arrant officers--a furious
look.

"Now, then, is that boat going to be all night?" he shouted.

"All ready, sir. Lower away."

The boat kissed the sea with a faint splash; she was thrust off; and as
the oars dropped and the men gave way the cutter went rapidly through
the water, at a rate which would have soon made the fugitives prisoners
but for the fact that boat and swimmers were taking different
directions, and the distance between them increased at every stroke.

"They've taken no lanthorn!" cried the captain. "Surely no one's orders
were ever worse obeyed."

"Shall I call them back, sir?" said the second lieutenant.

"No, no; let them find it out for themselves. Here, marines, ten of you
load. Quick, my lads, clear the way from up here."

"Make ready, take good aim at the scoundrels--present--fire!"

This time the whole of the pieces went off with a loud rattle, which
brought lights out in the New Zealand village, and a buzz of excitement
came from the men.

"More lanthorns there!" cried the captain. "See them?" he cried, to the
officer in the boat.

"Not yet, sir."

"Take a sweep round to the southward. They're more there."

"Ay, ay, sir!" came faintly out of the darkness; and the dull rattle of
the oars reached those on deck.

"I'll have those two back, dead or alive!" cried the captain, stamping
about in his rage. "Pipe down the second cutter."

His orders were obeyed, and in a short time, with a lanthorn in bow and
stern, the second boat touched the water, and rowed off, the officer in
command receiving instructions to bear off more still to the southward,
and finally sweep round so as to meet the first boat.

Directly this was started a happy thought seemed to strike the captain,
who had a third boat lowered, with instructions to row right ashore,
land the men, and divide them in two parties, which would strike off to
right and left, stationing a man at every fifty yards; and these were to
patrol the beach to and fro, keeping watch and a sharp look out for the
fugitives.

"That will checkmate them, Mr Jones," he said. "I wish I had thought
of this before. Now go."

Mr Bosun Jones was in command of this boat, and he gave orders to his
men, the oars splashed, and away they went into the darkness, their
lights growing fainter and fainter, till they seemed to be mere specks
in the distance; but they did not die out, and as those left on deck
watched the progress, they saw the lantho