ed, and those in the
_White Hawk's_ leading boat saw that there was a good deal of busy work
on board; and before they had recovered from their surprise, several men
rose up, oars were thrust over now that the wind had failed, and, with
eight men pulling, they were going straight for the cliff.

"Smugglers!" shouted Gurr excitedly. "Jump up, Mr Raystoke, and signal
the bo's'n to come on. We shall have a prize after all, though it's
only a little one. Pull my lads, pull?"

The smugglers' boat was now about half a mile away, the men in her
pulling with all their might, but the King's boat was the more swift,
though after a few minutes' chase it was evident that the start was in
the smugglers' favour.

"Hang them! They're going to run ashore. They've got a nook there,
I'll be bound, and as soon as they're landed they'll be scuffling up the
side of the cliff. Pull, my lads, and as we reach the rock, out with
you and chase them; you can climb as well as they can. If they're
getting away, cover them with your pistols, and tell 'em they shall have
it if they don't surrender."

The excitement was now tremendous: the cutter's boat was going fast, and
the second boat was closing up, so that it would be impossible for the
smugglers to escape by sea. And now, as they drew nearer, Archy saw
that his first surmise was right: Ram was in the boat, and right
forward, his red cap showing out plainly in the morning light. Jemmy
Dadd was there too, and Shackle, beside the big dark fellow who had
tricked the lieutenant, while the rest of the crew were strong-looking
fellows of the fisherman type.

"Now then there!" shouted Gurr, rising up, but retaining his hold of the
tiller with one hand. "It's of no use. Surrender!"

A yell of derision came from the boat, and Ram jumped up and waved his
red cap, with the effect that it seemed as if some of the dye had been
transferred to Archy's face, which a minute sooner had been rather pale
with excitement.

"Pull, my lads, pull, and you'll have them before they land!" cried the
master, stamping his foot. "Here, take the tiller, Mr Raystoke;" and
he shifted his position, passed the tiller to Archy, and stood up and
drew his sword.

"Starboard a little--starboard!" he said. "Run her right alongside, my
lad; and you, my men, never mind your oars, the others'll pick them up.
The moment we touch, up with you, out with your cutlashes, and down with
any man who does not surrender."