urs he kept at a greater distance, wondering the while how much
farther it was, when all at once he noticed that the lantern had become
stationary. Directly after another light approached, and then a broad
glare shone out, evidently from an open door. Then there was a good
deal of talking and the rattle of a cart; then of another; and Hilary,
finding that he could progress no farther by the track, struck off
amongst the bushes and ferns on his left, finding now that the trees
were left behind; and as the next minute he found even the bushes had
given place to heather and turf, he concluded that he must be nearing
the sea.

It had grown so dark that he had to proceed with caution or he would
have tripped over some patch of furze or fern.

But he escaped pretty well; and seeing that the lanterns were once more
in motion, he determined to proceed, as well as he could, parallel with
the party, watch their proceedings, and learn all he could for future
service if he succeeded in getting away.

Once he thought that he had better devote himself to his escape; but he
could do no more until daybreak, and if he could see how the smugglers
landed their cargoes such knowledge would be invaluable.

Going cautiously on, then, he must have proceeded for a couple of
hundred yards when he found that the bearers of the lanterns had
stopped, and there was a low buzz of talking, and someone seemed to be
giving orders.

Then the noise ceased, and he fancied he could hear footsteps going
away, while the lanterns burned close together, apparently on the
ground.

He was too far-off still, he thought, and in his eager curiosity he bent
down and took a few steps forward, felt one foot give way, threw himself
back, and lay upon the turf, wet with a cold, chilling perspiration, and
clutching the short turf with his fingers driven in as far as he could.

As he lay there trembling he heard a familiar sound from far below, and
as his vision cleared and he grew calmer he could just make out a faint
line of light where the waves were breaking amongst the stones, for he
had been within an inch of a terrible death. The little patch of turf
upon which he had trod grew right on the verge of the cliff, and but for
his spasmodic effort to throw himself back as the earth gave way, he
must have pitched headlong on to the rocks a couple of hundred feet
below.

"What an escape!" he muttered; and then, after a calm feeling of
thankfulness had pervade