g, and the rolling. In less
than an hour three-fourths of the cargo was landed, and some already
stowed inland, where no Preventive eye could penetrate. Then Captain
Brown put away his pipe, and was busy, in a dark empty part of the hold,
with some barrels of his own, which he covered with a sailcloth.

Presently the tramp of marching men was heard in a lane on the north
side of the cove, and then the like sound echoed from the south. "Now
never you hurry," said the Grimsby man. The others, however, could not
attain such standard of equanimity. They fell into sudden confusion,
and babble of tongues, and hesitation--everybody longing to be off,
but nobody liking to run without something good. And to get away with
anything at all substantial, even in the dark, was difficult, because
there were cliffs in front, and the flanks would be stopped by men with
cutlasses.

"Ston' you still," cried Captain Brown; "never you budge, ne'er a one
of ye. I stands upon my legitimacy; and I answer for the consekence. I
takes all responsibility."

Like all honest Britons, they loved long words, and they knew that if
the worst came to the worst, a mere broken head or two would make all
straight; so they huddled together in the moonlight waiting, and no
one desired to be the outside man. And while they were striving for
precedence toward the middle, the coast-guards from either side marched
upon them, according to their very best drill and in high discipline, to
knock down almost any man with the pommel of the sword.

But the smugglers also showed high discipline under the commanding voice
of Captain Brown.

"Every man ston' with his hands to his sides, and ask of they sojjers
for a pinch of bacca."

This made them laugh, till Captain Nettlebones strode up.

"In the name of his Majesty, surrender, all you fellows. You are fairly
caught in the very act of landing a large run of goods contraband. It is
high time to make an example of you. Where is your skipper, lads? Robin
Lyth, come forth."

"May it please your good honor and his Majesty's commission," said
Brown, in his full, round voice, as he walked down the broadest of
the gangways leisurely, "my name is not Robin Lyth, but James Brown, a
family man of Grimsby, and an honest trader upon the high seas. My cargo
is medical water and rags, mainly for the use of the revenue men, by
reason they han't had their new uniforms this twelve months."

Several of the enemy began to giggle,