'Tis now a
quarter past four. Give me twelve hours to make Dover: I shall post
straight to London and be there by early morning. Now, Paul, attend you
to this. To-day is Wednesday; by to-morrow night you must contrive to
bring your ship to an anchor off Barking Level."

"The Thames!" I cried.

He nodded.

I looked at him anxiously. He leaned to me, putting his hand on my leg.

"I own a lighter," said he: "she will be alongside of you at dusk. I
have people of my own whom I can trust. The lighter will empty your hold
and convey the lading to a ship chartered by me, arrived from the Black
Sea on Sunday and lying in the Pool. The stuff can be sold from that
ship as it is--"

"But the chests--the chests, Mason!"

"They shall be lowered into another boat, and taken ashore and put into
a waggon that will be in waiting--I in it--and driven to my home."

I clapped him on the shoulder in a transport.

"Nobly schemed indeed!" I cried; "but have we nothing to fear from the
Customs people?"

"No, not low down the river and at dark. You bring up for convenience,
d'ye see. Mind it is dark when you anchor. A lighter and boat shall be
awaiting you. It is down the river, you know, that all the lumpers drop
with the lighters they go adrift in from ships' sides. There's more
safety in smuggling over Thames mud than on this coast shingle. One
thought more: you say that Wilkinson believes the chests hold
small-arms?"

"Yes."

"Then account to him for sending the chests away separately by saying
that I have found a purchaser, and that they are going to him direct.
You have your cue--you see all!"

"All."

"Let me hurry, then, Paul; that brandy should fetch you half a guinea a
pint. You are in luck's way, Paul. See that you bring your ship along
safely. Till to-morrow night!"

He clasped and wrung my hand and ran into the cabin.

"Now, lads, off with us!" he cried. "Off to Dover! Put me ashore there
smartly and you shall find your account. Off now--time presses."

Five minutes afterwards the boat was gone.

When fortune falls in love with a man she makes him a bounteous
mistress. Everything fell out as I could have desired. We got our anchor
at five, and by daybreak were off Hastings jogging quietly along towards
London river, the weather conveniently obscure, the wind south, and
forty hours before us to do the run in. I exactly explained my
relative's scheme to Wilkinson and the others, who declared themselves
perfec