ail and fastened on the vessel
with his boathook.

"Heave a rope!" called he. "I'm coming on board."

"And who are you?" asked a swarthy man, who had been watching from the
lugger's bows.

"I bring a message to your captain."

"Catch, then!" and a coil of rope went curling through the air.

The pilot deftly caught it, and hitched the end to the bow of his boat.

"Carry it astern, and make fast!" ordered he, like one accustomed to
command. "She'll tow till I want her."

The boat dropped astern, but the pilot nimbly boarded the lugger.

A powerful man in reefer jacket, sou'-wester, and sea-boots greeted him
with--

"You seem pretty free with strangers, my lad."

The pilot held out a piece of paper. The captain took it and read--

"_It is by our order and for the good of the cause that the bearer is
authorised to act._"

The signature was a rude hieroglyphic. The captain's manner immediately
showed that he recognised it, and respected it.

"Am I to understand that you take command?"

The pilot bowed, and tendered a second paper. The captain read--

"_Should the bearer fail to accomplish that which he has undertaken, it
will be for the captain of the_ 'Swift' _to see that he gives no further
trouble._"

A wicked gleam came into the captain's eyes.

"If you fail in that which you are instructed to do--and which I know
nothing of at present--this is your death-warrant?"

"It is."

"Then see you fail not."

"Rely on it, I shall not fail!"

The words were spoken in such cold, deliberate tones that the captain--a
man who boasted he knew not fear--shivered as though from the touch of
an icy hand.

"What are your orders?" presently asked the captain, eyeing him keenly.

"To pilot the lugger to the head of Port Creek, where friends await her
cargo. The old landings are played out; but who would suspect a lugger
to effect a run in the creek _after dark_?"

"No human hand could steer that course!"

"Yet I am here."

"The thing is impossible!"

"The tide flows at midnight. My orders are to go in with the rising tide
and bring you out on the ebb, that you may make a good offing before
dawn."

"It cannot be done! I'll not have the risk----"

"You have your commands, I my orders," coldly interrupted the pilot.

"Then I'll execute mine to the letter!"

"And I--we shall see."

He bent low over the binnacle, afterwards glancing swiftly shoreward.

"Keep her away a couple of points. We'll come abou