s to be in as anyone ever saw;" and he laid hold of the pile that
Hilary had drawn over his face.

It was only a matter of moments now, and as he lay there Hilary's nerves
tingled, and he could hardly contain himself for eagerness to make his
spring.

"Look at that, and that, and that," said the man, picking up folds of
the soft brown netting, and seeming about to strip all off Hilary, but
by a touch of fate helping his concealment the next moment, by throwing
fold after fold over him, till the next thing seemed to be that he would
be smothered.

"Tell you what," he said. "They nets are just being spoiled. There's
plenty of time before the next cart unloads. Lend a hand here, and
let's have 'em all out in the pure air. I hate seeing good trade left
down here to spoil in a damp--"

He laid hold of the nets, and as he gave a drag Hilary felt the meshes
gliding over his face, and prepared himself to spring up and make a dash
for his liberty.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

'TWIXT CUP AND LIP.

Another instant and Hilary must have been discovered; but just then the
trampling of feet was heard, a shout or two, and Allstone said gruffly:

"Let the nets alone, and come and get the stuff down."

The man dropped the nets, and taking up his candle, which he had placed
upon a chest, followed Allstone back along the narrow passage between
the piled-up tubs and packages, and once more Hilary was left in
comparative darkness, to lie there dripping with perspiration, and
hesitating as to what he should do next, for if he stayed where he was,
it was probable that the men would come back to remove the nets. If, on
the other hand, he attempted to move, the chances were that he would be
heard. In short he dare not move, for the slightest rustle would be
sure to take their attention.

And so he lay there in an extremely uncomfortable position, watching the
shadows cast upon the dingy ceiling, as the distorted heads and
shoulders of the men were seen moving to and fro. Sometimes he could
distinguish what they carried, whether it was bale or tub, and upon
which shoulder it was carried, till by degrees, as he found that he was
not discovered, his thoughts began to turn upon what a grand haul the
crew of the _Kestrel_ could make in the way of prize-money if he only
had the good fortune to escape, and could find his way back to the
shore.

There must have been at least six carts unloaded by slow degrees, and
their contents brou