, 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