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he lay down on some fishing-nets close by to rest himself and endeavour to think out what was best to do. Suddenly, and without the slightest warning, there was a heavy grating creak; a door was thrown open; and what to his eyes seemed to be a dazzling light shone into the place, revealing a narrow passage not ten feet from where he lay, but which he had passed over in the darkness again and again. "Better light two or three more candles," said a gruff voice. "All right," was the reply; and from just on the other side of a pile of merchandise that reached to the ceiling Hilary could hear some one blowing at the tindery fluff made by lighting the top of a fresh candle. What was he to do? He could not see the men who had come down, for he was separated from them by the piled-up contents of the cellar; but any attempt to regain the chapel must result in discovery, so he lay motionless, hardly daring to breathe, till he heard more footsteps coming--heavy, shuffling footsteps, as if those who came were loaded; and, waiting till they came nearer and one of the first comers said something aloud, Hilary raised himself slightly, and, almost with the rapidity of thought, covered himself with some of the soft, loose fishing-nets, feet and legs first, then shoulders and head, finally throwing a few more folds over his head, and then lying down. "Wouldn't be a bad plan to give them a good dose of brimstone," said one of the men. "Give who a good dose?" said another. "Why, the rats. Didn't you hear 'em?" "Oh, ay, yes; I did hear a bit of scuffling. Let 'em bide; they don't do much mischief." "Not much mischief!" said the other as Hilary felt his hopes rise as he heard the noise attributed to rats. "Why, there's a couple o' hundred fathom o' mack'rel net lying t'other side there gnawed full of holes." "What o' that?" said the other. "Why, one such night as this, lad, is worth two months o' mack'rel fishing." "Well, yes, so it be. Ah! that's better. We shall see now what we're about. I say, it was rather a near one with the cutter to-night. I thought she'd ha' been down upon us." "Down upon us? ay! I wish her skipper was boxed up safe along with young cockchafer yonder." "Hang his insolence!" thought Hilary. "Young cockchafer, indeed! He'll find me more of a wasp." "Think anyone sent word to the cutter?" "Nay, not they. Who would? She's hanging about after her boy." "Boy, eh? That's
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