e smuggling?"

"Never fear," cried the lieutenant, laughing.

"You were to give me my dirk, Mrs Shackle."

"Oh, _yes_, sir!" cried the woman, crossing to an old bureau, and taking
out the little weapon. "And I suppose, sir, all the old home will be
taken and destroyed?"

"Oh, I don't know. We shall see. But, look here, my good woman; do you
want to sail right or wrong now?"

"Oh, right, sir, please."

"Then tell me honestly where there are any more goods stored?"

"Everything left, sir, was put in the old quarry."

"Nothing up at that house on the hill?"

"No, sir, I think not. It's all over now, and my husband has gone, so I
may as well speak out."

"Of course. It will be best for you--and for your son."

"They only stored cargoes up at Sir Risdon's because it was handy, sir,
and then took them on afterwards to the big store in the old quarry that
was burned last night. But pray tell me, sir, was any one hurt?"

"No, but we have no thanks to give your people. Now, Mr Raystoke."

He marched out, and Archy was following, but Mrs Shackle arrested him.

"God bless you, my dear!" she whispered. "I knew about you being there,
but we couldn't help it, and Ram used to tell me all about it, and how
he liked you; and we sent you everything we could to make you
comfortable. Be kind now to my son."

"If Ram turns out a good lad, Mrs Shackle, he shall never want a--"

Archy was going to say friend, but he could not, for Mrs Shackle had
thrown her arms about his neck in a big, motherly hug, from which the
young officer escaped red-faced and vexed.

"I wish she hadn't kissed me," he said to himself, after making sure
that no one had seen. "And she has made my face all wet with her
crying."

They were on the march now to the Hoze, with the lieutenant in the
highest of glee, and chatting merrily to Archy as a brother officer and
a friend.

"If I could only have got the lugger too, Raystoke," he cried, "it would
have been glorious! But I couldn't do impossibilities, could I?"

"I am sure you did wonders, Mr Brough," said Archy.

"Well, never mind what I did, sir. You and Gurr acted so that I'm proud
of you both, and of the lads. Completely burned out the wasps' nest,
eh? It--will be a glorious despatch, Raystoke. By the way, we must go
straight down there and see if the place is cool enough to search.
There may be a little of the wasps' comb left, eh?"

"I'm afraid the whole of the stores would