ould moderate, to put to sea again in quest of
Myers. The engagement with the smuggler made a good deal of noise, we
heard. Some said that we ought to have taken her; others, that our
Commander was not a man to leave undone what could have been done.
However, as no one had any doubt that Myers was in command of the
lugger, a large reward was offered to whoever would give information
that might lead to his apprehension, and a still larger to the person
who should place him, bound, in the hands of justice. One evening,
after dark, a small boat came alongside, with a single man in her. I
was on deck.

"Is Lieutenant O'Flaherty on board?" asked the man.

I told him he was.

"Then," said the stranger, springing on board, "take this note to him,
young gentleman, and say the bearer waits to see him."

The stranger was of a strongly-built, stout figure, and had the
appearance of a rough seafaring man. I took a paper he handed me into
the cabin. My uncle read it attentively two or three times over, as if
puzzled to comprehend its meaning.

"I must see the rascal, and hear what he has to say," he muttered. "But
I never like to trust a traitor. Show the man below, D'Arcy."

I did as I was ordered. The man bowed as he entered, and then I saw him
take a chair and seat himself, without being asked to do so. I longed
to hear what he had to say, so I lingered in the cabin, as if waiting
for orders. The stranger looked at me hard.

"What I have to say is for your ear, Lieutenant; so I can't speak with
another present, though he is but a little one," he remarked, in a tone
I thought remarkably impudent.

"Neil, go on deck," said my uncle.

In about half an hour the stranger appeared on deck, and without saying
a word, jumped into his boat and pulled away. I observed that he did
not pull directly for the shore, but that he steered for a considerable
distance to the northward before attempting to land, thus not allowing
any one who might meet him to suspect that he had visited us. The
mysterious stranger afforded considerable matter for surmise among all
on board, the general opinion being that he had brought off some
important information, which might lead to the capture of Myers or of
some of his smuggling confederates.

CHAPTER FIVE.

EXPEDITION ON SHORE--THE INFORMER'S FATE--THE SMUGGLERS CAVE--JACK
STRETCHER--THE SMUGGLER'S REVENGE--OUR DREADFUL POSITION.

The _Serpent_ was again in West Bay, just near