oo.
Time I was up, I suppose."

He gave himself a twist, and was about to turn out of his sleeping
place, and then opened his eyes widely, and stared about him, too much
overcome still by his heavy sleep to quite comprehend why it was that he
was in a gloomy, oak-panelled, poorly furnished room, staring at an
iron-barred open window.

No: he was not dreaming, for he was looking out on the sea, over which a
faint mist hung like wreaths of smoke. It was just before sunrise too,
for there were flecks of orange high up in the sky.

What did it mean?

The answer came like a flash. He recollected it all now, even to his
sitting down in the chair, wearied out.

He had been fast asleep, and those words had awakened him.

What did they say?--false alarm--tell Sir Risdon they would clear all
away to-night--see if anything had been left about--lobster-boat!

Then no boat had come from the cutter last night, and the lieutenant
would wait for him to signal, and here he was a prisoner, with the
information--locked up--the very news the lieutenant would give anything
to know.

He jumped up from the chair feeling horribly stiff, and looked steadily
round for a way to escape before it was too late. Once out of that room
he could ran, and by daylight the smugglers dare not hunt him down.

"Oh, those bars!" he mentally exclaimed, and he was advancing toward
them, when just as he drew near, there was a rustling noise under the
window, a couple of hands seized the bars, there was a scratching of
boot-toes against stone work, and Ram's face appeared to gaze into the
room by intention, but into the astonished countenance of the young
midshipman instead.

Ram was the first to recover from his surprise.

"Hullo!" he said, "who are you? I was wondering why that window was
open."

"Here, quick! Go round and open the door. I was shut in last night by
mistake."

"Oh!" said Ram looking puzzled. "I saw you last night, and wondered
whose boy you was. It was you father kicked for shirking, and--My!--
well: I hardly knowed you."

"Nonsense! Come round and open the door. I've been shut in all night."

"Won't do," said Ram grinning. "Think I don't know you, Mr Orficer?
Where's your fine clothes and your sword? Here, what made you dress up
like that?"

"You're mistaken," said Archy gruffly, as he made a feeble struggle to
keep up the character he had assumed.

"Won't do," said Ram quickly. "I know you. Been playing the