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