arm in him, I'm sure!"
exclaimed one of the smugglers, slapping me on the shoulder. "Cheer up,
my lad; we'll do you no harm."

The others soon came round, and shaking me by the hand, declared that I
was a brave little cock, and they only wished I was one of them.

A coarse but plentiful dinner was soon afterwards placed on the deck,
the chief part of it appearing in a square iron pot, round which we sat
as merry as crickets; and there was I hob-nobbing with a band of
smugglers as if we were the best friends in the world.

Towards evening we made the land, no cutter being in sight. I had a
sovereign and a few shillings in my pocket, which I offered the old
skipper, but he would receive nothing; and, as good as his word, as soon
as it was dark, he ran in and put me on shore not far from Shanklin. As
there was some sea on the beach, all hands got not a little wet, but
they took it in good part, and wished me a hearty good-bye as I set off
to clamber up the cliffs. I at length found a path which took me into
the high road; as soon as I reached it I began to make the best of my
way towards Ryde. My legs ached, but I ran and walked as fast as I
could. I had not proceeded far when I heard the sound of wheels coming
along the road. A cart soon overtook me.

"Is this the road to Ryde?" I asked.

"Yes, it be," said the driver. "Be you going there?"

"If I can manage to get as far," I answered.

"Well, if you be tired, jump in, and I'll gie ye a lift; I be going most
of the way," replied the good Samaritan. I obeyed with alacrity, and
took my seat by his side. He was one of the substantial farmers who
abound in the island. I gave him an account of my adventures, at which
he was much amused; nor did he seem to have any very great antipathy to
my smuggling friends.

"Lord bless 'e! they wouldn't have hurt your little fingers," he
remarked, when I told him how the crew of the cutter had threatened my
life. He would not part from me till he had deposited me at the gates
of Daisy Cottage. The lights were shining through the drawing-room
windows. My aunt was sitting working, and sweet Alice Marlow had a book
before her. They both looked very sad, I thought. I tapped at the
window, which opened to the ground, to call their attention, and grinned
a "How-d'ye-do" through the glass. No sooner did Alice see my face,
than letting her book fall, she gave a loud scream, as if she had seen a
spectre.

"Hillo! what's