reaching it he paused and looked into it. Rodney Nick crouched in
the shadow of a projecting rock, and grasped his pistol tightly for a
moment, under the impression that he was about to be discovered. He was
one of those fierce, angry men who are at all times ready to risk their
lives in order to gratify revenge. Old Coleman had more than once
thwarted Rodney Nick in his designs, besides having in other ways
incurred his dislike, and there is no doubt that had the coast-guard-man
discovered him at that moment, he would have paid for the discovery with
his life. Fortunately for both of them Coleman turned after standing a
few seconds at the mouth of the cave, and retraced his steps along the
beach.

He prolonged his walk on this occasion to the extremity of his beat,
but, long before reaching that point his figure was lost to the
smuggler's view in darkness.

"At last!" exclaimed Rodney Nick, taking a dark lantern from his breast,
and peering cautiously in every direction. "Now then, Long Orrick, if
ye look sharp we'll cheat 'em again, and chew our quids and drink our
grog free of dooty!"

As he muttered his words the smuggler flashed the lantern for an
instant, in such a manner that its brilliant bull's-eye was visible far
out at sea. Again he let its light shine out for one instant; then he
closed the lid and awaited the result.

Out upon the sea, not far from the wild breakers that thundered and
burst in foam on the south end of the Goodwin Sands, a boat, of the size
and form styled by men of the coast a "cat," was tossing idly on the
waves. The men in her were employed in the easy task of keeping her
head to the wind, and in the anxious occupation of keeping a "bright
look-out" on the shore.

"Time's up," said one of the men, turning suddenly towards his
companions, and allowing the light of a dark lantern to fall on the face
of a watch which he held in his hand.

"Dowse the glim, you lubber," cried the angry voice of Long Orrick, "and
keep a sharp look-out for the signal. If it don't come we'll run for
Old Stairs Bay, an' if they're too sharp for us there we'll make for
Pegwell Bay, and drop the tubs overboard with sinkers at 'em."

For nearly quarter of an hour the party in the boat watched in silence.
It was evident that Long Orrick was becoming impatient from the way in
which he turned, now to windward, to scan the threatening sky, and then
to land-ward, to look for the expected signal. He felt,