to do or die. He knew she was going
to venture into Tor Bay, and lie off at anchor under the lee of the
cliffs. He could have boarded her in boats perhaps; but that would not
have suited Butler's idea of seamanship. It must be neck or nothing--a
fair race and a fair fight.

The _Brixham_ carried a dare-devil crew, however, and Hawkins feared
nothing. The _Moonbeam_ would have her work cut out; but then all the
more glory to the bold fellows on board of her; for these were the days
when adventure was beloved for its own sake alone.

* * * * *

When, on the night previous, twenty brave blue-jackets from the
_Tonneraire_ were told off for special service and sent aboard the
little _Moonbeam_, which sailed a few hours after just as the moon was
rising over the Hoe, they had no idea what was in the wind. From their
armature of cutlasses and pistols, they "daresayed" there was a little
bit of fighting to be done, and rejoiced accordingly, for Jack dearly
loves a scrimmage. The wind blew high, even then tossing the cutter
about like a cork, although she carried but little sail. By next
forenoon, however, she had passed Tor Bay, and lay in semi-hiding near
Hope's Nose. There was the risk of the vessel's presence being
discovered and reported to Scrivings and his gang; but there always are
risks in warfare.

As soon as it was dusk a portion of the men were landed. Then the
_Moonbeam_, although it blew big guns, set herself to watch for the foe.

Hour after hour flew by, and the moon, glinting now and then through a
rift in the clouds, whitened the curling waves, but showed no signs of
the _Brixham_, or of anything else.

It was an anxious time.

At twelve o'clock grog and biscuits were served out. The men never had
time to swallow a mouthful--of biscuit, I mean. No doubt they drank the
grog, for those were the days of can-tossing, a custom now happily but
seldom honoured.

Yes, there she was! It could be none other save daring Hawkins in the
_Brixham_.

Small look-out was being kept to-night, however, on the smuggler.

The _Moonbeam_ swept down on her as hawk swoops down on his prey, and
although Tor Bay is wondrous wide, and the _Brixham_ was nearly in the
centre of it, the cutter was on her in a surprisingly short time.

Fine seamanship, fine steering, to sheer alongside and grapple, despite
the fact that the sea had gone down, and the waves were partially under
the lee of the hill