him rise again;
for it was somewhere about that time that those who bore torches, and
saw that the fight was going against them, dashed them down into the
water, hoping the darkness would cover their escape.

The Captain, in the triumphant issue of the encounter, had stood to see
the prisoners all bound, and soon after, upon not finding his son,
accepted Solly's suggestion that Nic had walked down to see the
prisoners off, and perhaps gone on board to thank the officer for his
help.

The next morning the ship was gone, and a horrible dread assailed master
and man as to Nic's fate. Then came the information from the two
labourers who had taken part in the defence and the search, every inch
of the pool and river being examined, till the suspicion became a
certainty that Nic had been swept down the river and carried out to sea,
the cap he wore having been brought in by one of the fishermen who
harboured his boat in the mouth of the stream.

But Captain Revel did not rest content with this: in his agony he
communicated with Captain Lawrence, who came on at once, and confessed
now to his old friend why, when his help was asked, he had jumped at the
idea. They wanted men for one of the ships bound for Charleston and the
West Indies, the pressgangs having been very unsuccessful; and as the
salmon-poachers were described to him as being strong, active fellows,
the idea struck him that here was a fine opportunity for ridding the
neighbourhood of a gang of mischievous ne'er-do-weels--men who would be
of service to their country, and henceforth leave his old
brother-officer in peace; while any of them not particularly suitable
could be easily got rid of among the sugar and tobacco plantations.

"Then," said Captain Revel, "you have sent them away?"

"Yes; they sailed the next night. It was rather a high-handed
transaction; but the service wanted them badly, and we can't afford to
be too particular at a time like this."

"But do you think it likely that my poor boy was among the prisoners?"

"Impossible," said the Captain. "If he were--which is not in the least
likely--all he had to do was to speak and say who he was. But absurd!
I should have known, of course."

"But after he was on board the other vessel?"

"My dear old friend," said Captain Lawrence sympathetically, "I shrink
from dashing your hopes, but I feel how unjust it would be to back you
up in the idea that he may have gone with the impressed men. He is