llings," said Lipscombe sharply.

"I want a hundred pounds," said the man. "That there cargo's going to
be worth two thousand pounds, and it's coming in a fast large French
schooner from Havre. I want a hundred pounds, or I don't say a word."

A cargo worth two thousand pounds, and a smart French schooner! That
would be a prize indeed, and it made the lieutenant's mouth water; but
he still hesitated, for a hundred pounds was a good deal, perhaps more
than his share would be. But still if he did not promise it they might
miss the schooner altogether, for in spite of his vigilance he knew that
cargoes were being run; so he gave way.

"Very well then, you shall have your hundred pounds."

"Now, captain?"

"Not likely. Earn your wages first."

"And then suppose you say you won't pay me? What shall I do?"

"I give you my word of honour as a king's officer, sir."

The man shook his head.

"Write it down," he said with all the low cunning of his class. The
lieutenant was about to make an angry reply, but he wanted to take that
prize, so he went below and wrote out and signed a memorandum to the
effect that if, by the informer's guidance, the French schooner was
taken, he should be paid one hundred pounds.

Lipscombe returned on deck and handed the paper to the fisherman, who
took it and held it upside down, studying it attentively.

"Now you read it," he said to Hilary; who took it, and read it aloud.

"Yes," said the fellow, "that's it. Now you sign it."

Hilary glanced at his superior, who frowned and nodded his head; and the
young man went below and added his signature.

"That'll do," said the man smiling. "Now look here, captain, as soon as
I'm gone you sail right off out of sight if you can, and get her lying
off the point by about ten o'clock--two bells, or whatever it is. Then
you wait till a small lugger comes creeping off slowly, as if it was
going out for the night with the drift-nets. I and my mates will be
aboard that lugger, and they'll drop down alongside and put me aboard,
and I'll pilot you just to the place where you can lie in the cove out
of sight till the schooner comes in. If I come in my little boat the
boys on shore would make signals, and the schooner would keep off, but
if they see us go as usual out in our lugger they'll pay no heed. But
don't you come in a bit nigher than this. Now I'm off!"

Lieutenant Lipscombe stood thinking for a few minutes after the man had
gone,