was taken
of this by others, nor did Smallbones observe it himself, during the
confusion and bustle previous to the departure of the smugglers; but now
they were gone, Smallbones perceived his deficiencies, and was very much
at a loss what to do, as he was aware that daylight would discover them
to others as well as to himself: so he fixed his back up against one of
the rocks, and remained idle while the women were busily employed
storing away the cargo in the various compartments of the cave.

Nancy, who had not forgotten that he was with them, came up to him.

"Why do you stay there, Smallbones? you must be hungry and cold; come in
with me, and I will find you something to eat."

"I can't, Mistress Nancy, I want your advice first. Has any of the men
left any of their duds in this here cavern?"

"Duds! men! No, they keep them all on the other side. We have nothing
but petticoats here and shimmeys."

"Then what must I do?" exclaimed Smallbones.

"Oh, I see, your shirt is torn off your back. Well, never mind, I'll
lend you a shimmey."

"Yes, Mistress Nancy, but it be more worse than that; I an't got no
behind to my trousers, they pulled it out when they pulled me into the
boat. I sticks to this here rock for decency's sake. What must I do?"

Nancy burst into a laugh. "Do? why, if you can't have men's clothes,
you must put on the women's, and then you'll be in the regular uniform
of the cave."

"I do suppose that I must, but I can't say that I like the idea much,
anyhow," replied Smallbones.

"Why, you don't mean to stick to that rock like a limpet all your life,
do you? there's plenty of work for you."

"If so be, I must, I must," replied Smallbones.

"You can't appear before Mistress Alice in that state," replied Nancy.
"She's a lady bred and born, and very particular too, and then there's
Miss Lilly, you will turn her as red as a rose if she sees you."

"Well, then, I suppose I must, Mistress Nancy, for I shall catch my
death of cold here. I'm all wet and shivery, from being so long in the
water, and my back, against the rock, feels just as ice."

"No wonder; I'll run and fetch you something," replied Nancy, who was
delighted at the idea of dressing up Smallbones as a woman.

Nancy soon returned with a chemise, a short flannel pet--and a shawl,
which she gave to Smallbones, desiring him to take off his wet clothes,
and substitute them. She would return to him as soon as he had put them
on, an