nd I has that hankychy back!"

"I won't forget, mate," said Eben, quietly. Then to himself, "I shan't
forget this night."

"I don't like Eben Megg, and I don't like smugglers in general," Tom
Bodger; "but human natur's human natur', even with old King's pensioned
men as oughtn't to; but if Eben comes to me with that there hankychy and
slips a big wodge of hard Hamsterdam 'bacco and a square bottle o' stuff
as hasn't paid dooty into my hands in the dark some night, what am I to
do? Say I can't take it? Well, I oughter, but--well, he arn't offered
the stuff to me yet."

The other occupants of the boat were thinking deeply during the latter
part of the sail. Aleck was wondering what his uncle would say, and
Eben Megg thinking of his future, and he was startled from his reverie
by Aleck, who suddenly said:

"What about the press-gang, Eben--do you think they will know you
again?"

"Hope not, sir; but I'm not very comf'table about it. Someone set 'em
on--someone as knows me; and, worse luck, they've got some of our
chaps."

"But they haven't caught you."

"Not yet, sir, but there's chaps as don't like me, and if they've been
pressed they'll be a-saying to-morrow morning as it arn't fair for them
to be took and me to get away. See?"

"Yes; but what difference will that make?" The smuggler laughed aloud.

"Only that they might put the skipper of the man-o'-war cutter up to
where he'd find me."

"But you had nothing to do with the cutter's men--that officer was from
the sloop?"

"Ay, sir; but they're all working together, and the cutter's skipper has
got a black mark against my name."

"Oh!" said Aleck, thoughtfully. "Then I suppose you'll go into hiding?"

"That's right, sir; but I shan't feel safe then. Eh, Tom Bodger?"

"Right, messmet; they'll be ferreting all along the coast arter yer.
Tell you what I should do if I was you."

"What?" said the man, eagerly.

"Have a good wash up in the morning, and then jump in a boat and go and
board the sloop like a man."

"What!"

"And then, says you, `I want to see the skipper,' you says, and as soon
as he comes on deck, `Here I am, your honour,' you says. `I warn't
going to let your men take me last night as if I were an enemy or a
thief; but if the King wants sailors, here I am, and I'll sarve him like
a man.'"

"Well done, Tom!" cried Aleck.

"Think so, Master Aleck?" said the smuggler. "Yes, it sounds very nice,
I suppose; but it won't do. I'