nant. There, select your crew and be
off at once."

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

"Then what do you propose?"

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

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

"If you'll let me, sir."

"Let you? Here, Mr Gurr, help Mr Raystoke, and--stop though; I don't
think I can let you go alone, my lad."

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

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

CHAPTER TEN.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Yes, I shall go there."

"And up to that big house?"

Archy was silent.

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

Archy nodded, and no more was said during the dark journey. They were
so close to the huge wall of rocks that it seeme