nce at his wife.

"However, sir, I'm not on that sort of business now," continued Gurr
sternly. "Want to find that boy. Good day. Now, my lads."

The men marched off, and Sir Risdon stood watching them.

"Ah, Risdon," and Lady Graeme, "how could you let yourself be dragged
into these dreadful deeds!"

"Don't blame me," he said sadly. "I loathe the whole business, but when
I saw my wife and child suffering almost from want of the very
necessaries of life, and the temptation came in the shape of presents
from that man, I could not resist--I was too weak. I listened to his
insidious persuasion, and tried to make myself believe that I was
guiltless, as I owned no fealty to King George. But I am justly
punished, and never again will I allow myself to be made an accessory to
these lawless deeds."

"But tell me," she whispered, "have they any of their goods secreted
there now?"

"I do not know."

"You do not know?"

"No. The only way in which I could allow myself to act was to keep
myself in complete ignorance of the going and coming of these people. I
might suspect, but I would never satisfy myself by watching; and I can
say now honestly, I do not know whether they have still goods lying
there or have taken them away."

"But Celia--keep it from her."

"Of course."

"And about the missing boy. Surely, Risdon, they would not--"

Lady Graeme did not finish, but gave her husband a piercing look.

"Don't ask me," he said sadly. "Many of the men engaged in the
smuggling are desperate wretches, and if they feared betrayal they would
not scruple, I'm afraid, to strike down any one in the way of their
escape."

Lady Graeme shuddered, and they went together into the house, just as
Celia came across the wood at the back, in company with the dog.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

Gurr continued his search till it was quite dark, and then tramped his
men back to the cove, where the boat-keeper was summoned, and the boat
with her crew, saving Dick, were sent back to the cutter, one of the men
bearing a message from Gurr to say that he was going to stay ashore till
he had found Mr Raystoke, and asking the lieutenant to send the boat
back for him if he did not approve.

It was a very dark row back to the cutter, but her lights shone out
clearly over the smooth sea, forming good beacons for the men to follow
till the boat was run alongside.

"Got them, Mr Gurr?" came from the deck.

"No sir, and Mr Gurr's stopping a