d don't give him
nothing to eat, and after a day or two you can do what you like with
him."

"Then we'd better take back the basket, Jemmy, eh?"

"Ay, lad, that's it. Leave him in the dark a bit to cool him down."

"You scoundrels!" cried the lad in frenzy. "If you do not show me the
way out, I'll shout for help, and when it does come, I'll take care your
punishment shall be ten times worse."

"Ah, do," said Ram, laughing. "Won't bring the roof down, will it,
Jemmy?"

"Nay, not it, lad. Come on."

"Wait a bit," said Ram.--"I say, didn't tell me whether you'd like a
bottle o' milk?"

Archy felt as if he would like to fly at the boy, the very mention of
the milk exasperating him to such an extent. But at every movement he
felt himself more tightly held, and knowing from sad experience that it
was waste of energy to contend with the iron-muscled fellow who gripped
his arm, he smothered his anger.

He did not speak, but as Ram held up the light, Archy's countenance told
tales of the passion struggling in his breast for exit, and the boy
grinned.

"I say, do have a bottle o' milk," he said; "it's fresh and warm.
Mother said it would do you good."

"Nay, lad, don't give him none till he's grow'd civil, and don't talk
about hanging on us."

"I brought you a bottle o' new milk and some hot bread, on'y it's
getting cold now, and some butter and cold ham. Do have some."

Archy ground his teeth: he felt as if he would give anything for some
food, and the very mention of the tasty viands made his mouth water, but
he only stamped his foot and tried to shake himself free.

"I am a king's officer," he shouted, "and order you to let me go!"

"Hear that, Jemmy? Hold him tight."

"Ay! He's tight enough!" cried the man, throwing a sturdy arm about the
middy's waist, and holding him back as he tried to get at Ram.

"No good to give orders here," said the latter, grinning. "You're only
a king's officer when you're aboard your little bit of a cutter."

"Will you let me out of this place?"

"If I let you go will you tell your skipper about what you've seen?"

"Yes," cried Archy fiercely.

"Then what a dumble head you must be to think we'll let you go. Won't
do, little officer; will it, Jemmy?"

"Do! Better chuck him off the cliff."

"What!" cried the midshipman fiercely.

"Chuck you off the cliff. What do you mean by coming interfering here
with honest men getting their living? We never did nothing t