naval officer to let one man
slip away, and here you have let two boats' crews go. I say once more,
how am I to face Mr Brough?"

"I don't know, Mr Gurr," said Archy, who was growing vexed now at the
blame being thrown on his shoulders. "You were in command of the
expedition, and the bosun was in charge of the second boat's crew. I
don't see how I am to blame."

"But you led the men away, sir."

"Not I, Mr Gurr. I joined in the chase, and I tried to get the boys
together, but they scattered everywhere."

"But it really is awkward, Mr Raystoke, isn't it?"

"Horribly, sir. Got anything to eat?"

"To eat? No, my lad. But--tut--tut--tut! I can't hear them anywhere."

"Nor I, sir."

"Well, we must not stand here. But what did you say?--I did not see
what it was; they went off after a boy?"

The master spoke so civilly now that Archy forgot his anger, and entered
into the trouble warmly.

"Yes," he said; "and it was a plan. That boy is as cunning as can be.
We must have been close up to the way into the cave when he started out
and led us all away from it."

"Eh?"

"I say he jumped up and dodged about, knowing the place by heart, and
kept hiding and running off again, to get us right away from the
entrance."

"That's it--that's it, Mr Raystoke. Don't try any more, sir. You've
hit it right in the bull's eye."

"You think so?"

"No, sir; I'm sure of it. A young fox. Now as soon as we've taken him
prisoner, I'll put the matter before Mr Brough in such a way that the
young scamp will be tied up, and get four dozen on the bare back."

"Hadn't we better catch him first, Mr Gurr?"

"Right, Mr Raystoke. Come on then; and the first thing is to get the
men together. We shall catch him, never you fear that. These cunning
ones generally get caught first. Now then, sir, let's listen."

They listened, but there was not a sound.

"'Pon my word! This is a pretty state of affairs!" cried the master.
"What do you propose next?"

"Let's get right up to the top of this place and hail."

"That's good advice, Mr Raystoke, sir: so come on."

They started at once, and at the end of ten minutes they were at the top
of a hill, but upon gazing round they could only dimly see other hills
similar to the one on which they stood,--regular earth-waves of the
great convulsion which had thrown the strata of the Freestone Shore into
a state of chaos,--but nothing more.

"I'll hail," said Archy; and he shouted,