t one of the fishermen's cottages
ashore to keep on the search."

"Tut, tut!" ejaculated the lieutenant as he turned away and began to
pace the deck.

"Beg'n' pardon, sir, Mr Gurr said--"

"Well, well, well, what did Mr Gurr say? Pity he did not do more and
not say so much."

"Said as his dooty, sir, and would you send the boat for him if you did
not think he'd done right."

"No, sir! His Majesty's boats are wanted for other purposes than
running to and fro to fetch him aboard. Let him stay where he is till
he finds Mr Raystoke and brings him back aboard."

"Dear, dear," muttered the lieutenant as he walked to and fro. "To
think of the boy being missing like this.--Now you, sirs, in with that
boat.--Where can he be? Not the lad to go off on any prank.--There, go
below and get something to eat, my lads.--All comes of being sent into a
miserable little boat like this to hunt smugglers."

"Ahoy!" came from forward.

"What's that?" cried the lieutenant, and an answer came from out of the
blackness ahead.

"What boat's that?" shouted the man on the watch. "Mine," came in a low
growl. "What is it?"

"Want to see the skipper."

There was a little bustle forward, in the midst of which a boat came up
alongside, and the man in it was allowed to come on board.

He was a big, broad-shouldered, heavy fellow, with rough black beard and
dark eyes, which glowered at those around as a lanthorn was held up by
one of the men. "Where's the skipper?" he growled. "Bring the man
aft," cried the lieutenant. "This way."

"All right, mate; I can find my way; I aren't a baby," said the man as
he took three or four strides, lifting up his big fisherman's boots, and
setting them heavily down upon the deck as if they were something
separate from him which he had brought on board.

"Now, my man, brought news of him?" cried the lieutenant eagerly. "Eh?"

And the great fellow seemed to tower over the little commander.

"I say, have you brought news of the boy?"

"What boy?"

"Haven't you come to tell me where he is?"

"Here, what yer talking about?" growled the man. "I aren't come 'bout
no boys."

"Then, pray, why have you come?"

"Send them away," said the man in a hoarse whisper.

He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, and the lieutenant was about to
give an order but altered his mind, for he suspected the man's mission,
not an unusual one in those days.

"Come into my cabin, sir," he said imperiously, and a