e the boats without leave. As no one gave them any
answer, they fired a shot, and presently a beacon began to burn upon a
neighbouring mound.

"Bad business," said Hans, shrugging his shoulders. "They are warning
the Government ship at the harbour mouth. Duck, masters, duck; here
comes the wind," and he sprang to the tiller as the boom swung over and
the little vessel began to gather way.

"Yes," said Martin, "and here with it come the Spaniards."

Foy looked. Through the grey mist that was growing lighter every moment,
for the dawn was breaking, he caught sight of a long boat with her
canvas spread which was sweeping round the bend of the stream towards
them and not much more than a quarter of a mile away.

"They had had to pole down stream in the dark, and that is why they have
been so long in coming," said Hans over his shoulder.

"Well, they are here now at any rate," answered Foy, "and plenty of
them," he added, as a shout from a score of throats told them that they
were discovered.

But now the _Swallow_ had begun to fly, making the water hiss upon
either side of her bows.

"How far is it to the sea?" asked Foy.

"About three miles," Hans called back from the tiller. "With this wind
we should be there in fifteen minutes. Master," he added presently, "bid
your man light the fire in the galley."

"What for," asked Foy, "to cook breakfast?"

The pilot shrugged his shoulders and muttered, "Yes, if we live to eat
it." But Foy saw that he was glancing at the slow-match by his side, and
understood.

Ten minutes passed, and they had swept round the last bend and were in
the stretch of open water which ran down to the sea. By now the light
was strong, and in it they saw that the signal fire had not been lit in
vain. At the mouth of the cutting, just where the bar began, the channel
was narrowed in with earth to a width of not more than fifty paces, and
on one bank of it stood a foot armed with culverins. Out of the little
harbour of this fort a large open boat was being poled, and in it a
dozen or fifteen soldiers were hastily arming themselves.

"What now?" cried Martin. "They are going to stop the mouth of the
channel."

The hard-featured Hans set his teeth and made no answer. Only he
looked backward at his pursuers and onward at those who barred the way.
Presently he called aloud:

"Under hatches, both of you. They are going to fire from the fort," and
he flung himself upon his back, steering with his