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, where it was being drawn up by a rough pulley, and yonder, all the while, lay the king's ship in utter ignorance of what was going on. There it all was, the soft murmur of the sea--he could almost fancy he heard it lap the lugger's sides; and certainly as he gazed more intently down, there was a dark break in the line of foam. That, then, must be the lugger. If it had only been a little lighter he could have seen all--the busy party like so many ants running to and fro with their loads, while others were drawing them up the rocks ready for the loading of the carts. Yes, there was the creak of a pulley from a heavier load than usual; and this was the way it was done on these dark fine nights. Perhaps in another hour the whole cargo would be drawn up on the cliff, the carts would be loaded at their leisure, and as the tide rose the lugger would push off once more, and all, as he had before said, just under the nose of his majesty's cutter. "No wonder," thought Hilary, "that we are so often unsuccessful; but we'll checkmate them now! What can I do?" He lay thus thinking and listening, and then an idea came to him. The men were all busy down below, and they had left their lanterns in that hollow. As the thought occurred to him he began to crawl back cautiously but quickly till he was close up to where the lanterns were hidden. "If there is anyone there," he argued, "I can dash off into the darkness and escape." But he felt sure that there was no one. Still he tested the question by saying suddenly in a gruff voice: "Now, my lads, you're wanted below." It was a bold stroke, but it satisfied him that all was right, and that all hands were away. Now, then, was his time. He could not help the _Kestrel's_ men, they must do the work; but if they came ashore they would know why it was, and the possibilities were that they would surprise the lugger--perhaps be in time to capture half her cargo. Hilary did not hesitate now, but creeping down into the hollow, he extinguished the candle in one lantern and took off his jacket and wrapped it round the other, completely hiding its light. Then, taking the first in his hand, he crept up once more to the higher part of the cliff. Here he ould see the lights of the _Kestrel_ plain enough, but even when stooping down he could not help seeing the black patch upon the shore. That would not do, so he crept back a few yards, finding the cliff rise in a shar
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