es side by side on the
rough bed, after extinguishing all the candles they had stuck about the
rock and confining themselves to a fresh one newly set up in the
lanthorn.

"Shall we let it burn?" said Aleck, in deference to his comrade's
feelings.

"Oh, hang it, no!" was the reply. "It might gutter down and set us on
fire."

"Then you don't mind being in the dark?"

"Not a bit with you here. Do you mind?"

"I feel the same as you."

Five minutes later they were both sleeping quietly and enjoying as
refreshing a slumber as ever fell to the lot of man or boy.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

Aleck woke up wondering, for he felt as if he had had a good night's
rest and that it ought to be morning, whereas it was very dark.

This was puzzling, and what was more curious was the fact that on moving
he found that he had his clothes on.

Naturally enough he moved, and turned upon his other side, to find that
it was not so dark now, for he was looking at what seemed to be a
beautifully blue dawn. Then someone yawned, and the lad was fully awake
to his position.

"Sailor!" he said, loudly.

"Eh? My watch? My--my--I'll--here, Aleck, that you?"

"Yes, it's morning; rouse up. I fancy it must be late."

"Looks to me as if it is dreadfully early. I fancied I was being roused
up to go on deck. What are you doing?"

"Going to get a light."

This Aleck did after the customary nicking and blowing. The candle in
the lanthorn was lit, and the lads, after cautiously testing the depth
of the water, indulged in a good bathe, gaining confidence as they swam,
and finally dried themselves upon an exceedingly harsh towel formed of a
piece of canvas, one of many hanging where they had been thrown over
pieces of rock.

As they dressed they could see that it was getting lighter inside the
arch, which gradually showed more plainly, and as the water grew lower
during the time that they partook of the meal which formed their
breakfast, the twilight had broadened, so that both became hopeful of
seeing the tide sink beneath the crown of the arch so as to give them a
glance at the sunlit surface of the sea.

"How long are you going to wait for the smuggler?" asked the middy,
suddenly.

"Not long," was the reply. "It is not fair to you. But I should like
to give him a little law. What do you say to waiting here till the tide
has got to its lowest, and as soon as it turns we'll start?"

"Very well, I agree," said the midshipma