk -had deepened before he thought it safe to emerge. -Then he crept carefully down till he reached -the smoking chimney. The roof there was not -quite as high as the other; the drop was about -five feet; and he guessed from the position that -below the chimney were the servants' quarters. -Two other chimneys beyond were smoking; -these, he thought, must belong to the rooms -occupied by the guard. The other chimneys, from -which no smoke was rising, could only be -reached by dropping some twelve feet and -climbing an equal distance; and to do that would -involve the risk of being seen or heard.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack placed his hand on the side of the -chimney from which a thin smoke was coming. There -was so little heat in the bricks that he guessed the -fire below had been allowed to die down. His -guess was confirmed when he put his hand in the -air over the mouth of the chimney: it was -scarcely warm. He resolved to climb down and -find out whither the chimney led. Thin as it -was, the smoke in the narrow space was rather -suffocating, and he felt a certain dread lest he -should cough and betray his presence. There -seemed no end to the chimney, as step by step -he let himself down, moving with extreme -caution to avoid making any sound that could be -heard below. As he approached the bottom he -was relieved to find that the heat did not -perceptibly increase. The fire must be almost dead. -He was dislodging soot from the walls; would it -be seen by the persons in the room? Perhaps if -they saw it they would think it due to the strong -wind. Perhaps there was nobody in the room. -He heard no voices, no sound of movement, -though he saw there was a light. The chimney -was a good deal wider at the point he had -reached, and he wondered if it led to the kitchen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Waiting a little to make sure that the room -was unoccupied, he at length ventured to slip -down to the grate and peep into the room. It -was empty of people. A large table stood in the -middle; kitchen utensils hung from pegs on the -walls; the door was ajar, and he now heard -voices, proceeding evidently from an adjoining -room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the hearth was a long iron poker. "That -may prove useful," he thought; and leaping -lightly down he seized it. A large chopper hung -to a nail at the side of the chimney. This also -he secured. Then creeping to the door, he -peeped round from the level of the floor. Three -men were seated at a table enjoying their supper. -This was apparently the cook's room. The men -were very much at their ease. A large fire of -logs threw a glow upon their faces; a bottle of -wine had been emptied; the smell of fried onions -teased Jack's appetite. He listened to the men's -conversation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Monsieur le capitaine</em><span> will bring two guests -to supper," said one.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Peste!</em><span>" growled a second, the fattest of all, -by whom, as Jack now saw, a cook's white cap -lay, "he will keep us up late. </span><em class="italics">Monsieur le -capitaine</em><span> is so particular. A supper fit for Bonaparte -is not good enough for him. The kitchen fire -will have to be made up. Go and see to it, Jules."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man addressed scraped his plate and -drank his wine before lazily rising to do the -cook's bidding. Jack flew back with the speed of -a hare, and before the man had pushed back his -chair the adventurer was several feet up the -chimney, grasping his precious spoil, the poker -and the chopper.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-break-for-freedom"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A BREAK FOR FREEDOM</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"By Jove!" thought Jack with a chuckle as he -scrambled out of the chimney, "won't there be a -rumpus when the cook misses his poker! -Luckily, he'll never think it has gone aloft!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a very sooty object that descended, -after pausing to make sure that all was safe, into -the prisoners' room. Jack was immediately -surrounded by a group of the </span><em class="italics">Fury's</em><span> men, so eager -to hear what had happened that they raised their -voices and provoked an angry reprimand from -the sentry at the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Silence, you donkeys!" whispered Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Avast your jabber!" said Babbage, scowling -upon Turley. "Me and Mr. Hardy have got to -lay the course for this little venture."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After this the men behaved more discreetly, -and left Jack alone with Babbage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Babbage," said Jack, when he had -finished his story, "we're going to escape, and I'll -tell you how."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not up the chimbley, sir? I'd squeeze myself -as small as I could, but I'm afeard I should -stick fast and spoil the whole boiling."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, no; you're too fat for the chimney. -You'll be left in charge till you hear a hubbub -below; then you're to break open the door and -make a dash for it at the head of the men."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, I'll obey orders, sir; Ben Babbage -always obeys orders; but, begging your pardon, it -beats me how I'm to break the door open with -a poker and a chopper—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Babbage, if you make any more difficulties -you'll never see your brother Sol, for here you'll -stay. You shall have other tools by and by. You -understand, nothing is to be done until you hear -the signal; it will be loud enough, I promise -you. I shall wait until the captain's guests have -gone. That will probably be late; so there'll -be plenty of time for us to make a rope. No, -don't speak. I haven't done yet. We'll tear up -the coverlets—they're precious thin, but we -haven't any better—and twist up a rope long -enough to reach from the top of the chimney to -the bottom: about fifty feet, I should think. -Then I'll take it with me and four or five of the -men, Turley for one—</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Begging your pardon, sir—</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Begging your pardon, sir,—not Turley, but me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, very well! You're too fat for the -chimney at present, as you owned yourself, but we -could get something off you with the chopper."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Babbage grinned sheepishly, and made no further -suggestions.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Several hours later, Jack, at the window, heard -loud voices and laughter in the courtyard below. -The captain's guests were evidently departing. -Allowing an hour to pass, sufficient, he thought, -for the captain and the servants to have settled -into their beauty sleep, he signed to his four -selected men, and led the way up the chimney, -Turley carrying the rope. They clambered -across the roof and came to the kitchen chimney.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Turley," said Jack, "pay out the rope -as I go down. By George! 'tis a good deal -hotter than when I was here before."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He got down into the chimney, leaving the -four men on the roof. It was indeed very hot; -the kitchen fire, made up for cooking the supper, -had evidently not yet died down. Fortunately -there was little smoke; even without it the air -was so stifling that Jack was surprised that he -reached the bottom safely. He jumped when -his feet touched the grate; they were protected -only by his stockings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no light in the room, but the glow -of the dying fire was strong enough to show him -that it was empty. He tiptoed to the three doors. -The back door was locked and bolted; the door -of the cook's room was closed but not locked, and -he heard snores from within; the third door, -leading to the rest of the house, he supposed, was -ajar, and a dim light came through the opening.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A little more light was necessary. Not without -a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers -one or two small chips of wood that were drying -at the side of the grate. They kindled, and lit -the room with a dancing flame, which Jack -fervently hoped would not attract the attention of -the sentry outside. He had already seen that the -shutters of the window were closed; he trusted -there was no chink to betray him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The first thing was to get arms of some kind -for his men. A poker and a chopper he had -already purloined, much to the mystification of -the cook, no doubt. Ah! there was a rolling-pin -hanging by a loop from a nail in the wall. -Down it came; in a trice he tied it to the thin -rope. Giving this a gentle tug, he saw the -rolling-pin disappear up the chimney.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he looked round quickly for more weapons. -Yes; there was a cleaver, a gridiron, a frying-pan.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must have them," he said to himself. By the -time he had taken them down from their nails, -the rope was hanging once more within reach. -One by one they followed the rolling-pin. -Another hunt on tiptoe round the room yielded a -brass candlestick, a braizing-pan, several -dish-covers which he rejected as being too clumsy to -wield, a big soup-ladle, and a couple of long -carving-knives. There were saucepans in plenty, -but too big for his purpose. He had to be content -with the ten articles he had obtained—rude -weapons, indeed, but likely to be formidable in -the hands of determined and desperate men. -As the utensils of metal passed up the chimney they -clicked more than once on the wall, and Jack's -heart beat faster as he wondered if the sounds -would be heard. But no doubt there were mice -and rats behind these old walls; blessed rats and -mice!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After waiting a little to make sure that the -cook and his assistants had not been disturbed, -he prepared to go farther afield. Creeping to -the door that stood ajar, he pushed it a little. -It moved with a creak which must surely, Jack -thought, be heard all over the house. He waited -breathlessly; there was no sound. But he could -not risk a continuous creaking. Taking his -courage in both hands he pushed the door quickly, -stopping it with a jerk. It made never a sound. -Jack saw by the light of a small lamp that it -opened into a narrow passage, with a door at the -end. He crept along the wall. The farther door -was not closed. He peeped in.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The </span><em class="italics">salle à manger</em><span>!" he thought. There was -the table at which the captain had entertained -his guests.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To the left there was another passage at right -angles to the first. A narrow staircase led, he -supposed, to the servants' rooms. A few steps -along the passage brought him to the entrance -hall, from which sprang the main staircase. He -looked up. He was at the bottom of a deep well, -extending, it appeared, to the top of the mansion. -He shrank back into the shade of the huge post -at the foot of the stairs; for if the sentries -outside the prisoners' room chanced to hear a -movement below and looked over, they would -certainly see him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he cast back, and came to the back -staircase. The steps were of stone; he might ascend -without the danger of creaking; and he must -see whither these stairs led. He went up the -steps in pitch darkness, and found himself on a -landing. Groping along the wall, he knew that -he was in a stone-flagged corridor. Ah! at the -end there was a streak of light. Tiptoeing along, -he came to a door partly open. Dared he peep -round it? He paused for a few seconds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hang it!" he said to himself, "I wish my -heart wouldn't thump so!" He listened: how -these Frenchmen snored! Were they all asleep? -He took a step forward; then felt a sudden -unreasoning fear, and stole back for several yards. -In a few seconds he had collected himself and -returned to the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now he ventured to put his head into the -room. A dozen men—he would have said a score -at the first moment—were asleep on rough -settles against the wall. They had their clothes on, -as if in bivouac, ready for action at a moment's -notice. A smoky lamp hung from a bracket on -the wall. In the corner of the fireplace, where -there was a faint glow, were stacked the men's -muskets. The key of the room was on the inside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Having taken all this in at a glance, Jack -carefully withdrew, returned along the passage and -down the stairs, and arrived once more at the -kitchen. Two sharp tugs at the rope brought -Turley to his side; at short intervals the other -three appeared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All safe!" whispered Jack. "You've taken -the things to Babbage, Turley?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's well. Now, Turley, that's the cook's -room. You'll stay and watch the door. If any -one tries to break out, you'll know what to do. -You other men come with me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He led them quietly along the passage and up -the staircase. At the landing he halted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The guards are in that room at the end of -the corridor," he whispered. "I'm going in to -try and get their muskets. If I'm discovered, -you three make a rush and get hold of the -muskets. Never mind about me. You understand."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He crept stealthily into the room. The men's -cartridge-belts lay in a heap on the table. -Taking care to make no noise, Jack lifted two or -three, one at a time, and handed them to his men. -Then he approached the pile of arms. With the -gentlest of movements he released two of the -muskets, one with each hand, on opposite sides -of the pile. Would the balance be disturbed? -No, all was safe. He passed the weapons out of -the room, and turned to remove a third and a -fourth. But who had make that click? It was -one of the men outside. Jack looked anxiously -at the sleeping forms. Had any of them been -awakened?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One of the Frenchmen turned, sat up, rubbed -his eyes—and saw the English prisoner!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Au voleur! au prisonnier! aux armes! -Eveillez-vous, mes camarades!</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was so sleepy that he scarcely knew what -he was saying; but his shout roused his -companions. As they turned, too heavy with sleep -to have all their wits about them, Jack's three -men sprang in, and in a twinkling seized the -remaining muskets and rushed back into the -passage. The first Frenchman was now on his feet. -Jack with a straight right-hander sent him -spinning over; then he dashed to the door, slipped the -key out of one side of the lock and into the other, -and just as two of the other men were lurching -toward him, skipped outside, slammed the door, -and turned the key.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 79%" id="figure-49"> -<span id="jack-with-a-straight-right-hander-sent-him-spinning-over"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Jack, with a straight right-hander, sent him spinning over" src="images/img-138.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">Jack, with a straight right-hander, sent him spinning over</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, men, after me!" he cried.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He raced along the corridor, conscious of a -tremendous uproar in the guard-room—cries, -oaths, violent thumps and kicks on the door. Up -the stairs! There were the sentries at the top, -startled out of their wits. What was happening? -Hubbub below, hubbub in the prisoners' room! -The prisoners were actually battering at the -door! And with heavy implements: where had -they got them? Crash! There was a panel half -driven out. The amazed soldiers raised their -muskets; they could at least fire into the room. -But at this moment they caught sight of Jack -and the sailors springing up the back staircase. -Another crash on the door! </span><em class="italics">O ciel</em><span>! They waited -for no more, but with a yell turned their backs -and leaped down the main staircase, taking three -stairs at a time.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ahoy there, Babbage; stand clear!" shouted Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir!" cried the bo'sun from within.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Putting to the lock the musket he carried, -Jack fired. The lock was burst; with a touch the -door gave way; and a second later the prisoners -began to pour out.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Steady, men!" cried Jack. "No crowding, or -we'll get jammed and be clapped under hatches -again. Armed men in front."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They followed Jack down the same staircase -by which he had come. As they passed the locked -door of the guard-room they heard the imprisoned -men making a furious assault upon it. But -it was a piece of good oak; they had no firearms -to blow away the lock; and Jack knew that they -might hammer it for an hour without making -much impression.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Down they go! Here they are at the kitchen. -And there is Turley, a saucepan in one hand, a -huge dish-cover in the other, holding at bay the -fat cook and his two assistants, who are vainly -attempting, with ferocious cries, to get within -his guard. When they see Jack enter the room, -and behind him a swarm of seamen, they wheel -round and scurry like hares into the farther -apartment, the fat cook going last, squealing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No danger there!" said Jack. "There's no -time to lose, men. Now for the back door."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He ran to it, drew back the bolts, and throwing -it wide dashed out into the open. There was -a blinding flash close by; the shot missed; and -with Turley and others hard on his heels Jack -dashed straight in the direction from which the -shot had come. But the sentry who had fired -was already scampering away. A companion -had joined him; together they made for the -wicket of the front gate; dashed through, and -tried to close it. But Turley was just in time to -slip his saucepan in and hold the gate open. The -sentries waited no longer. They raced as fast as -their legs would carry them toward the town.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To overtake them was impossible. In a few -minutes the two companies of infantry would be -on the track of the escaped prisoners. Was there -time to reach the harbor before they came up? -Had the shots already roused the officers of the -vessels at anchor and caused them to despatch -men ashore? Jack could not wait even to -wonder. On he went, calling to his men to close up, -straight along the road leading to the town. But -to pass through the streets to the harbor would -be fatal. Within half a mile of the town he -halted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You, Mudge, and you, Folkard, cut off a -quarter of a mile to port and fire your muskets. -Then run as hard as you can in our wake. Quick, -men!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He hoped that the firing in that direction -would mislead the enemy and give the fugitives -the few minutes' grace they needed for the next -move of his plan. When the two men had gone -off to the left, he led the party rapidly to the -right, hoping to strike the harbor at its eastern -extremity.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the fugitives, keeping perfect silence, -stumbled in the darkness over fields and across ditches -toward the harbor, they heard loud shouts to -their left, followed by the roll of a drum. -Clearly the alarm had been raised, the soldiers -were turning out. All now depended on whether -the direction of the escape was discovered within -the next few minutes. If not, Jack thought that -he might reach the harbor with his band in time -to seize some boats before they were intercepted. -He listened eagerly for shots behind; they -seemed long in coming, and the outskirts of the -village loomed up in the darkness ahead before -the expected reports at last struck his ear. -Fervently he hoped that the sound would draw the -soldiers off in that direction.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He wished he could go faster, but many of the -men were weak from the effects of imprisonment -and meager fare, and he had to accommodate his -pace to the slowest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Making a fairly wide circuit, Jack steered for -the extremity of the harbor, where only a few -fishermen's cottages intervened between him and -the waterside. Some fishers who had turned out -of their dwellings on hearing the alarm scurried -down the rutty road with loud shouts. The noise -was bound to bring the soldiers to the spot within -a few minutes. Jack's heart was pumping at -a great rate, but he did not lose his coolness or -his nerve. He must do something to check the -soldiers, that was plain. Sending twenty men -to search the shore for boats, he posted the nine -armed with muskets under cover of the cottages -with orders to delay the soldiers at all costs. The -rest of his men, some armed with the spoil of the -kitchen, others with bricks and stones snatched -up on the way, he placed behind the nine to support them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A minute or two—horribly long they seemed -to Jack—of anxious waiting; then the two men -who had fired the shots in the rear came panting -up, and from the direction of the harbor a -messenger brought the good news that six large boats -had been found. Almost at the same moment the -clump-clump of heavy boots and sabots on the -road was distinctly heard, ever growing louder. -If the runners proved to be soldiers it would be -impossible to escape without a fight. Jack would -rather have been allowed to embark in peace, -but if there must be a fight—</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," he whispered to Babbage, "we'll -show them what English Jack Tars are made of."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He at once sent the unarmed men down to the -water under guidance of the messenger, bidding -them get into the boats; then with the rest he -prepared to fight a rear-guard action.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Frenchmen came on helter-skelter. Not -one of them imagined that they had any enemy -more formidable than unarmed weaklings to -deal with. Jack waited until they were within -twenty yards; even in the dim starlight they -could be seen distinctly enough. Then in a voice -that rang clearly he gave the word "Fire!" The -eleven rifles flashed; there were cries from the -advancing Frenchmen; some of them, at any -rate, must have been hit at this point-blank -range. The head of the column was in confusion; -men turned this way and that; they were -apparently without leadership.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While they halted and wavered another word -of command was heard above their cries and the -sound of shuffling feet: "Charge!" The sailors -responded with a cheer; some thirty strong, they -dashed forward as one man; and in a few seconds -the enemy were in full flight, struck by one of -those sudden panics to which even the best troops -are liable in night operations.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack also had his moment of alarm. Knowing -the thoughtless impetuosity of the British sailor, -he feared lest, with the enemy on the run, his -men should forget everything else in the excitement -of pursuit. But he had them soon in hand again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now to the boats!" he said, "and as quickly -as you can."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had no difficulty in finding them. One of -the sloops had already opened fire upon them; -and the sound of oars in that direction showed -that a boat, perhaps more than one, had been -lowered, no doubt to pull in to the assistance of -the soldiers. It was too dark for the fire of the -sloop to be effective; Jack heard one or two shots -strike the harbor wall.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Here were the boats, a few yards from the beach.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tumble in, men," said Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In a few seconds all were aboard. Already -Jack in the foremost boat was steering for a black -shape almost exactly ahead, which he believed -to be the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>. Scarcely was his craft well under -way before he heard oars in that direction; the -cutter also, it appeared, was sending a boat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So much the better!" thought Jack. "There'll -be fewer men on deck to repel boarders."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In less than a minute he saw the cutter's boat -ahead; it was turning, as if to regain the -vessel—he wondered why.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Give way, men!" he cried, and from the boat -behind came Babbage's voice urging his crew: -"Pull, shipmates; pull, my hearties; Mr. Hardy -ain't a-goin' to do it all by his lone self!" And -Jack heard Turley, somewhere in his own boat, -mutter: "Bust yourself, old Artichokes, but -we'll be there first!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a race between them. The other boats -were some distance astern, for two, being -without oars, were being towed by the remaining -two. In the two foremost boats the men were -straining every nerve. They knew that their -lives depended on success, and scarcely needed -the encouraging words of Jack and the old -bo'sun. They gained on the Frenchman; the -three boats dashed almost together under the -cutter's counter; then there was a tussle. Rising in -the boats the crews shouted and cheered and -belabored their opponents, Jack's men plying -rolling-pins, gridirons, soup-ladles, frying-pans, -shovels, candlesticks, with a hearty vigor that -made them more formidable weapons than the -Frenchmen's cutlasses. In half a minute the -Frenchmen, outnumbered and outfought, were -hurled neck and crop out of their boats, and the -English sailors were swarming up the side of the -cutter. In the short fight the cutter's crew had -been unable to help their comrades; it was such -a rough and tumble that they would as likely -have hit a friend as a foe. But they gathered for -a desperate resistance when the Englishmen -poured on to the deck. Jack and his party -boarded aft; Babbage's men forward; but -neither made easy progress, for the Frenchmen -fought like tigers, rallying twice after -momentary set-backs, and taking advantage of their -superior numbers to press forward in the -attempts to drive the boarders into the sea. The -mêlée was at its fiercest when the arrival of the -other boats turned the scale. Cheering British -tars beset the gallant Frenchmen on all sides; -man after man of the defenders fell, and in two -minutes from the time when the last boat's crew -boarded, the cutter was once more in English -hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Secure the Frenchmen!" shouted Jack, when -the enemy surrendered and cried for quarter. -He himself rushed aft and cut the cable; and -while Turley and some others were collecting -the Frenchmen's weapons and escorting their -prisoners below, a score of willing hands had -run up the mainsail, jib and foresail. Grazing -the side of the fishing smack to leeward as she -gathered way, the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> moved out to sea. As -she emerged from the shelter of the brig a round -shot from one of the sloops struck her full -amidships, and the other sloop was seen making sail -in pursuit.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Any damage done?" sang out Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not a farden's worth, sir," replied Turley. -"Well above water-line."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here's another! Look out!" shouted Babbage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the second shot whizzed harmlessly by; -then the sloops and other vessels faded from -sight; and the buoyant little cutter began to -courtesy to the waves of the Channel, showing -white-crested in the gloom.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-capture-of-the-glorieuse"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE CAPTURE OF THE </span><em class="bold italics medium">GLORIEUSE</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>For some time Jack was too busy in navigating -the vessel, too anxiously looking out for -pursuers, to take stock of the situation on board the -</span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>. But as soon as he felt that he was fairly -safe, he went round the cutter to inquire. One of -his men and five Frenchmen had been killed in -the boarding operations. These were at once -committed to the deep, for with a crew of nearly -seventy, and twenty prisoners, there was already -too little room on board. Many had been -wounded on both sides; and Jack found that his -men had the more serious, though not the most -numerous, wounds; for while they had been -pinked and slashed with cutlasses, the -Frenchmen had received only bad bruises from the -unusual weapons wielded by their opponents. -Several of the men who had served in the sick bay -on English warships had already done their best—it -was but little in those days of ignorance and -unskilful surgery—to attend to the wounded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The French crew had apparently consisted of -about forty men; arms for that number were -discovered. Among the prisoners were the captain -and lieutenant, whom Jack at once sought out -and invited to share the cabin with himself. -They were very crestfallen at their defeat; but -when Jack, mustering his best French (which -was not very good), made his best bow (which -was charming), and said—"</span><em class="italics">Je vous restore, -Messieurs, vos épées, pour vous—vous—vous</em><span>—(Hang -it! What's the French for 'show'?)—</span><em class="italics">pour -vous displayer mon admiration de votre -brave—</em><span>. (Can't think of the French for 'fight.')—</span><em class="italics">votre -courage dans la bataille</em><span>"—when Jack -came to the end of this halting speech and smiled -very unaffectedly, the Frenchmen returned his -smile and his bow, and the captain, as he received -his sword, said fervently:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Monsieur, je vous rends grâce de votre noble -conduite, qui est digne, assurément, d'un honnête -homme.</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack bowed and smiled again, wondering -what he had done that was specially "honest." Like -many another Jack since then, he was too -apt to jump to conclusions.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had never navigated the Channel, but he -set the course of the cutter by the compass, -intending to run as straight as he could for -Wynport. Toward daybreak the wind shifted to the -southeast and then to the southwest, and to Jack's -disappointment dropped to a light breeze -scarcely strong enough to disperse the thin fog -that lay over the sea. There seemed little hope -of a quick passage to the English coast. Jack -was speculating on his chances of getting clear -of the French shore when he was startled by the cry:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sail on the weather-bow, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Diving into the cabin, he snatched up a -spyglass and eagerly scanned the approaching -vessel, which was coming up Channel, bringing a -strong breeze with her. She was showing no -colors, but there was something about her cut -that made him feel a little uncomfortable. -Turning to Babbage, who stood by, he handed him -the spy-glass, saying:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"French?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"French she be, sir, leastways furrin, and a -spanking brig."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack looked a little blue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was difficult to estimate distances in the -haze, but the stranger could scarcely be more -than a mile away. Every now and again a gust of -wind lifted the fog, and if Jack attempted to put -about the movement would almost certainly be -seen. Even if he could outsail the approaching -vessel before the wind, which was at least -doubtful, her bow-chasers would badly cripple him -before he could run out of range.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What chance have we of escaping, if she is -French?" he said to Babbage, who was standing -by his side.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not a brass farden's worth, sir. She carries -thirty guns at the least; and if there is a man -aboard that can shoot, she can hull us easy as -winking without changing her course."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's bad, then."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And worse to foller, sir, as brother Sol used -to say."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack mentally anathematized brother Sol, who -must have been a very Job's comforter. The -outlook was black enough. Visions of a French -prison again rose before him—if indeed prison -should be his lot, for the French, if they captured -him, might deal summarily with him in revenge -for the men they had lost.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Babbage sat down on the deck and began to -sharpen his cutlass.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A nice little bit of arm-work coming, sir," -he said cheerfully. "In course we'll fight 'em?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack shook his head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's the last thing I should think of -doing—at present."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, she's coming on at a spanking rate, -and if we're going to run, the sooner the -better—meaning no offense, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must either keep her closer to the wind, -and hope to pass without notice, or put the helm -up and run for it. We'd have a bare chance of -outsailing her then."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir, and she'd give us her broadside fust -and foller it up with her stern-chasers. She'd -blow us out of the water, as sure as eggs is eggs, -when they bean't pickles."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack stood for a few moments, gloomily pondering -this desperate case. All at once his face -brightened.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I say, Babbage, we'll fight her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And God save the king, sir," replied the -veteran, lifting his hat, and then vigorously -whetting his blade.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The course which had suggested itself to Jack -was one that he would scarcely have imagined -in cold blood; but in the present crisis it seemed -to him preferable to either of the two he had -before mentioned. He had seventy men on -board, thirty more than the cutter would have -carried in the ordinary way. Most of them were -well armed; and, well as British seamen always -fought, they could be trusted in the present -circumstances to outdo themselves, for defeat meant -utter destruction. Could he lull the Frenchmen's -suspicions for a few minutes? If he could!—well, -the chance of success was small, but the -smallest was better than none at all.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, by George! I'll do it!" he said to himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And he lost no time. He was astonished at -the quickness with which his mind worked in -forming his plan. Orders came to his lips in -short, sharp sentences, and, thanks to the -readiness of old Babbage and the fine discipline of -the seamen, they were carried out as promptly -as given.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A score of men went below, and in a few -seconds returned to the deck, looking like -Frenchmen. They had stripped the outer garments -from the prisoners. Their weapons were -completely concealed. Five men with loaded -muskets stood guard over the real Frenchmen, four -held themselves ready to board, with boat -anchors as grapnels. The rest of the men, equipped -with all the available armament, concealed -themselves below, out of sight from the -approaching vessel, but ready for action at a -moment's notice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>These preparations were still being made -when the French flag was run up on the brig. -In response Jack hoisted the French colors found -on board, and, bringing the cutter a point or two -closer into the wind, made as if to hail the larger -vessel. When only half a cable's length separated -them he shouted:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ho! Hola!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was an answering shout from the brig. -So far, at any rate, no suspicion had been -aroused. Jack felt himself thrill with excitement -and suspense; everything depended on the result -of the next move. Turley was at the helm, his -lips set, his eyes never leaving the midshipman's -face. Two or three seconds after the hail Jack -gave the word; Turley put the helm hard up, -and the cutter, paying off from the wind, ran -alongside the brig to the manifest amazement -of the Frenchmen, the captain swearing with -anger at what he supposed was rashness or -utter stupidity on the part of the cutter's commander.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Barely two yards now separated the vessels, -the side of the brig seeming to tower over the -cutter. At a sign from Jack the men with the -grapnels leaped up, and cast them in at the open -ports of the brig. The ropes attached to them -were instantly secured to stanchions on the -cutter's deck, and with a slight movement of the -tiller Turley brought the two hulls together.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Even before they touched, twenty men from -the </span><em class="italics">Fury's</em><span> deck were clambering up the main -chains of the brig, and forty more were -swarming from below in support. By this time the -French captain had realized that the commander -of the cutter was neither stupid nor rash, but a -dare-devil of an Englishman. Those were -Englishmen's cries that he heard, mingling with the -uproar made by his own men. Everything was -in confusion. Only the marines were armed. -What French captain would have dreamed of -meeting a little English cutter so near his own -coast? What audacity, what unjustifiable -impertinence, for so small a vessel to engage a -thirty-two gun brig, with a complement of -probably two hundred men! It was ridiculous, -thought the captain, even as he gathered his men -for the fight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was taken by surprise, but what then? -Snatching up any weapons that came handy, the -Frenchmen came pouring out of the hatchways -and from all quarters of the deck, and, forming -a little knot, endeavored to stem the rush of the -boarders. They fought, as Frenchmen always -fight, gallantly and with fierce courage; but a -boarding party of English seamen is not easily -checked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack at the head of a dozen men had already -driven a group of the enemy from the fore deck -into the foc's'le when, glancing aft, he saw that -Babbage and a small band were in desperate -straits. Sword in one hand, pistol in the other, -the French captain was pressing them hard at the -head of twenty well-armed marines and three of -his officers. The remainder of Jack's party had -scattered in pursuit of the enemy on the lower -deck; and a hand-to-hand fight was raging near -the armory, from which the watch below were -hastily equipping themselves. It was impossible -for Jack to collect his men; yet if Babbage and -his gallant band were overcome all would be -over.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You four, watch the foc's'le!" he shouted. -"Come on, you others! Babbage ahoy!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With a shout he dashed aft, a dozen men -bellowing as they sprang after him. Flash went a -pistol; the clashing of cutlasses mingled with the -various cries of the men; and Jack, cleaving his -way through the press toward the old bo'sun's -side, found himself face to face with the French -captain. He had but just time to parry a shrewd -thrust of the Frenchman's sword when a blow -from a French sailor's pike, which must have -killed him outright had it not been partly -diverted by Babbage, fell obliquely upon his head -with such force that he stumbled, staggered, and -dropped senseless to the deck. His last conscious -moment was filled with the din of fighting and -the roar of his men.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Mr. Babbage!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wot?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I axe your pardon, true."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wot for?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"For calling of you Artichokes, Sparrow-grass, -Turnip-tops, and Cabbage. Wi' young -Mr. Hardy a-lying here with all his senses -knocked out of him, I couldn't abear to think as -how I hurt your feelings, Mr. Babbage. I axe -your pardon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Granted, Turley, granted, and more to -foller," said Babbage, holding out a horny hand, -which Turley grasped in one equally hard. Each -man looked at the other, so long that they did -not perceive that Jack's eyes were open, and that -he was smiling.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, you solemn old donkeys!" he exclaimed. -"You know you've been friends at heart all -along."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They looked sheepish, like boys detected in -something unboyish.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah, sir," said Babbage, "brother Sol used to -say 'tis not actions wot matter, 'tis feelings."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Brother Sol was wrong, then. I shouldn't be -feeling so dizzy but for the action of some -Frenchman who got a cut at me. What's -happened, Babbage?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The ship's ourn, sir, and we're making for -Portsmouth."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hurray! Tell me about it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, arter you was down we got our -monkeys up. 'Twas all over in half a minute. -Turley and Mudge and a dozen more went at -'em 'longside o' me; we drove 'em back; Mudge -tumbled the captain over, and the rest hauled -down their colors and cried for quarter. Then -me and some more jumped down the gangway -and cleared the lower deck, where some mounseers -was scrambling round the arm-chest. Bless -you! it didn't last long. They did their best, to -be sure, but we did better; and the end of it was -they all flung down their pikes and cutlasses and -gave in. Then we brought you down here into -the captain's cabin; I put the ship about, and -cast off the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> with ten men in her; she's -following in our wake now, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Capital! And what of the prisoners?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tied up, sir. There's a hundred and forty, -sir, all told, and being such a terrible lot more -than us I couldn't leave 'em loose. They're -sitting on the lower deck, side by side, twenty of -them slung on to one rope, and for every twenty -there's a man with a musket. They don't -understand plain English, sir, but they understand a -loaded musket, and every man of 'em knows that -if he tries any tricks 'tis good-by."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'm only sorry I was bowled over. -You've done splendidly. How long have I been -here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Somewheres about half an hour, sir. We -couldn't do much for you, not having no surgeon -aboard; but we tied up your head as well as we -could."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I'm all right. Just a little dizzy. Help -me on deck; the fresh air will do me good."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had lost a good deal of blood, and could -scarcely have reached the deck unassisted. The -Englishmen gave a cheer when they saw their -young officer—a somewhat muffled cheer, for -their mouths were full of the food prepared for -the Frenchmen's breakfast. It was so long since -they had had a square meal that they were -making the most of their opportunity, and the -prisoners sat glum and hungry, watching the -disappearance of the soup intended for themselves.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Find the cook and cast him loose," said Jack. -"He can get something ready for them. Let 'em -eat, forty at a time. Where's the captain?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Getting over his temper for'ard, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack found the captain, and learned from him -that the vessel, named the </span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span>, had been -cruising off Ushant, and three days before had -captured an English merchantman, which she -had sent to Brest with a prize crew. The </span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span> -was bound for Boulogne, and the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> had -been taken for a French despatch-boat bringing -orders.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By midday the </span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span> came within sight of -Selsey Bill, and beating up against a westerly -breeze made a slow passage to Spithead. It was -almost dark before she ran into Portsmouth -Harbor. Her signals had already informed the port -officers that she was a prize, and she had hardly -hove-to when a boat came alongside to make inquiries.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll have to go and see the admiral and report," -said Jack to Babbage. "Probably I shall -not be back to-night. We'll see about the -prisoners in the morning."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="off-luscombe"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OFF LUSCOMBE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>During the latter part of the voyage Jack had -devoted a good deal of thought to his future -course of action. To report to the admiral would -be his first duty; when that was done he wished -to wipe off a personal score. He had been -shipped off to France by the smugglers of -Luscombe; they had unquestionably been assisted by -Monsieur de Fronsac; and, remembering the -name Goujon mentioned by the Frenchman, he -felt pretty sure that the boat in which he had -been conveyed from the shore belonged to the -sufferer from the flutters, Mr. Nathaniel -Gudgeon. It was not in human nature that he should -let slip his chance of having his tit for tat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And apart from his personal feelings, there -were other reasons for this determination. To -put down smuggling was part of his duty as a -king's officer; it was no less his duty to suspect -a Frenchman whom he found in league with -them. There was something mysterious in their -connection with De Fronsac, and something very -unpleasant in the idea of De Fronsac's sailing -under false colors in the house of Squire -Bastable. It seemed to Jack that he would only be -fulfilling a public duty, as well as getting even -with private enemies, if he probed the mystery -and laid the offenders by the heels.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But to do this it was very necessary that his -return to England should be kept secret. The -Luscombe smugglers would, no doubt, have -friends spying for them in neighboring ports, -and if he were seen they would be on their -guard, and De Fronsac would have time to get -away. He was glad, therefore, that it was dark -when the </span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span> came to her anchorage. It -increased his chances of escaping notice in -preparing to take the smugglers by surprise.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Smartening himself up as well as he could, -and removing as far as possible the traces of his -wound, he went ashore and made his way to -Admiral Horniman's lodgings in the Hard. He -was admitted at once on explaining his errand, -and found himself in the presence of a big man -with rugged, weather-beaten face, fierce white -eyebrows, and a wooden arm. The admiral was -alone, examining a chart with the aid of a -tumbler of toddy and a long pipe.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Midshipman Hardy, sir," said the servant.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come in and shut that door," roared the -admiral in a quarter-deck bellow. "Dash my -buttons! Do you want me to catch my death of -cold! Now what's this?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come to report a prize, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The admiral looked Jack up and down.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have come to report a prize, have you, -sir? And what's your superior officer about -when he sends a youngster like you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's in a French prison, sir. I—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The deuce he is! How do you come to be -in charge of a prize, eh? What's your vessel?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The </span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span>, sir!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't trifle, sir! I didn't ask you for French -crack-jaw. Your own vessel, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>, sir," Jack responded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! Are there two Furies? The only -</span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> I know was the cutter that that fool Blake -allowed to be captured. Didn't they tell me she -was carried into Boulogne?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir, but we retook her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By George! I'm glad of it; a smart cutter, -the fastest on the station. And you took a craft -called the </span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span> too, did you? What's your -vessel, and who's your captain, and why isn't he -here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you please, sir—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Answer my question, sir—a plain question -and a plain answer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My vessel's the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>, sir," replied Jack, "and -it was the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> captured the </span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span>, a -thirty-gun brig."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! that cockle-shell take a thirty-gun brig?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir, we took her by surprise, and—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And who retook the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Some threescore English seamen, sir; I was -in command, and—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You in command! Bless my soul, what are -you talking about? What's your name, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jack Hardy, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, why, didn't Lieutenant Blake report -you as missing? Haven't I got his report—somewhere, -hang me if I know where. Where's Lieutenant -Blake? Why didn't he come and report -all this himself?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm sorry to say he's a prisoner in France, -sir. He was taken inland, and—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Am I standing on my head or on my feet?" -cried the peppery admiral. "What's all this -beating about the bush? Explain yourself, sir!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why don't you give me a chance?" thought -Jack; but Admiral Horniman's impetuous -manner was well known on the Portsmouth station; -no finer sailor ever served his Majesty; and those -who knew him knew what a sterling character -underlay his rough exterior. He raised his glass -now and emptied it at a draft; and Jack took -advantage of the action to begin his story, using -as few words as possible, and hurrying on when -he saw the admiral preparing to interrupt. -Somewhat to his surprise, he reached the end -without misadventure.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bless my soul! And you mean to tell me, Mr. Hardy, -that you captured the </span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span> yourself?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sir; I was bowled over; but the men -fought splendidly, and Ben Babbage—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Turnip-tops! I know him! Brother Sol on -the brain! but a good seaman. Well, Mr. Hardy, -you'll write all that down—plain, mind you, so -that I can read it, no finicking spidery scrawl -for me, egad! Now run off and get a sawbones -to look at that wound of yours, and take a few -days' leave ashore. The sooner you're fit for duty -the better. We'll take charge of your prize."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, sir. But about the leave—if you -don't mind, I'd rather not take it at present."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What in thunder do you want to be at then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You know what happened at Luscombe, sir—at -Congleton's Folly?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes—no; hang me! I remember Blake -reported something. He broke into a tower, or -something of that sort, and found -nothing—wasn't that it?—everything gone, lock, stock, -and barrel."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir. I want to find out what is going on -in Luscombe now. I can't do it if the smugglers -learn that I've come back. Of course they're -bound to know that the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> has been retaken -and the </span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span> brought in a prize; but if my -name's kept out of it they won't be on their -guard; and if you would allow me a few days' -absence, I'd—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So you shall, by the Lord Harry!" cried the -admiral, without waiting to hear what. "And -I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll keep the </span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span> -and the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> in quarantine. Not a man from -either of 'em shall come ashore till you've -reported to me. They'd blab if they did. And -there's blabbing enough. Egad! Several of our -merchantmen have been scooped up lately, and -I'll keel-haul the villain who betrays 'em to the -French if I catch him. But what about your -wound, eh? Won't that be troublesome?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis just a flesh wound, sir," replied Jack; -"I shall be all right in a couple of days. There's -just one thing; may I have the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> if I find I -can use her?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Certainly, certainly, when you like; in fact, -Blake being absent, you'll be in command till -my lords make another appointment."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack took his leave, very well pleased with -the result of the interview. He returned to the -</span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span>, waited until a lieutenant was sent by -the admiral to take charge of her, and then, with -twenty-five men, including Babbage and Turley, -and stores hastily provided from the brig, he -sailed out of the harbor in the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>. The -admiral, he suspected, would be somewhat amazed -when he learned of the sudden departure; but, -having permission, Jack had resolved on his way -back to set off at once on his quest. The sooner -the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> was out of sight the better; and by -sailing in the darkness she would be most likely to -escape observation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The wind was not very favorable. A fresh -breeze was blowing from the southwest, and it -was a somewhat tedious beat down Channel to -the point, abreast of Luscombe, where he had -seen the signal light from Congleton's Folly. -Had the signalers sufficiently regained confidence, -he wondered, to resume their midnight work?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you think of it, Babbage?" he asked -of the bo'sun, who was at the tiller.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, I think of a saying of brother Sol's: -'When the cat's away, the mice do play.' There -be several cats in the case, sir. One, the -</span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>—a good name for cat or cutter; two, Mr. Blake; -three, you yourself, sir; four, me and Turley, -for, having made up our little difference, we two -make one; I've got the claws, he've got the -caterwaul. All these cats being away, those there -mice will have a rare randy. Why, that there -tower was as empty as a blown egg-shell when -we drove in the door, and climbed to the top; -and the smugglers will be a-hugging theirselves -that all's clear, and thinking they can go -on with their work without any danger of a visit -from the preventives. Lor' bless you, I were a -mouse myself once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I agree with you. 'Tis six months since I -disappeared, and they'll have had all that time to -recover from any fright we may have given -them. I wish the wind would change. I want -to get opposite the tower before morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But you can't expect them to do the signaling -every night, sir. No smugglers ever I knew -or heard of could be so spry as that would mean. -Belike we shan't see the light for a matter of -days—nights, that is—or weeks. Like as not -they'll have their regular times and seasons, same -as the herrings."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's just why I'm so anxious to get there -to-night. 'Tis Wednesday; 'twas on a -Wednesday I first saw the light; for all we know -Wednesday is their regular day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There may be summat in that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And as we don't want to be discovered I'll -have the tackle blocks oiled, and tell the men to -keep quiet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Specially Turley, sir; but there, I take that -back, sir, or he'll be a-calling of me Spring -Onions again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That night was so dark that Jack had some -doubts whether he could hit the exact spot from -which the light was visible. But he ventured to -creep in toward the shore sufficiently near to -descry the landmarks, and having at length -assured himself on that point, he ran out again, -and cruised about, keeping a keen lookout for -the light.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two hours passed. It was near midnight, and -he had almost given up hope of success when, -to the southwest, he saw a gleam. At the -moment the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> was running up the Channel -before the wind. The light evidently came from a -vessel. But it had disappeared—no; there it was -again; three times the same light was shown and -extinguished.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A signal, Babbage," said Jack. "Hope we -shan't be seen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Better hold on our course, sir, then beat out. -We've to get that there craft atween us and the -shore."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack acted on the bo'sun's suggestion. In a -few minutes the same signal was seen, this time -full on the weather beam.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They haven't answered her yet, sir," said -Babbage, "and she won't sail in much closer, -'cos if she do, she won't see the light from the -Folly, if so be 'tis that she's looking for."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No. But I'm afraid she'll see us. She -certainly will if we venture too close. Yet if we -make too wide a sweep round her she may do -whatever mischief she's about before we can -make up on her. How far is she out, Babbage?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"About five mile, I should say, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'm going to risk it. We'll run out -beyond her, and hit the straight line between -her and the Folly; we'll see then if any signaling -is going on."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As soon as he thought he had made sufficient -offing, Jack brought the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> closer to the wind -and crept toward the line he had mentioned. -He no longer expected to see any signal from the -vessel; the lantern would be turned away from -him. But he looked anxiously toward the shore. -Minute after minute passed, and yet he saw nothing. -He began to fear that either he had lost his -bearings and crossed the line while signaling -had been going on between the tower and the -vessel, or that there was no one at the Folly, -after all, and both he and the commander of the -other ship were to be disappointed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly a light flashed out from shore, and -remained gleaming brightly and steadily. So -strong was it that Jack felt not a little anxiety lest -it should show up the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> to the vessel now -between her and the land. But a moment's -reflection reassured him. At this distance the light -could have no illuminating power; and if he -could not see the strange craft, it was not very -likely that she could see him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was wondering what his next move had -better be when the light disappeared. But only -for a moment. Then it shone out again. Again it -disappeared, and then for several seconds it -alternately came and went, with regular intervals -of very brief duration between the flashes. At -last there was a longer interval; then the regular -flashes began again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Heave to, Babbage!" cried Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Springing down to the cabin, he returned in a -few moments with a slip of paper, a pencil, and -a shaded lantern. By the light of the last, Jack -made a note. It would not have conveyed much -or anything to an onlooker. It began— 17 — 3 — -18 — 2 —— 1 — 17 — 17 — 3 — 20 — 2 —— 16 -—— 11 —— 15 — 1 — 20 — 3 — 17 — 2 -... and this succession of numbers and dashes grew -until it completely filled the paper. After he -had written for nearly half an hour the light -disappeared altogether; he waited ten minutes on -the chance of the flashes being resumed; then -folded the paper, put it in his pocket, and -ordered the men to crowd on all sail.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In a few seconds the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> was running before -the wind in the direction Jack thought the -strange vessel might have taken. There was just -a chance that he might overhaul and capture -her, for he guessed that she was little if anything -larger than the cutter, and in all likelihood the -same lugger which had escaped Lieutenant -Blake months before. But though he cruised -about for a couple of hours he failed to find her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll give it up," he said at length to -Babbage. "Now I want a little time to work out a -puzzle. We mustn't be seen from Luscombe or -the neighborhood, so we'll beat down Channel -and make for Falmouth. That's far enough -away to be out of reach of the Luscombe men or -their spies; and I'll eat my boots if I haven't a -pretty piece of news to report to Admiral -Horniman to-morrow."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-discovery"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A DISCOVERY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>About nine o'clock the next morning the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> -ran into Falmouth Harbor. Sending a boat's -crew ashore to get fresh provisions, Jack closeted -himself in the cabin, and, leaning his head on -his hands, pored over the paper on which he had -made the strange jottings the night before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The numbers represented the flashes which -had followed at intervals of a second; the short -dashes represented intervals of five seconds, the -long dashes intervals of twenty seconds. What -was the explanation? It was clear that the -signalers had a code; the flashes in some way spelt -out words, and Jack guessed from the long time -the message had taken that the words were spelt -in full. How was he to set about finding out -what they were? He had never in his life read -a cipher, and for some minutes he was at a loss -how to begin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At last it struck him that the highest number -he had written was 20. There were twenty-six -letters in the alphabet, and some of the letters, -such as Q, X, Z, were very seldom used. It was -not unlikely that in a comparatively short -message they would not be used at all. Each letter -might be represented by a number. He wrote -down the twenty-six letters of the alphabet, -placing a number under each, from 1 to 26. Then -he substituted the letters for the numbers on the -paper, thus:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>QCRB——AQQCTB——P——K——OATCQB</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>This was nonsense; the fact that most of the -letters were consonants, and the one that most -frequently occurred, Q, showed that he was on -the wrong tack. He must try again. He was -sure the long dashes represented the intervals -between the words; what did the numbers stand for?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder what letter is most often used?" he -thought. He wrote down the first thing that -occurred to him, the first line of the song, </span><em class="italics">Heart -of Oak</em><span>—</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer."</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<!-- --> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"'Tis E!" he said to himself. "It occurs in -four words out of ten. Now there are three -words in the stuff that have 3 and 2 in them; -depend upon it either 3 or 2 stands for E. Which -is it? Why, E is the second vowel, and I is the -third. Every word has one or two vowels in it, -and two of these words have I in them. Perhaps -the five vowels are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Let's -try that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Recopying the alphabet, he found that on this -system the message read—</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>PIQE——APPISE——N——H——MASIPE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"It looks a little more pronounceable, but -hanged if I can make any sense of it. There's a -French look about it. Why, what a dolt I am! -If it's Fronsac who's signaling from the Folly, -of course the message will be in French. Not -that that helps matters!" he thought dolefully. -"The French alphabet's the same as the English -till you get to W, and W is number 23, which -doesn't come in. Confound the thing!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not until he had pondered and puzzled -for more than an hour that Jack got any fresh -light. Then it occurred to him that some of the -less-used of the letters might have been dropped. -After some thought, he left out K, Q, and all the -letters after V, and renumbered those that were -left. The first result of this change gave him a -thrill. He spelt out the word "RISE."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now I'm on the scent!" he said to himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next came the word "ARRIVE," then two -initials—P, H, after them the word "NAVIRE."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can't make any sense of it at present. Let's -go on."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At length the complete message was -deciphered. It ran as follows—</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>RISE ARRIVE P H NAVIRE SOUS CONVOI E -FREGATE PARTENT VENDREDI POUR -JAMAIQUE SANDI COVE SAMEDI.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>This was certainly clearer; it was decidedly -French for the most part; but what did "RISE," -"P," "H" and "E" mean? In a few minutes -Jack jumped to the meaning of H and E; they -were to be taken as numbers, not as letters; -eleven merchant ships under convoy of two -frigates were leaving on Friday for Jamaica. -What about "RISE?" He remembered by and -by that he had not begun to write until the -signaling had been in progress for some time. -"RISE" was probably the end of a word. What -French word ended so? He put other letters in -turn before the perplexing syllable: </span><em class="italics">brise, crise, -grise, prise</em><span>. PRISE! Captured! He saw it at -last. The signaler was informing the men of -the lugger that a captured ship had arrived; P -stood for Portsmouth; and Jack had no doubt -that the ship meant was the </span><em class="italics">Glorieuse</em><span>.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All that was left of the message were the last -three words: "SANDI COVE SAMEDI." These -suggested that Sandy Cove was to be the scene -of a cargo run on Saturday; but Jack had never -heard of Sandy Cove. For the moment he gave -no more thought to it; the first part of the -message was of much greater importance than any -smuggling business.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The mystery was becoming clear at last. No -wonder the French showed a disconcerting -knowledge of the movement of English ships! -De Fronsac was a spy! So far from detesting the -Monstair, he was actually in the Monstair's pay. -His business was to supply the Monstair with -information. And his cunning had found a means -to avoid the perils that otherwise might have -beset his task. He had made friends of the -Luscombe smugglers, ostensibly cast in his lot with -them, so that he might have opportunities of -signaling information to the French. Jack saw -through the scheme in a flash.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was Wednesday. Obviously there was no -time to be lost if the ships to sail on Friday were -to be saved. The lugger would convey the -message to one of the western ports of France, and -the enemy's cruisers would come out in -sufficiently large force to cut off the merchantmen -and convoy. They could indeed afford to wait -a few days, for even if the wind proved favorable -for the sailing of the English vessels, they -would make such slow progress that a French -fleet in pursuit could overhaul them speedily, -and, knowing their destination, would probably -have little difficulty in finding them. Admiral -Horniman must be at once informed of the discovery.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The men having by this time returned from -their errand on shore, Jack at once hoisted sail -and ran back to Portsmouth, keeping well out in -the Channel off Luscombe to avoid recognition. -The admiral spent five minutes in blowing off a -considerable amount of warm language when he -heard the story.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The merchantmen shall sail if the wind -favors," he said, when he had recovered. "But -I'll increase their escort, and the French shall -get an unpleasant surprise, I promise 'em, if -they act on the information they've got. And -that Frenchman at Luscombe, I'll string him up -to the yard-arm. I'll stop his signaling. I'll give -orders for the tower to be occupied, and every -one found there put in irons and clapped under -hatches."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't think you'll find any one there, sir," -Jack ventured to suggest. "Fronsac's hand in -glove with the smugglers, that's the meaning of -'Sandy Cove Saturday.' If any of our men are -seen making a move in Luscombe direction the -news will be signaled along the coast. They'd all -clear out. Couldn't we play their own game, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What d'you mean?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't exactly see all the way, sir; but what -occurred to me was that we might do a little -signaling and catch 'em in their own net."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A capital notion! By gad, we'll do it! We'll -have to let 'em make their run on Saturday?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sir, and arrange to signal from the tower -next Wednesday."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well. I leave it to you. You seem to -have got some brains. Come to me if you want -any assistance."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before he returned to the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> Jack scribbled -a note to his mother announcing his safe return, -and begging her on no account to let the news -travel to Bastable Grange. It was better that -for the present his cousins should be ignorant of -his whereabouts.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On reaching the cutter he started on a run up -the coast. He wished to keep away from -Luscombe until Saturday. Though he had no -intention of interfering with the smugglers' run -on that day, he was anxious to witness it. For one -thing, it would prove whether he had read the -intercepted message aright; moreover, he -particularly desired to find out who was engaged -in the business. Knowing what a close watch -was kept by the smugglers, he recognized that it -would not be easy to learn what he wished; but -his successes in France had tended to dim the -memory of certain less fortunate incidents at Luscombe.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He now took Babbage and Turley into his -confidence. When he mentioned Sandy Cove he -met with an unexpected check.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There ain't no such place, sir—leastways, not -on this coast," said Turley.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are you sure?" Jack insisted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sartin, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's strange. I don't think I read the word -wrongly. I could be sure it was Sandi, the way -a Frenchman would spell it. We'll have to go -back to Portsmouth and get a chart of the coast; -we may find something that looks like it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But when he got a chart from the admiral he -searched it in vain. There was no such name as -Sandy Cove. He was convinced that he had not -mistaken the signal; all that could be done now -was to inquire in the neighborhood of Luscombe -whether any of the inlets was locally known by -that name. But with the exception of the -Bastables he knew of no one whom he could trust, and -he had a strong reason for avoiding the squire's -house; nothing must be done that might put De -Fronsac on his guard.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then a thought of Gumley came to him—Joe -Gumley, the one-legged sailor. He was -Luscombe born; though he kept himself to himself, -he would probably know the whereabouts of -Sandy Cove. And he might safely be asked the -question, for, never a friend to the smugglers, -he had a distinct grudge against them since that -day when his garden was ransacked, and he was -the least likely of men to give them any information.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I'll ask Gumley," thought Jack. "It -can't do any harm."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was afternoon when he steered the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> -into a sheltered cove some six miles west of -Luscombe. He had chosen the spot because the coast -there was rugged, and the shore uninhabited, -and the cutter might lie safe from wind and -wave, and from observation by too inquisitive -people.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Babbage," said Jack as he stepped -ashore, "I leave you in charge. Keep quiet, and -be on your guard."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir. And what if you don't come -back, sir, like as 'twas six months ago t'other side -of Luscombe?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Run back to Portsmouth and report to the -admiral. But I'll be back, never fear."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had exchanged his midshipman's hat for a -wide-brimmed beaver, and wore a long cloak -which made him look more like a magistrate's -clerk than a sailor. Thus disguised, he walked -over the beach, climbed the cliff, and struck into -a path which would lead by a roundabout way -into the Luscombe road. It was very unlikely -that he would meet any of the Luscombe people -in this direction; but Babbage's question -reminded him of the unlucky end of a similar -errand in the previous autumn, and he smiled -somewhat grimly as he remembered his resolve -to get even with his captors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A white mist lay over the land, striking very -cold against his face. But it favored his chances -of escaping notice if any one should meet him, -and he was indeed glad of the obscurity when, -in the driver of a gig that passed him, he thought -he recognized the bulky form of Mr. Gudgeon. -Save for this solitary traveler, the road was quite -deserted, and he arrived without adventure at -Gumley's cottage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He looked over the fence. No one was to be -seen. Though it was already almost dark, owing -to the mist, no light appeared in the cottage window.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ahoy O!" he called, without raising his -voice, making a trumpet of his hands so that the -sound would carry. There was no answer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He rapped on the fence, calling "Ahoy O!" -again. Still there was no reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here goes!" he said to himself. Stripping -off his cloak he folded it and laid it on the nails, -then clambered over and hastened to the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I say, Gumley, let me in," he said, rapping.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who be 'ee? This bean't no inn."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's me, Gumley—Jack Hardy, you know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell that to the marines. Mr. Hardy's far -away. Get along with 'ee."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't be a jackass, Gumley. Open the door. -Comely will know me if you don't."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Ware dog, then, and if his teeth jine in your -legs 'tis your own doing, whoever ye be!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a rattling of the bolts. The door -was opened. The bulldog rushed out, and with -a growl of pleasure began to rub his nose against -Jack's trousers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There you are, you see," he said, stepping -into the cottage, to find Gumley standing on -guard with a blunderbuss.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, this is a rare surprise. I seemed to -know your voice, but thought for sure it must be -your ghost. Never did I expect to see you no -more in this world, sir, and right glad I be."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So am I, Gumley. But fasten up again, and -light your lamp. I want to talk to you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But how did ye escape, sir?" asked Gumley, -as he shot the bolt and led the way to his kitchen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis too long a story to tell you now. -Another time. But why, man, what's the matter -with you? You look very down in the mouth."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, and so I feels, sir. What with worry -and the rheumatics I feel I be not long for this -world. I've bin twisted up with it all winter, -sir. Since I sold they artichokes to Squire -Bastable I've bin as useless as an old hulk. In course, -some folks might think me lucky having only -one leg to get the rheumatics in; but chok' it all, -sir, the pain's just as bad in the wooden leg as 'tis -in t'other; ay, and worse, 'cos I can doctor my -natural leg, whereas not all the surgeons of King -Jarge hisself could do this old stump any good."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis hard lines, indeed. But what's been -worrying you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sit ye down, sir, and I'll tell 'ee about it."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="tar-and-feathers"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">TAR AND FEATHERS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Fust and foremost, sir," said Gumley, having -lit his pipe, "my poor old moke is dead. Ah! he -served me well for many a year, and carried tons -and tons o' garden stuff into Wynport. But now -he's gone, and if so be I can do any digging and -planting this spring I'll have no one to carry my -vegetables to market."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Twas old age, I suppose. He looked on his -last legs when I saw him first on the Luscombe -road six months ago."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sir, 'twarn't old age. If he had been left -alone he'd have lived to be as old as Methusalum. -No, 'twarn't old age, nor overwork neither."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What was it, then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gumley hesitated. He looked at the locked -door and the shuttered window, got up and went -to the back door, bending his head forward as if -listening. Then he returned to his chair, and, -between two puffs, said, under his breath—</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Twere p'ison, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Poison!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, sir. Jerry—so I called him, sir—were -sound as a ship's bell one night, sir; next -morning he were dead as mutton."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But how do you know 'twas poison?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Cos that very same day Comely was took -bad and well-nigh went to glory, too. Where -Comely goes, Gumley follers; my rheumatiz -were very bad that day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis plain you've got enemies, Gumley. I'm -sorry for you. Comely looks all right now, at -any rate. We'll see what we can do to get you a -new donkey. But I mustn't waste time. I'll tell -you what I've come for. Do you know where -Sandy Cove is?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gumley gave a start, and looked round the -room again with that uneasy glance which had -attracted Jack's attention before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Axing your pardon, sir, would ye say why -and wherefore you want to know that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't think I can—at all events, not yet. -But I'll tell you one thing. I'm on the king's -business, and that will be enough for an old -king's man, eh, Gumley?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"True, sir, God save the king! All the same, -I'd rather ye axed your question of some one else."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is no one else. Come, Gumley, out -with it. What is the mystery?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gumley still hesitated. He scratched his poll, -rubbed the dog's head, stirred an imaginary fire -with his wooden leg, and once more glanced -uneasily at the window.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This won't do," said Jack. "Joe Gumley, I -call upon you, in the king's name, to answer this -question at once. Where is Sandy Cove?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you puts it like that, sir, as a king's -man—leastways, I was afore I got this plaguy -leg—I'm bound to make a clean breast of it. Sandy -Cove is the name what the smugglers give to that -there little chine just below Mr. Gudgeon's farm."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! And how came you to know that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, if truth must be told, in the king's -name, I were a smuggler myself once, afore I -became a king's man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I see! And the smugglers are down on you, -are they, because you won't join 'em again?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How can I, sir? Once a king's man, always -a king's man—to say nothing of the wooden leg. -I served his Majesty for many a year, sir, and I -bean't a-going to turn agen him. Not but what -'tis main hard, for smuggling's an uncommon -fine trade—if so be I can make bold to speak free -afore a king's officer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I won't peach," said Jack, laughing. "Speak -freely? Of course you can. And you'd better -tell me all about it now. You look as uneasy as -if you were sitting on pins."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So I be, sir, and that's the truth. No longer -ago than last Wednesday, Mr. Goodman he -chanced to come upon a string of carts carrying -smuggled goods from Luscombe to Wickham -Ferrers. He nabbed the whole lot, sir, horses -and all. And my old mates got the notion into -their noddles that 'twas me as blabbed—me, sir, -what knowed no more about it than that there -innocent dog. But they believe it; and there -'tis. They swore they'd make me smart for it, -and I dursn't stir out o' my door for fear I get a -good crack on the nob or something just as -awk'ard."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't understand why they're so down on -you. You keep yourself to yourself, as you told -me. Why should they think 'twas you split on -them?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I make it out this way, sir. I'm a' old smuggler, -and know all the secrets o' the trade. I'm -a' old king's man, too. They don't square. I -won't jine my old mates, and they, being a bit -wooden-headed, thinks I'm agen 'em. I bean't -agen 'em, only I bean't for 'em. I can't go agen -the king, nor I can't go back on my old mates; -but bless your soul, </span><em class="italics">they</em><span> don't see what I mean -when I says I keep myself to myself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, you can't run with the hare and hunt -with the hounds. But what's that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He sprang up from his chair and went toward -the shuttered window. Comely went to the door, -growling. From without, muffled by the -distance, came the tramp of heavy feet along the -road, mingled with the hum of voices.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis come, sir," sighed Gumley, leaning back -in his chair resignedly. "Here they be at last. -I knowed this would be the end of it. They said -they'd tar and feather me, and they be come to -do it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Two can play at that game, Gumley. I'd -sooner not be recognized now, but I'll not leave -you to deal with 'em single-handed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I take it very kind o' you, sir, but there's no -call for you to be mixed up in it. If they mean -to get in, in they'll get, sure enough; and ye'll -only land yourself in a nasty rumpus, and do no -good. Thank ye kindly. I'll let ye out by the -back door afore they come, and me and Comely'll -do what we can, for chok' it all, it bean't in -human nature to be tarred and feathered -without a bit of a scrimmage."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, no. If you're going to make a fight of -it, I'll lend a hand. We're well armed. You've -your blunderbuss and a cutlass; I've two pistols -and a dirk; and our good friend Comely here -has excellent teeth, I'll be bound."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At this moment a loud shout was heard from -the road, followed by an insistent knocking on -the gate. Gumley stumped up the rickety stairs -to the floor above, threw open the windows -looking on the garden, and shouted:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who be you, and what do 'ee want?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We want you, Joe Gumley," came the hoarse -answer, "and we're gwine to have 'ee, too."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I bean't deaf, Tom Berry, so ye needn't bust -your fog-horn. What do 'ee want wi' me?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll show 'ee. You bin peaching, you dirty -mean sneaker. Come down along, and we'll give -'ee a fair trial afore the men as used to be your -mates."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, thank 'ee, Tom. Whoever says I bin -peaching says a lie, and as for trial, why, I bean't -a fool, I bean't. If I wants trying I'll go afore a -justice o' the peace like Squire Bastable, or a -judge and jury at the 'sizes, and not afore Tom -Berry or Bill Widdicombe or any other -mumble-chopped chaw-bacon. See then, I don't want -to use hard words to old ship-mates o' mine, -but—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack heard no more, for Gumley's words were -drowned by a volley of shouts and curses from -the men below. He let down the window with a -bang.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They be coming over, sir," he called to Jack. -"'Tis all hands to repel boarders. They're -mounting on balks of wood to 'scape the nails. -Now they're over. And they be split into two -parties, half a dozen each; and one's coming -straight for the front door; t'other's gone round -to the back. I be coming, sir, I be coming."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By the time he reached Jack's side the men -had begun to batter simultaneously at both the -doors with the balks of wood which, knowing -Gumley, they had brought with them, evidently -anticipating resistance. The men at the front -door were protected by a narrow porch; those -at the back were fully exposed; and Jack saw -that unless something were done at once to check -them they would soon be able to break a way in, -for the doors were not very substantial pieces of -timber, and could not long stand the heavy -battering to which they were now being subjected.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He stood with Gumley and the dog at the -front door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's your blunderbuss loaded with, Gumley?" -he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Small shot, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then I tell you what we'll do. I'll fling the -door open; you fire at their legs; then we'll all -three charge 'em. We've only half a dozen to -deal with; the men at the back will stop work -when they hear the row. They'll come rushing -round. Be ready to get back and haul the dog -off. I'll keep my pistols in reserve; the less -firing the better; we don't want all Luscombe here. -Lend me a muffler, quick!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He pulled the brim of his hat down over his -face, turned up the collar of his cloak, and -wrapped the muffler Gumley gave him closely -round his chin. All the time the men were -hammering at the door, and Comely was moving -restlessly about, uttering deep growls.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Standby, Gumley!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack quickly slipped the bolts, threw the door -open, and dodged back. There was a blinding -flash, a roar, and yells of pain and rage from the -smugglers, who, crouching in the porch around -their battering-ram, received the crammed -charge of the blunderbuss about their legs. -They dropped the timber, and gave back a little. -Before they had recovered from their surprise, -the bulldog, snarling with fury, was among -them, and behind him came Jack and Gumley, -who laid about them doughtily with cutlass and -dirk—using, however, the flat, for neither -wished to do any serious hurt unless they were -hard-pressed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Amazement was now turned to confusion and -fright. The intruders had no thought but to -hobble out of the way of these furious combatants. -But as they pushed one another toward the -garden they were met by their comrades from the -rear, whom the shout and the cries had -interrupted, as Jack expected. Their arrival only -doubled the confusion. Amid the babel of shouts -they could hear nothing of what had happened. -Some of the men were still yelling under the -blows of the dirk and cutlass; and when one -howled "Ho! Hi! Help! The dog's got me!" -they were seized with uncontrollable panic; and -with one consent bolted down the garden and -scrambled over the fence, with no small damage -to their nether garments from the nails, never -pausing until they perceived that no pursuit was -attempted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One man, however, was left on the field. In -the entrance to the porch lay a big fellow -groaning. Comely held him fast by the leg. Gumley -hastened to him and tried to release him from -the dog's teeth, but, finding that impossible, he -dragged dog and man bodily into the cottage, -slammed the door, and bolted it. Jack was -already inside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let go, Comely, old boy," said his master, -stooping to release the man, who, half dead with -fright, lay groaning where Gumley had dropped -him. "Why, what are ye bellowing like a -sea-serpent for?" he added. "His teeth never went -further than your leggings! Who be ye for a -chicken-hearted—why, dash my buttons, 'tis Bill -Gudgeon! Oh, Billy, what a' example to set your -good feyther! Oh, my goodness, won't he be took -bad with the flutters when he hears this! Ahoy, -Mr.——! Avast there, Joe Gumley, blowed if -you wasn't just a-going to put your foot in it. -Billy, my son, you come along o' me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He hauled the trembling youth into the -kitchen, and pushed him into a chair, where he sat -immovable, in mortal terror of the bulldog, -which stood by, fixing him with his thirsty eyes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile Jack had gone to the upper -window to see what had become of the enemy. They -were out of sight, but when he opened the -window he guessed by their voices that they were in -conference just beyond the fence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, and more'n Gumley!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the still air of the frosty March evening the -hoarse whisper came clearly to Jack's ears:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In course; there was his dog."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I knows that. But I seed another man, all -in black, with his hat over his eyes and his face -all swaddled up: Goodman hisself, maybe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I be gwine home along. I've got a -score o' pellets somewhere about my legs, and -they'll p'ison my blood less I pick 'em out soon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay true, and we'll go lame for a month or -more. Chok' it all! Who'd ha' thowt old Joe -would ha' bin so fierce!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they were moving away, a gig rattled up -and stopped.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis Mr. Gudgeon, so 'tis," Jack heard a -rough voice say.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not so loud!" was the hasty answer. "What -luck, lads?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"None at all, and be hanged to it. We've not -got nowt but a trouncing, Mr. Gudgeon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lower, speak lower, man. What happened?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Blunderbuss and cutlass and dog's teeth; -that's what happened, Mr. Gudgeon, as your boy -Bill could tell 'ee. Why, where be the lad?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Been and creeped home along, by the look -o't," said another man. "He bean't here. There's -blood for 'ee! There's spirit! What a -bold-hearted first-born you have got, to be sure, -Mr. Gudgeon!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hush, man! Here, come along. I can take -four or five of 'ee in the gig, and you can tell me -the whole story as we go."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The gig rattled away; the men for whom there -was not room shambled after; and Jack smiled -as he returned to the kitchen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There, Comely, watch him!" Gumley was -saying. "I be gwine to look around the garden, -sir, to make sure none on 'em be left."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack made no reply, but stood at the door -while Gumley stumped round the inclosure. He -came back by and by grinning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They be all gone, sir, all but this." He held -up a pail out of which the handle of a brush was -sticking, and a bundle of feathers. "'Twas by -the back door, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! I've a notion. Shut the door and come -along, Gumley."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Keeping his feathers well covered, and deepening -his voice to the lowest pitch possible, Jack -addressed the prisoner, who sat in shivering -stillness, his eyes fixed on the vigilant dog.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Bill Gudgeon, you shall choose. Spend -the night with the dog, and go before Squire -Bastable to-morrow; or use this brush you came -to use—on yourself. 'Twould be a pity to waste -such excellent tar."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And the feathers be uncommon soft," added Gumley.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The victim lifted his eyes for one moment, but -said never a word.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come, come, make up your mind. The dog—or -the tar brush."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Still the lad hesitated. Fright seemed to have -tied his tongue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well, the dog, then. If he goes for you -in the night you'd better sing out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Watch him, Comely!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The dog acknowledged the order with a growl -of satisfaction, and Jack and Gumley moved -toward the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Stop, measter! Stop, Joe Gumley!" cried the -unhappy youth, finding his voice at last. "Not -the dog! For gracious goodness' sake, not the dog."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Off with your coat then," said Jack, finding -some difficulty in keeping his voice at the proper -profundity.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, or your good feyther'll have the flutters -worse'n ever," said Gumley. "Such a good coat, -too good to spoil."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Bill Gudgeon removed his coat, always eying -the dog, which stood watching with intelligent -appreciation. Then Gumley handed him the -brush.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A little on the nose to begin with," said Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Forthwith Bill's nose was black.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now the cheeks; no—a little more, if you -please—yes, that's right. Now a dab across the -forehead: don't spare the tar, there's plenty more -in the pail—yes, that's capital! Now a few -feathers, Gumley."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The trembling lad stuck the feathers, as they -were handed to him, on the glistening tar. He -groaned once, but Comely's echoing growl -silenced him and made him hurry.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now I think he'll do," said Jack at last.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Beautiful, sir! Whoever seed a better job -this side of the line?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Listen, Bill Gudgeon! You'll tell your -father that if Mr. Gumley is molested again, you -and your mates will be hauled up before Squire -Bastable and sent to cool your heels in the -lock-up. You can go!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Bill took his coat, rose from the chair, and -sidled to the door, his eyes never leaving the dog. -He was gone!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack sat down and laughed quietly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think he's had enough, Gumley. Now I -must go. I'll see you again soon."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-run-at-sandy-cove"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A RUN AT SANDY COVE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It took Jack much longer in the darkness to -return to the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> than it had taken to reach the -cottage, and he found that Babbage was -becoming uneasy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All safe, men?" he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir. And you, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right as a trivet. Heave the anchor, boys; -I want to be fifty miles away by the morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He required a little time for thinking out a -plan for turning to account his discovery of the -signaler's code, and meanwhile it was desirable -to keep out of the smugglers' reach. Before -dawn he dropped anchor at a little fishing -village fifty miles west of Luscombe. It was a -remote and secluded spot, and there was little -chance of the </span><em class="italics">Fury's</em><span> presence coming to the ears -of the Luscombe folk for some days.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm going ashore again, Babbage. Lie -quietly here. I may be away a couple of days."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Still disguised, he went into the village, hired -a gig, and drove thirty miles in the Luscombe -direction to the village of Middleton, about ten -miles from the sea. He put up at the </span><em class="italics">Pig and -Whistle</em><span>, scribbled a note to the riding-officer -and despatched it by a horseman to Wynport.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>"SIR" (he wrote),—</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Be good enough to meet me here this -evening. Ask at the inn for Mr. Loveday. The -matter is urgent, and the business the king's.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>"Yours truly,</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><span>"JACK HARDY."</span></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>At six o'clock Mr. Goodman appeared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am here, Mr. Hardy, but 'tis most inconvenient. -I take it rather hard that a man of my age—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Exactly, Mr. Goodman. I'm not so old as -you, and I should have come to you if I hadn't -good reasons for keeping clear of the coast folk. -I've information that the smugglers intend to -make a run to-morrow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is that all? Why, I often get such information, -and nine times out of ten it is false. Besides, -what's the good of knowing that a run is -to be made if you don't know where?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do know where."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, in that case leave it to me. I'll bag the -whole gang. There's a score of rascals at -Luscombe I'd like to hang—ay, and will, too. If -your news is correct, 'twill be pretty soon, I -promise you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just so, Mr. Goodman. But meanwhile I've -come to arrange that the run may be made -without interference."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! Do I hear ye aright? A king's officer -name such a thing to me! 'Pon my soul and -body, Mr. Hardy, I'm surprised at you. 'Twill -be my duty—a painful duty, Mr. Hardy—to -report the matter. Never in the whole seventeen -years of my service have—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Quite so, Mr. Goodman," Jack interrupted. -"But Admiral Horniman thinks that in this case -the king's service requires this little departure -from the ordinary course. And 'twill only make -the capture of your rascals more certain in the -end. We have to meet them with their own -weapons—match ruse with ruse; and that's why, -with the admiral's approval, I want you and -your land-guard to help me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack smiled so pleasantly and spoke with such -an air of deference that the riding-officer, taking -what he said as a compliment to his own astuteness, -thawed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A capital idea, Mr. Hardy! Exactly; play -their own game. The admiral was always a man -of sense. But what do you propose?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then followed a long conversation, in which -Jack explained as much of his plan as he thought -would suffice. Mr. Goodman was captivated -with the notion, and left by and by in high -good-humor with Jack, himself, and everybody.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack did not know the time of the intended -run. It would certainly not be before dark, so -when he left the inn on the following afternoon -he timed his departure so as to arrive near -Luscombe just after darkness had fallen. The -distance was nearly twenty miles across country. -He drove some ten miles directly toward -Luscombe, then struck inland for another seven -miles, alighted at a cottage recommended by the -riding-officer, and left the gig in charge of the -owner, a trusty man, saying that he would meet -him at the same place at daybreak next morning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From the cottage to Luscombe the distance -was about five miles. He knew the lay of the -land, and, following unfrequented paths, came -to the edge of Congleton's Hollow in about an -hour and a half. Skirting this cautiously, he -made his way along the edge of the stream that -had formed the chine he now knew as Sandy Cove.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a good mile to the sea. Every now and -then he stopped and listened, to make sure that -he was not being followed; hereabouts he had -come unexpectedly upon Gudgeon and De -Fronsac. As he came near Gudgeon's farm he went -with redoubled caution. He heard a sand-piper -whistling; a few gulls screeched above his head; -save for these there was silence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He remembered having noticed, in the course -of his rambles with Arthur, a large evergreen -bush growing on a shelf of rock some distance -above the bed of the stream. That seemed to -him the very place at which to post himself, for -while he could get from it a good view of what -was happening on the shore only a few yards -below, it was so thick, and so situated in relation -to its surroundings, that he would run little -danger there of being observed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With some difficulty he clambered up to the -bush. Looking round to make sure that he was -not espied, he forced his way into it, and waited. -The time passed slowly. It was a black March -evening, with a nipping wind, and in spite of his -cloak Jack felt bitterly cold. Hour after hour -drawled away, and there had been no sound. -He wondered whether the run had been abandoned. -Or had he, after all, made a mistake?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At last, when, feeling numbed and depressed, -he had almost resolved to leave the spot, he heard -voices from just above—on the zigzag path from -Gudgeon's farm to the sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Send round the word; she'll be in in ten -minutes. There's no preventives on the prowl, or -we'd have heard afore now from Totley Point -or Laxted Cove. Aha! Goodman and his joes -have never yet got past Peter Bunce and Jan -Derriman. Bill, a' believe I've got some o' they -pellets in my calf yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"More fool 'ee for meddling wi' old Joe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One of the men hurried down the path, while -the other returned to the top of the cliff. -Listening intently, Jack heard the man's footsteps -sounding ever more faintly as they receded in the -direction of the village.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was right, then! This was Sandy Cove, -and here the run was to be made. He felt -impatient for the work to begin. The sky was very -dark, there was no moon—smugglers avoided -moonlit nights—but the air was so clear that he -hoped to see well enough for his purpose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Ah! there were dark figures moving quietly -about the beach below. The men had taken off -their boots, it appeared, and there—yes! It was -the black shape of a vessel slowly approaching -the shore. The sails were run down with scarce -a sound; the lugger hove to within a few yards -of the cove; then, on a gangway invisible to -Jack, the smugglers went to and fro, those -coming shoreward bent under heavy burdens.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack watched eagerly. The carriers brought -their loads up the chine, and disappeared along -the same path that he himself had followed a -few hours before. It seemed but a few minutes; -then he heard a voice say "That's the last;" the -lugger stood out to sea, and Sandy Cove was as -quiet as though nothing had happened.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Slipping out of his hiding-place, Jack very -cautiously followed the last man, who carried no -load and seemed to be in some authority over -the rest. Jack could never venture near enough -to see his features, nor even to get a complete -view of his form. He tracked him to Congleton's -Hollow, and there was compelled to pause and -dodge some of the carriers who, having finished -their work, were making their way homeward -across the fields. Waiting a little while until all -seemed safe, he crept across the Hollow to the -summer-house where he had found the iron steps. -It was from this that the carriers had come. -Clearly the smuggled goods had been deposited -there. He searched as thoroughly as he could in -the darkness, but could find no trace of them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis a job for daylight," he said to himself. -"Now for my tramp back."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was dead tired when he reached the -cottage where he had left his gig. The cottager -awoke at his knock, put the horse in, and drove -him at once to Middleton, where he slept heavily -for three or four hours before Mr. Goodman -arrived in the morning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Mr. Hardy, I hope you spotted the -rascals as we arranged."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I saw the run," replied Jack, with an inward -chuckle at the riding-officer's "we," "and a -precious cold night it was. They've hidden the stuff -somewhere in old Congleton's summer-house."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Have they indeed? I'll seize it at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, no, Mr. Goodman, don't be in a hurry. -You might send a few of your men to Luscombe, -telling them nothing, of course. If they're seen -about there for a day or two it will prevent the -smugglers from removing their stuff until it is -too late. And if you don't mind, send a -messenger to Waddon for me, and tell Babbage to -remain where he is till further orders."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will, Mr. Hardy. By George! I hope -Admiral Horniman will be pleased with the way -we are carrying out his plans."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack smiled as the riding-officer took his -leave,—Mr. Goodman knew only half the plan; -Admiral Horniman none of it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The most important part of Jack's task was -still before him. He had determined to be in -the turret room of Congleton's Folly on -Wednesday evening; how was he to get there? The -removable steps were no doubt being used by the -signaler; but it was not likely that they were still -hidden in the same place. De Fronsac, of course, -would believe Jack to be safe in a French prison; -but the last hiding-place having been so easily -discovered, he would certainly choose a new one. -Yet, if the tower was to be entered, steps of some -kind must be had.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack spent a quiet Sunday, and early on -Monday morning drove a few miles inland to another -village, where he entered the smithy and asked -the smith if he could make him quickly a dozen -iron loops with a tail to them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, maybe I might," said the smith, "if -you showed me the pattern."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here you are," replied Jack, drawing a -rough sketch of the article he wanted with a -piece of charcoal on the side of the forge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And what might that be for, measter?" the -smith inquired. "A cur'ous looking objeck."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, isn't it? 'Tis for a game I'm going to -play—quite a new thing in these parts."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, to be sure! And how thick do 'ee want 'em?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack could only guess the dimensions. He -tried to recall the size of the holes in the wall of -the </span><em class="italics">Folly</em><span>, and gave the smith a thickness which -he hoped would turn out within the mark. The -steps were easily made when the man had -grasped the idea. Getting them wrapped up, -Jack drove back to Middleton, and thence to -Waddon, where Babbage and the crew of the -</span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> were unfeignedly glad to see him once -more.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis long waiting when you don't know, -sir," said Babbage. "As brother Sol used to say: -'Wait not, want not,' and true it is, though so -plain."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>During the rest of Monday and all Tuesday -the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> cruised down Channel, merely to kill -time. The men wondered why their young -commander did not sail out to sea and do some -scouting work, if nothing else, but Jack did not wish -to run any risks; besides, he was busily occupied -in drawing up a message in the cipher used by -the signaler at the Folly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On Wednesday morning the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> put in once -more at Waddon, and Jack left again. These -mysterious absences were somewhat trying to -Babbage's equanimity.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But there," he said, talking the matter over -with Turley, "to gentlemen of eddication, I -s'pose, our heads—yourn an' mine, Turley—be -only like so many turnips."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Babbage?" Turley's tone was one of -surprise and remonstrance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wot?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not Turnips."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why not?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, sir, 'cos they have Tops."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not when they're mashed, Turley, wi' butter, -or dripping for cheapness."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="diamond-cut-diamond"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Unconscious of the bo'sun's melancholy -reflections, Jack was hurrying toward the village. -There he again hired the gig, and drove once -more over the same road, leaving Middleton so -as to reach the neighborhood of Luscombe about -dusk. With him he took the iron steps.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He made his way with great caution to Gumley's -cottage. This time he did not hail the old -sailor from the roadway, but got over the fence -and tapped at the window. When he was admitted, -he announced without preliminary the -object of his visit.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I want you to come and lend a hand, Gumley."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Might I axe how and wherefore, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll tell you that as we go along."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis not to go back on old messmates, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your old messmates have gone back on you. -But 'tis not that, and, anyway, I call upon you, -Joe Gumley, in the king's name—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, if you put it like that, sir, I don't axe no -questions. The king's name is enough for me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know it. Come along, and bring Comely -with you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The three set out, Gumley curiously eying -Jack's bundle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We're bound for Congleton's Hollow, Gumley."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Any news since I saw you last?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nary much, sir. Young Bill Gudgeon -haven't bin seen since. And the preventives have -bin paying surprise visits down in the village."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's well. The smugglers won't have dared -to remove their cargo."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! I knowed as how they'd made another run."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How did you know that? You keep yourself -to yourself, you know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"True, sir. But old Gudgeon's chimbleys do -be uncommon foul, to be sure."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's that to do with it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, sir, I were thinking that's the only -thing I've seed to-day. But he'll soon be leaving -off fires. Be you gwine to the Hollow by the -lane, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes. 'Tis a little longer way round, but I -don't want to meet anybody."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"True, sir. Comely will give us good notice -if any one is about."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They came at length to the Hollow. Jack led -the way through the trees to within a hundred -yards of the tower, and searched the neighborhood -thoroughly to make sure that no one was -on the watch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Gumley, I'm going up to the room at -the top. Not through the door, but up the -outside with the help of these steps." He opened -his bundle. "See, they fit into holes in the wall. -Are you sailor enough still to come up after me -and bring down the steps when I've got to the -top?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Try me, sir. True, I've only one leg, but -that's sound; and my arms—look at 'em, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's all right. When you've got the steps, -hide in the bushes with Comely until you hear -me whistle. Then you'll come and take charge -of a man I think you'll find here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack mounted, Gumley after him. The latter -removed the steps and disappeared into the -thicket, while Jack closed the trap-door, and sat -on the rickety chair, waiting.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Hours passed. It was very cold. Jack knew -that De Fronsac would not leave the Grange -until the family were asleep; he could only wait, -wrapped up in his cloak, walking about quietly -at intervals to keep himself awake.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At last he heard a slight click outside. -Instantly he concealed himself in the hole behind -the bedstead, leading to the staircase. To insure -the full success of his plan it was necessary that -the signaler should make his preparations undisturbed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He heard some one enter the room by the -trap-door, and immediately afterward saw a gleam of -light. Peeping out, he recognized with a thrill -that the intruder was De Fronsac, as he had -expected, and that he was alone. He had lit the -lamp, the glass of which was turned away from -the window; the long roll of cardboard and a -pistol lay beside it. Then he went to the window -and looked out to sea. He was evidently waiting -for a signal from the lugger.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Peste!</em><span>" he muttered, slapping his shoulders. -"</span><em class="italics">Comme il fait froid! Il est en retard. Quand -viendra-t-il?</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pistol in hand, Jack stepped quietly out of his -hiding-place. De Fronsac started, swung round, -and stared with amazement, for there, in the -light of the lamp, stood the boy he had kidnapped, -and a pistol was pointed full at his head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, Monsieur de Fronsac, it is I. Stay where -you are; if you make a movement I shall fire."</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 78%" id="figure-50"> -<span id="if-you-make-a-movement-i-shall-fire"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=""If you make a movement, I shall fire"" src="images/img-203.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">"If you make a movement, I shall fire"</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>The statement was so cool and matter-of-fact -that it appeared to carry conviction, for De -Fronsac arrested his first instinctive movement -toward his own pistol. Still covering him with -his weapon, Jack advanced to the table, turned -the lamp so that the light fell on the Frenchman, -and lifted the pistol. De Fronsac said not a -word. There was no smile upon his face now, -but his eyes gleamed, and Jack knew that he was -watching for the slightest opening. De Fronsac -felt the rope for a spy tightening relentlessly -round his neck.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He glanced toward the lamp, within a few -feet of him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, Monsieur De Fronsac," said Jack, -guessing his wish to knock it over: "it really is -not possible. You would not live to reach the -table. You will now go through the trap-door -and descend the steps, as quickly and quietly as -you can."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man hesitated; Jack saw his fingers work -nervously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall count three, Monsieur. At the word -</span><em class="italics">three</em><span> I fire. One—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Fronsac moved sidewise toward the trap-door. -At the opening he again paused, and -appeared to be about to speak. But Jack gave him -no opportunity.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Again, Monsieur: one—two—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Fronsac pulled up the trap, and slowly -lowered himself on to the topmost step.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Remember, Monsieur," said Jack, before his -head disappeared, "if you make the least -unnecessary sound I shall send a bullet after you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The gleaming eyes disappeared. Step by step -the Frenchman descended. When he was a third -of the way down Jack whistled gently. By the -time De Fronsac reached the ground Gumley -and Comely were one on each side of him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Evening, sir," said Gumley. "Orders are that -you come along wi' me—and the dog. Watch -him, Comely."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A deep growl caused De Fronsac to start.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Harmless as a lamb, sir, while you goes -steady. Bean't 'ee, Comely?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The answer was another growl. They moved -away, the dog keeping a few inches behind De -Fronsac's heels, Gumley with a naked cutlass -walking at his right hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Even before they were out of sight Jack had -returned to the table. There he had noticed a -sheet of paper. It was covered with figures—no -doubt the message that De Fronsac was preparing -to send.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wonder if there's time to make it out!" -thought Jack. He looked out to sea; there was -no signal light. With the aid of his key he -scribbled below the figures the corresponding letters, -and read:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>NELSON A SUIVRE VILLENEUVE 9 -NAVIRE 2 FREGATE SORTENT DE P -MERCREDI BINSEY COVE LUNDI.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"A clever villain!" thought Jack. "Who -would ever have imagined that a French spy -would be mixed up with English smugglers! -And I wonder how he gets his information about -Nelson's doings, and the sailings of English -convoys? Well, his friends will have rather a -different message to-night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He took from his pocket a piece of paper, and -made some alterations in the figures he had -written in the cabin of the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If they like news of Nelson, they shall have -some, invented on the spot!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Every now and then while writing he glanced -out to sea to make sure that he did not miss the -expected signal. It was nearly an hour after he -had completed his message that he caught the -three successive flashes. Then he fixed the -cardboard, pointed it through the round hole in the -curtain, and signaled:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>NELSON MOURANT A PALERMO NAVIRE -BRISE PLAGE FOWEY CONVOI -PETITE CHALOUPE BINSEY COVE LUNDI.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The message completed, he extinguished the -light and descended, removing the steps as he -went. The other set had apparently been taken -by Gumley. Wrapping up the original dozen he -started for his long walk back.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had not gone many paces when he heard -hurried footsteps behind. Turning round with -a start, his hand on his pistol, he was amazed to -hear his name called.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jack!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The next instant a slight figure sprang toward him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Jack! I'm jolly glad, I am! I thought -it was you, but couldn't be sure till you came -down. Oh, I </span><em class="italics">am</em><span> glad!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, don't make a to-do, youngster. And -what brings you out at this time of night?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, didn't you tell me months ago to keep -an eye on Fronsac? Well, I've done it. I've -followed him several nights—not often, 'cos mostly -I'm sleepy; but I've never caught him. He -always disappeared, and I never knew where he -went till to-night. And I shouldn't have known -now if I hadn't seen him climb down the Folly -and go off with old Gumley. Oh, it was fine! -My eye! wasn't he scared at the dog! But what's -it all mean, Jack? I say, you'll come along home, -won't you? They'll all be so jolly glad to see -you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not to-night, Arthur. I hope I shall come -to see you all in a day or two. But not a soul -in the village must know yet that I'm back, and -the maids couldn't keep it in. Tell your father -I'm here; and tell him that De Fronsac is a -dangerous spy. We've got him safe now, but they -mustn't suspect in the village. If any questions -are asked you can say that he has gone away for -a few days, and will be back on Monday night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I say, will they hang him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course. Now cut and run; you'll catch -your death of cold, and the squire will want to -hang me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not he. He likes you. So does—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Cut!" said Jack, putting an end to Arthur's -confidences. The boy disappeared; Jack resumed -his walk, and arrived dead tired at the inn -at Middleton.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-battle-of-binsey-cove"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE BATTLE OF BINSEY COVE</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Ah! Patience is a monument, as brother Sol -used to say. Tombstone I'd call it, 'cos this here -waiting about in the cold'll be the death o' me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"True, Mr. Babbage. It bean't Christian, let -alone decent, to keep us poor fellers waiting -here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Avast your jabber, Mudge. It bean't for the -likes of you to grumble when 'tis a matter o' -dooty, and love your neighbor as yourself. 'Tis -a wonderful fine night, coldish, nat'ral for the -time o' year. Mr. Hardy didn't make the -weather, lads."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Ben Babbage, with a boat's crew from the -</span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>, lay off Totley Point, about a mile and a -half west of Luscombe. It was about ten at -night. They had been for two hours resting on -their oars. A steady breeze blew from the -west-sou'west, and a slight swell rocked the boat -gently. Save for an occasional pull to keep her -head to the wind the men had nothing to do -except wait and watch; and Babbage, however he -might grumble himself, was the last to permit -grumbling in others.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But it was certainly a tax on their patience to -wait hour after hour for a lugger which was slow -to appear. Everybody was tired of inaction, and -hoping for a signal of recall, when a shape -loomed out of the blackness, passed on the -starboard side of the boat, about two cable lengths -away, and disappeared shoreward.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Babbage lifted a dark lantern from the bottom -of the boat; Turley and Mudge stretched a sheet -of tarpaulin between him and the shore. Then -Babbage, facing out to sea, and keeping the -lantern at such an elevation that its light should not -fall on the water, rapidly opened and closed the -shutter, sending one flash to windward.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Things is a-going to happen, mates," he said, -as he replaced the lantern. "The owdacious -moment is at hand, as brother Sol used to say."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Again they waited, but now with keen expectation. -In ten minutes, which seemed hours, a -dark shape appeared in the offing. Babbage -making a bell of his hands, sent a low whistle -across the water; an order was given on the -approaching vessel; the steersman put up the helm, -and in a few seconds the other was alongside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All well, Babbage?" said Jack, in a low tone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A rope was thrown from the cutter and made -fast in the bows of the boat. Another brief -command; the steersman put the helm down, and -the cutter, with the boat in tow, followed in the -wake of the lugger. At nightfall she had crept -in to within two miles of the shore, and sending -out the long-boat as a scout, had hove to, lest her -mast should betray her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In ten minutes the cliffs were dimly visible, -and Jack recognized the jagged gap at the top -that served as a landmark in steering for the -cove. The cutter headed straight for the gap. -There was a shout from far up the cliff; the -</span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span> had been sighted by the lookout. His call -was answered by cries from the beach. On the -cutter all the men lay ready with musketoon, -pistol, and cutlass, except the few who had been -told off to run down the sail when the word was -given, and make the cutter fast to the lugger -when she came alongside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack's heart beat more quickly than usual; he -felt excited, and anxious, too, for he knew that -the whole crew of the lugger, probably quite as -strong as his own, would be ready to repel -boarders. If they were joined by the Luscombe men -who were receiving the smuggled goods he -would be greatly outnumbered. Everything -depended on the handling of the men, and knowing -how desperately smugglers fought when brought -to bay, Jack felt the seriousness of the position. -What would the issue be?</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>While the boat's crew had been waiting in the -cold, strange things had been happening at -Gumley's cottage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gumley's method of guarding De Fronsac was -to make a temporary kennel for the dog outside -the window of the front room in which the -prisoner was lodged, and a shakedown for himself -by the door. He felt that he could not properly -intrude upon De Fronsac, who was a person of -quality. But he looked in at intervals to see that -he was safe, on these occasions calling Comely -into the room, to guard against any attempted -surprise.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Fronsac had recovered the use of his -tongue after he reached the cottage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I protest, I say it is a scandal, an infamy, to -shut me up as if I vere a t'ief. Vat right have -you? Tell me dat—you—you—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gumley, my name, sir. I've got my orders—in -the king's name."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Vell, I vill complain to de squire; I vill make -to punish you—you—Gomley!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Orders is orders, sir. I can't say no more."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gumley himself was somewhat anxious about -his charge, for, not expecting such a drain on his -larder, he had only his usual provisions for the -week, and did not feel at liberty to leave the -cottage and procure more. Thursday passed, -Friday, Saturday, and still he had heard nothing -from Jack. When Sunday came, there was only -a half loaf of bread and a rind of cheese left, and -these had to be shared among the two men and the dog.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the second day De Fronsac began to -beguile the tedium of confinement by writing -poetry. When Gumley looked in at him on one of -his periodical visits the Frenchman said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have not a bad heart. You obey orders -of—of—of a monstair. Vell, I read you vat I -have now written about anoder Monstair—de -great villain Monstair vat call himself Emperor -of de French! Listen! You vill like it.</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"'</span><em class="italics">De sky vas blue, de sea vas green,</em></div> -<div class="line"><em class="italics">All beautiful for to be seen.</em></div> -<div class="line"><em class="italics">Vy den am I not gay and glad?</em></div> -<div class="line"><em class="italics">Alas! de Monstair make me sad.</em><span>'</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Dat is good beginning, hein?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Reyther on the miserable side, don't 'ee think, -sir? For myself, I like a rum-tum-tiddlum -rollicum-rorum sort o' thing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ver' vell, I write you someting of dat kind."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gumley heard nothing more of this generous -offer until Monday evening. Then, when he -went into De Fronsac's room to explain with -apologies that he had no more food, the -Frenchman said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No matter not at all. Vizout doubt some vun -vill come to-morrow. Be so good as give me a -candle. I vish to write de poesy I speak of."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gumley saw no reason for not humoring so -harmless a hobby, and brought the lighted -candle. But a couple of hours later he was awakened -from his sleep at the locked door by a smell of -burning. He soon satisfied himself that it came -from the prisoner's room, and opened the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ha! I see you!" said De Fronsac. "I am -almost burnt alive. I am writing my poesy -ven—</span><em class="italics">voilà!</em><span> de candle overfalls and burns a hole in de -table-carpet. See it! I put out de fire, easy; but -it make much smoke. I fear it vake you; pardon, -my good Gomley."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Granted, sir, ready. If I was you I'd go to -sleep now and do your writing stuff in the morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So I vill," was the response. "Pardon! I vill -not vake you again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gumley returned to his shakedown and was -soon fast asleep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Nearly two hours later he was wakened by a -growl from the dog outside. He got up, opened -the outer door, and found Comely trying to get -up to the shuttered window of De Fronsac's room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't like his poetry any more than me, don't -'ee? Come in. We'll tell him 'tis time he was -abed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He closed the door when the dog had entered, -and together they went into the prisoner's room. -There was still a good deal of smoke in it—but -no Frenchman.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ahoy!" cried Gumley.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the dog made a dash back to the front -door, and, when Gumley followed and opened it, -rushed growling down the garden, where he was -brought up by the high fence. Seizing his -cutlass, Gumley stumped as fast as he could to the -gate.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Chok' it all!" he muttered. "This is what -comes o' losing a leg in the king's name."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It took some little time to draw the bolts and -unlock the gate, and when the old sailor got out -into the road the fugitive was out of sight. But -Gumley thought he heard a man running down -the cliff path to the village. Without hesitation -he started in pursuit, whistling Comely to his -side. Never had that wooden leg moved so fast; -but with all his exertion his pace did not exceed -that of a quick walk. He was half-way down the -path when he heard shots in the distance. -Hurrying still more, he came to the village just -in time to see a group of men rushing out at the -other end, and caught the words "Sandy Cove!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fire and brimstone!" he muttered. "This is -a desperate go, Comely. Come on, my lad."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And he stumped on gamely through the -deserted street.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Meanwhile there had been brisk doings at -Sandy Cove. When Jack judged that he was -only a couple of cable-lengths from the lugger, -he cast off the long-boat with Babbage and his -men. They, resting on their oars, allowed it to -drift slowly in while the cutter disappeared into -the darkness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A few moments later Jack gave the word. The -sail was run down. A round shot from the -lugger whistled across the </span><em class="italics">Fury's</em><span> bows. Another -few seconds; then, amid furious shouts, the -cutter came against the larboard quarter of the -lugger with a bump that caused the men on both -craft to stagger. The </span><em class="italics">Fury's</em><span> bowsprit fouled the -lugger's shrouds and hooked fast. Instantly half -a dozen grapnels were out, and the two vessels -were closely interlocked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a deafening discharge of small -arms from the deck of the lugger, but as most of -the </span><em class="italics">Fury's</em><span> men were lying down awaiting the -order to board, and the volley was fired at -random in almost total darkness, hardly any -damage was done. But the master of the lugger was -clearly a man of action, for the echo of the shots -had scarcely come back from the cliffs when he -gave a loud order in French, and the smugglers -swarmed over the bulwarks, intending to jump -on to the deck of the cutter a foot or two below.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fire!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The word rang out sharp and clear above the -shouts of the Frenchmen. Their dark forms -stood out clearly against the starlight; they were -only a few feet from the muzzles of the Englishmen's -muskets; and when at Jack's command the -volley flashed, the front line of the smugglers -disappeared as if struck by a thunderbolt.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With a loud cheer the English sailors, dropping -their muskets, seized cutlass and pistol and -dashed through the smoke, each man eager to be -first on the enemy's deck. They needed no -encouragement; most of them had a score to pay -off for their defeat at the same spot in the -previous autumn. While the Frenchmen were still -half stunned by the scorching fire and the loss of -so many of their comrades, Jack's men gained a -footing on the deck.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But now the French skipper's voice could be -heard rallying his crew, and the boarders were -met by a serried mass armed with pistols and -boarding pikes. And among the Frenchmen -there was now a sprinkling of Englishmen, for -the smugglers on shore had rushed over the -gangway to their comrades thus hotly beset. Now a -furious hand-to-hand fight raged about the -lugger's stern. Great was the clamor as steel clashed -on steel, pistols barked, hoarse voices roared -encouragement or defiance, wounded men groaned. -Again and again Jack and his men were flung -back by sheer weight of numbers against the -lugger's bulwarks; again and again they rallied -and forced the enemy across the deck. No room -here for fine weapon-play; men cut and thrust at -random, met, grappled, flung away cutlass and -pike to set to with nature's own weapons. Many -a Frenchman fell under the sledge-hammer -blows of British sailors' fists.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack had no clear recollection afterward of -the details of the fight. At one moment he found -himself leading a rush of his own men, pressing -the enemy back foot by foot until only a last -desperate effort seemed wanting to drive them -overboard. Then would come a check; a hoarse -shout from the skipper, whom Jack by and by -distinguished in the mêlée—a huge fellow of -reckless courage; the tide turned, the smugglers -rallied gamely, and Jack and his men, stubbornly -as they fought, were borne back and back, -losing inch by inch the ground they had so -hardly gained.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was at one of these desperate moments that -Jack heard at last the sound for which, throughout -the struggle, he had been anxiously waiting. -From the forefront of the lugger came a sudden -rousing British cheer. There was a rush of feet -in the rear of the smugglers, and in a second, as -it seemed to Jack, the deck in front of him was -clear. Ben Babbage had arrived. Carrying out -orders given him previously, he had brought the -long-boat unseen to the starboard side of the -lugger, and, before the Frenchmen were aware of -his presence, he was on deck, with Turley, -Mudge, Folkard, and half a dozen other trusty -shipmates.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beset now in both front and rear, the Frenchmen -lost heart. Suddenly they made a rush for -the gangway connecting the lugger with the -land, and swarmed helter-skelter across, not a -few stumbling over the edge and falling souse -into the water.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Huzzay! huzzay!" shouted the panting -Englishmen, as they saw the enemy in flight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But they were answered by a loud and -confident cheer from the beach, and in the -momentary silence that ensued they heard the rapid -tramp of a large body of men hurrying over the -shingle. Immediately afterward they saw the -fugitives halt, and rush back, largely reinforced, -to the gangway, led by the indomitable captain. -On they came, tumbling into the water three or -four of the Englishmen who had started in -pursuit and were making for the shore.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The gangway, consisting of four stout planks -laid side by side, was wide, and gave foothold for -a throng at once. Jack and Babbage collected -their men at the lugger's bulwarks to meet this -new attack. And the former, amazed at this -sudden turning of the tables, was still more amazed -to see beside the French skipper the slighter -form of Monsieur de Fronsac. Even at the -moment of recognition De Fronsac's pistol flashed; -the bullet glanced off Jack's cutlass within an -inch of his body, and embedded itself in the -mast behind him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The two forces came together with a shock. -Babbage dropped his cutlass and flung his -powerful arms around the skipper. They -swayed for a moment, then fell together with a -tremendous splash into the water. De Fronsac -had dropped his pistol, and made for Jack with -a cutlass. Jack parried his furious cut, and -before he could recover replied with a rapid and -dexterous thrust that found the Frenchman's -forearm. With wonderful quickness De Fronsac -shifted his weapon from the right to the left -hand, and, shouting encouragement to the men -beside and behind him, pressed forward indomitably.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the same moment there was a rush of feet -from the bows of the lugger. Her bowsprit came -within easy reach of the rocky ledge, and a -number of the smugglers had sprung on to it, -scrambled along, and flung themselves on the flank of -the defenders. Turley and others at Jack's right -turned to meet this new danger; but the enemy -had gained a firm foothold on the foredeck, and -the fight once more became general.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack, fighting grimly with Mudge and -Folkard at the head of the gangway, felt with a -dreadful sinking at the heart that the tide of -battle was turning overwhelmingly against him. It -seemed only too likely that he must either take -to the cutter and escape, or remain to be killed -or captured. But at this moment there was a -sudden uproar at the far end of the gangway; the -cries he heard were unmistakably cries of -dismay. The throng of men pressing from the shore -to the lugger wavered; their rear was being -attacked; the preventives must be upon them! So -sudden and unexpected was the onslaught that -they lost their heads; their confidence changed -to panic, and as one man they made off, springing -into the shallow water to right and left, and -scurrying away into the darkness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Have at 'em, Comely! Have at 'em, my lad!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The words rang clear above all the din; and -ever and anon came a short yelping bark—the -unmistakable war-cry of a bulldog. Jack felt a -wonderful lightness of heart as the sounds came -to him out of the dark. Then the press in front -of him melted as by magic, and through the gap -so quickly made stumped Gumley, wielding his -cutlass like a flail, and shouting with the -regularity of a minute-gun:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Have at 'em, Comely! Have at 'em, my lad!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two men remained on the gangway, refusing -to be intimidated by the tumult in their rear; -nay more, adjuring the fugitives to stand fast. -One was Monsieur de Fronsac, the other Kit -Lamiger, the chief Luscombe smuggler, father -of the lad whom Jack had fought.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The uproar, the flight, the appearance of -Gumley and the dog, all happened in such rapid -succession and amid such a clamor that to Jack -the events seemed to take place in one crowded -moment. As the last of the panic-stricken -smugglers jumped sidewise from the gangway on to -the rocks, De Fronsac, hearing Gumley's voice -behind him, took a rapid step forward in a last -desperate endeavor to dispose of Jack. But the -middy marked his purpose. There was no time -for deliberation. The Frenchman, wielding his -cutlass as well with his left hand as with his -right, made a fierce cut at Jack. The next -moment he threw up his arms without a sound and -fell backward across the gangway into the space -between the lugger and the rocks. Jack's blade -had pierced him through.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile Kit Lamiger had found himself -seized below in the vise-like grip of Comely's -jaws. Struggling to free himself, he fell into the -arms of Gumley, who, with a cry of "In the -king's name, shipmate!" swung him round, -threw him on to the shingle, and bade the -bulldog watch him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The fight was over.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ahoy, Gumley! Come aboard!" shouted Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gumley stumped across the gangway, and this -was drawn on to the lugger's deck. Jack intended -to work the vessels out for a little distance -until there was no chance of being attacked -except by boats, for he knew that he was still -outnumbered. But just as he was preparing to cast -off there came a loud hail from the beach, and -immediately afterward Mr. Goodman rushed up -at the head of a force of preventive men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just in time, Mr. Hardy!" panted he.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A little late, Mr. Goodman," replied Jack. -"I expected you some time ago. The fight is over."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dash my buttons!" cried the mortified officer. -"'Tis my confounded ill-luck. I should have -been here, but I got another note a few hours ago -that I had to attend to."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Anonymous, Mr. Goodman?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, anonymous as usual, hang it all! I came -up when I heard the firing. I see you've got the -lugger, sir. Our scheme worked out to the letter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To the anonymous note, eh, Mr. Goodman? -Well, we've good news for the admiral to-morrow. -And as you've a good number of your men -here, I'll go ashore and step up to the Grange. -I want to see my cousin. Turley, where's Babbage?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never seed him, sir, since he went overboard -with the French skipper."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I must leave you in charge, then. The -poor fellow's drowned, I fear."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sir," shouted a voice from the beach.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who's that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me, sir, Babbage as was."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All sound?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And fury, as brother Sol used to say. Me -and the French skipper fell overboard together, -me on top. He drownded hisself, sir, 'cos he -wouldn't let go. When I come up, some o' they -fellers bowled me over like a ninepin, and my -senses was fair knocked out o' me. Next thing -I knowed I heard you a-saying I were drownded, -sir. Not so, nor never even seasick."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'm glad you're safe. Come aboard. -We'll see what damage is done here, and then -I'll go ashore, and we'll get a doctor from -Wickham Ferrers to attend to the poor fellows who -are wounded."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="some-appointments"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">SOME APPOINTMENTS</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Jack had but just reached the road above the -cliff when he was somewhat startled to hear the -regular clickety-click of a large number of -horses trotting toward him. And surely, amid -the clatter of their hoofs, there was the clash of -steel!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He stood at the edge of the road, waiting. In -a few moments, round the corner from the -direction of Wickham, came two horsemen at a rapid -trot, and behind them a troop, whose polished -accoutrements gleamed in the light of the rising -moon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They rode on rapidly, and Jack had just -recognized the uniform of the Dorsetshire -yeomanry when the officer at their head caught -sight of him, shouted "Halt!" and reined up his -horse on its haunches.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where are they, my lad?" he asked in a tone -of subdued excitement.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who, Cousin Humfrey?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Eh! Who are you? Why, bless me, 'tis Jack! -Where are the ruffians?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who, cousin?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, the French! Have they got a footing?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Most of 'em a wetting, cousin. But we've -beat the whole crew and got the lugger."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The lugger! Hang the lugger! What about -the praams?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The praams!" Jack was puzzled; then a -light dawned on him and he began to laugh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come, come, 'tis no joke. Are they beaten back?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, cousin, no joke! Did you really think it -was Boney? Oh, I can't help it; excuse me, -cousin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It came out that Mr. Bastable had been -awakened by one of his men, who declared that he -heard cannons firing most horribly, and was sure -'twas Boney had come over at last. The squire -got up, sent a rider post-haste to Wickham -Ferrers for his troop of yeomen, and hurried into -his uniform, which he kept always at hand by -his bedside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And here we are, my lad, in an hour from -the first alarm. There's quick work for you. -But I'm glad 'tis no worse than a brush with -smugglers. 'Twas a false alarm, my lads," he -added, turning to his men. "Boney has thought -better of it. Didn't care to tackle us Dorset men. -You can get back and sleep sound. Now Jack, -you'll come with me to the Grange. Arthur told -me he'd seen you—the young rascal, stealing out -at dead of night! But a good plucked 'un too, -eh, Jack?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A chip of the old block, cousin. Just the sort -of fellow we middies like."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And that villain De Fronsac, now! What of him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's dead, cousin," said Jack gravely.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ha! He's got his deserts. The villain, -playing his double game for eighteen months in my -house! And his humbug about the Monster, too. -It makes me red in the face when I think of it. -But you must tell me all about it when we get -home."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They found the Grange almost in a state of -siege. The windows were close-shuttered, the -doors were double locked, and when Mr. Bastable -rapped, the voice of old William, the -gardener, was heard, threatening in accents of -unmistakable terror that he'd b-blow out the -b-b-brains of any Frenchman with his b-b-blunderbuss. -When admittance was obtained, shrieks -were heard from the top of the house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The maids in hysterics!" growled the squire. -"Here, Molly and Betty," he shouted, "don't be -a couple of geese. 'Tis not Boney—'tis Master -Jack!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A door above flew open; Kate and Arthur -came bounding down the stairs, with Mrs. Bastable -a pace or two behind them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lawk a mussy! Only to think o't, now!" -giggled Molly above. "Measter Jack! Well, I -never did!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Kate impulsively threw her arms round Jack's -neck and kissed him heartily. A middy is not -easily taken by surprise, but Jack was only just -in time to return the kiss before Mrs. Bastable -came and encircled him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My dear boy, this is delightful."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So it is, cousin—if it wasn't so smothery!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mothery!" shouted the squire in high good -humor. "Now, you'll come along to my den and -tell me all about everything that's happened -since you were kidnapped by those villains, -confound them!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But my dear Humfrey, Jack looks dead-beat."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll cure that by any by. The fire isn't out; -we'll make it up; and I'm sure you women won't -sleep a wink till you've heard the story."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hurray!" shouted Arthur, capering.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So they trooped into the snuggery, and there -Jack, fortified with a glass of hot cordial brought -by Molly, related his adventures from the time -when he was carried to France against his will.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There are two things I can't make out," he -said in conclusion. "One is, how Gudgeon is -mixed up in this. 'Twas his boat, I'm sure, that -carried me in the tub to the lugger; and he drove -to Gumley's the other night to hear what had -been done. Where does he come in, cousin?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Bastable laughed a little awkwardly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Go to bed, Arthur," he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know, father," said the boy, grinning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You do, do you, you young rascal! Well, -Jack, I'll tell you. Gudgeon is a sly old dog. -He's the smuggler hereabouts—but behind the -scenes. His smoking chimney was the signal by -day, as Fronsac's, it seems, was by night. But he's -not a traitor; he knew nothing of Fronsac's -double scheme, I warrant. He's a smuggler simply. -Why, Jack, he has supplied me with smuggled -brandy for years; so he does the parson at -Wickham. The stuff you're drinking was smuggled; -the lace your cousin Sylvia is wearing came from -Valenciennes, and paid no duty. I'm afraid I -must give it up now, my boy. There's not a -squire on the seaboard but thinks it no harm; but -with a cousin a gallant king's officer—yes, I must -give it up." He sighed. "And I think I'd better -go and see Gudgeon in the morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He'll be transported, as sure as a gun," said Jack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I don't think we'll go that length. You -can't prove anything against him, you see. He's -too sly for that—and—well, it might be -awkward for more than one of us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, cousin," said Jack, laughing. "But -there's another thing. That fellow who was -wounded in the Hollow! De Fronsac shot him, -I'm sure; I never told you that Arthur and I -saw him bundled into a lugger that night we -followed De Fronsac from the house."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's a mystery. I can't explain it. And it -doesn't matter much, now that De Fronsac is -gone. By George, Jack! I fancy you've killed -smuggling at Luscombe—for some time, at any -rate. Now to bed. We'll have another talk in -the morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Jack was up early, in spite of the lateness of -the hour when he went to bed. He was at -breakfast alone with Mr. Bastable when Mr. Goodman -was announced.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good morning, sir. Good morning, -Mr. Hardy. I've come to you as a justice of the peace, -Mr. Bastable. You've heard of our little exploit -last night?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You were in at the death, I believe. Well, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, sir, we went to the Hollow this morning -to seize the goods we understood were hidden -there. In the summer-house we found a man, -sir; I have him outside now. He tried to run -away; but we collared him, and as he wouldn't -give an account of himself I've brought him -along. Perhaps you'll commit him as a rogue -and vagabond."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bring him in, Mr. Goodman."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The riding-officer returned with a heavy, -undersized, beetle-browed fellow, in very tattered -garb.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, 'tis the very man!" cried Jack. "This -is the man De Fronsac shot."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"De Fronsac!" growled the man, with gleaming -eyes. "Where is he?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No longer in this world, my man," said -Mr. Bastable. "Now, who are you? Give a good -account of yourself, or I shall have to commit -you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man showed no hesitation now. He -explained that he had been employed in London -by a French family through whom De Fronsac -obtained much of the information he signaled to -France. Having discovered this fact, he had -come down to Luscombe to levy blackmail on the -spy; the consequences were as Jack had related. -He had returned to England—there were means -of coming and going between the two countries -even in that time of war—to wreak vengeance -on De Fronsac, and was lying in wait at the -summer-house when the preventives appeared on the -scene.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's your mystery unraveled," said -Mr. Bastable, turning to Jack. Then to the -Frenchman he said: "We'll send you off to London, -my man; 'tis for folk there to deal with you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After breakfast, Jack walked over to Gumley's -cottage. He wanted to know how De Fronsac -had escaped, and was prepared to read Gumley -a lecture for his lax guardianship. But he found -the old sailor so desperately upset at the trick -played upon him, that he had not the heart to -add to his chagrin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Only to think of it, sir!" said Gumley, -thumping the table. "Poetry! All my eye and Betty -Martin! Why, when he got that there candle, he -stood upon this here table"—another thump—"and -burned away the ends o' the matchboards -up aloft where they was nailed to the beams. -No wonder I smelled smoke! And he showed -me a hole in the tablecloth! Then he pried up -the boards, got up into the attic, out by the -trap-door on to the roof, and when Comely and me -was a-nosing round here in the smoke, chok' it -all! Mounseer was down the rain-pipe and -under full sail for the road. Never have I bin so -done afore, sir, and in the king's name, too."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never mind, Joe. You came after him like -a Briton, and if you and Comely hadn't arrived -on the scene when you did, I'm afraid there -would have been a different story to tell the -admiral to-day. I'm going to Portsmouth this -afternoon. And I'll take care the admiral knows -about your pluck and your stanchness as a king's -man under persecution."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank 'ee kindly, sir. And you won't forget -to say a word for Comely, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not I. Comely and Gumley—a fine pair of -warriors. Good-by."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Jack got back to the Grange, he found -that the squire had paid his promised visit to -Mr. Gudgeon. Mr. Bastable laughed as he -related the interview.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He had the flutters very badly, Jack. I put -it to him as delicately as I could. Said that -recent events had given the neighborhood a bad -name, especially as it had been found that some -one had been selling information to the French. -Suspicion might easily fall on the wrong person, -I said; and I wound up by suggesting that when -next winter comes he should see that his -chimneys are swept regularly. The old rascal! 'Oh -dear me!' says he, 'to think that a quiet -law-abiding village like Luscombe should have -harbored a French spy! It puts me in a terrible -flutter, Cognac is the best cure I know, sir; -maybe you'll do me the honor to take a sip with -me?' and the rascal gave me a glass, Jack; -contraband—capital stuff!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He'll be careful in future, I reckon, cousin. -I must run over to Portsmouth after lunch and -report to Admiral Horniman. I suppose I'd -better keep Gudgeon's name out?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Certainly, my lad. You've snuffed out smuggling -here—for the present; it is bound to begin -again some day; but you may depend upon it -that for a long time to come we're all king's men -here, Gudgeon included."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a fortnight before Jack returned to the -Grange. Then he came in a high state of excitement.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Admiral Horniman is a jolly old brick!" he -cried, after greeting his cousins. "What do you -think he's done?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Resigned in your favor, Jack?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pretty nearly!" returned Jack with a laugh. -"No, he's written up a thumping report to the -lords of the Admiralty, and got 'em to 'do a thing -that's as rare as—as—"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"As Jack Hardys. Well!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, to let me off three years' service as a -mid, and also the examination for lieutenant. -Look here! here's my commission!" He flourished -a paper, and cried for three cheers for -Admiral Horniman. "And that's not all. I've got -no end of prize-money for capturing the French -brig, and retaking the </span><em class="italics">Fury</em><span>, and collaring the -smugglers' stuff. My share alone comes to over -a thousand pounds. And they've taken two -French privateers and sunk another off Fowey. -The signals worked splendidly; they were -trying to cut out a disabled ship that wasn't there! -The admiral's going to put in a claim to -prize-money for me. He is a brick!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I say!" cried Arthur. "Don't I wish I -was you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm glad for dad's sake. He hasn't been over -well off since he had to retire from the East -India Company's service, owing to that wretched -illness of his, and I'm afraid he had to pinch a -bit for me. But now that's all changed. I shan't -cost him another penny piece."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bravo! Arthur, you young dog, remember -that, and hand over a thousand pounds to me -when I'm bound for the poorhouse. Well, Jack, -I congratulate you, my boy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But that's not all, cousin. I've kept the best -for the last. Open your eyes! I'm appointed to -the </span><em class="italics">Victory</em><span>, and sail to join Nelson in a week! -Won't we pepper the French! Won't we win a -glorious victory! Oh! cousin, isn't it the finest -thing in the world to serve your king and country!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you please, sir," said the butler, putting -his head in at the door, "Joe Gumley is outside, -asking for Mr. Hardy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Show him in," cried Mr. Bastable.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Arternoon, sir," said Gumley, stumping in -with the bulldog at his heels. He held his glazed -hat clumsily, and looked not quite at ease. "I be -come over for two things, Squire; number one, -to say thank'ee to Mr. Hardy; number two, to -axe a question."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never mind about number one, Gumley," -said Jack. "Heave away at number two."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Begging your pardon, sir, one always comes -afore two, and ye can't alter nature. I take it -kindly, sir, and I thank 'ee from the bottom of -my heart, for your goodness to a' old mariner -what has only one leg sound and rheumatiz in -both. Here I've got, sir, a paper, and as near -as I can make it out—'tis terrible writing for a -admiral, to be sure—Admiral Horniman says he -has great pleasure in app'inting Joseph Gumley -watchman at the dockyard, ten shillings a week, -cottage and rum free. I know who done that: -Admiral Horniman would never ha' heard o' -Joe Gumley but for Mr. Hardy. God bless 'ee, -sir, for remembering of a poor wooden-legged -old sailor what had to take to growing artichokes -and other landlubbers' thingummies in the -king's name."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The admiral couldn't have found a better -man," said Mr. Bastable, to cover Jack's -confusion. "But what's number two?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Number two is this, sir. Do this here -app'intment take in Comely? 'Cos if it don't with all -respecks to Mr. Hardy and the admiral, I sticks -to artichokes. Comely and Gumley—they sign -on together."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And nobody wants to split you, Gumley," -said Jack. "Go and see the admiral, and take -Comely with you—only hold him in, because the -admiral's rather peppery, and Comely might -made a mistake. He will know that with -Comely and Gumley to watch it, the dockyard -will be as safe as the rock of Gibraltar."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ay, ay, sir. Then we takes on that there -app'intment. Comely and me—in the king's name."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>THE END</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 6em"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="backmatter"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst" id="pg-end-line"><span>*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>JACK HARDY</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="cleardoublepage"> -</div> -<div class="language-en level-2 pgfooter section" id="a-word-from-project-gutenberg" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<span id="pg-footer"></span><h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span>A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h2> -<p class="pfirst"><span>We will update this book if we find any errors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This book can be found under: </span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43334"><span>http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/43334</span></a></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>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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