-"

"I'm so done up, sir, and hungry and faint."

"And serve you right, you insolent young dog. I knew it, and--"

"Oh, I say, Mr Brough, you don't think I could have been such a beast."

"What?"

"I found out all about the smugglers, but they caught me, and I've been
a prisoner ever since. Do give me something to eat and drink, and don't
scold me any more, till I've got on my uniform and had a good wash."

"My dear boy! My dear Archy Raystoke!" cried the lieutenant, seizing
his hands and pumping them up and down. "Of course I didn't think it!
Knew you were too much of a gentleman, but I was stuffed full of
thoughts like that, and they would come out. Here," he cried, "drink
that, and here's some cake sent from Poole, and--tip it up, and eat
away. I am glad to see you again. God bless you, my dear boy! I'm
your officer, but you don't know how miserable I've been."

"Yes, I do, sir. I know you always liked me," cried the midshipman,
between the mouthfuls he was taking. "But never mind the being
prisoner, sir. I know all the scoundrels' secrets now, and you can
capture them, and make some good hauls. You must send a strong party
ashore as soon as it's day."

"But--but--"

Archy answered those buts to such an extent that Gurr's report was
needless, and the master was terribly disappointed.

By that time the cutter was slowly gliding away seaward, with every eye
on the watch, for, as the lieutenant explained, after telling his
recovered officer how he had searched in all directions, he had that
night seen lights shown far up on one of the cliffs--lights which might
mean a warning to some vessel to keep off, or just as likely might have
the other intention, and be an invite to some lugger to land her cargo.

In any case the lieutenant meant to be on the alert, and hence the
sailing of the cutter.

The lieutenant had hesitated a little at first after hearing his
midshipman's report, but he now decided how to act.

"No," he said; "not to-night, my lad. I'm inclined to think the signal
was a warning to keep off. They may hide the cargo they leave ashore,
and if we don't capture it, so much the worse, but our work is to crush
up the gang more than to capture a few barrels and bales. We'll look
out to-night, and, as soon as it is daylight, you shall make sure of the
bearings of your prison, then we'll land a strong boat's crew, and go
along the top of the cliff to the place, and put an end to that ga