standing; so we hurried down by a rough
zigzag path cut in the cliff, and were ready on the shore to receive her
when she pulled in. Who should we see in the boat but Stretcher, whom
we fancied all the time held in durance vile by the smugglers. The
honest fellow's satisfaction at seeing us was even greater than our
surprise; for he had fully believed that we had been murdered, and had
reported our death on board. The boat's crew gave three cheers as they
ran up on the beach; and in their delight they almost lifted my uncle
and me into the boat. We were not long in getting on board again, when
the cheers were repeated by all hands; and I must do honest old Hanks
the justice to say, that, though he had doubtless begun to indulge in
dreams of getting his promotion and the death vacancy, his pleasure was
as genuine as that of the rest. He had, we found, been already
arranging a plan to search for us, and to discover and capture the
smugglers. The latter part of it, our Commander determined forthwith to
execute. Before we went to breakfast, Stretcher was sent for to make
his report--a proceeding of which I did not approve, for I was very
sharp-set; but midshipmen's appetites are seldom much thought of on such
occasions. Jack soon made his appearance, with his hat in one hand,
while he smoothed down his hair most pertinaciously with the other.

"Well, Stretcher, my man; I wish to know how you managed to escape so
well out of the fangs of those rascals," said my uncle.

"Why, your honour," he answered, "I scarcely know how it all happened
myself, for after the blackguards dragged off you and Mr D'Arcy, I was
in such a taking, thinking that they were going to heave you over the
cliff, that I didn't seem to know where I was or what I was doing. At
last they made the handkerchief fast round my eyes again, so that I
couldn't see a wink; and they began to haul me along, till I found that
I was out of the cave and in the open air. On I went, up and down hill,
some way inland, it seemed; and then back again through a chine down to
the seashore. After a bit they led me up hill, and making me sit down
on a rock, they told me that if I stirred an inch before daylight, I
should meet with the same fate my master had done.

"`How am I to tell when daylight comes, you lubbers, if you leave me
with my eyes blinded,' said I.

"No one answered, but I fancied I heard some one laugh close to me.
They then lashed my arms behind me