ng business, and he started apparently from
a fit of musing as he came abreast.

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

"Yes," said Gurr smartly.

"Found the stuff?"

"No."

"I say."

"Well?"

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

"Of course we are."

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

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

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

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

"What about, my lad?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"No, sir."

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

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

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

Archy told him and his reasons.

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

"Hoze, sir, Hoze."

"Oh well, gloves,