the far side of the pool--a man creeping cautiously down
to spy out the state of the water."

"Pete Burge, father?" cried Nic eagerly.

"Humph! No; I hardly caught a glimpse of his face, but it was too short
for that scoundrel. I think it was that thick-set, humpbacked rascal
they call Dee."

"And did he see you, father?"

"No: I sat still, my boy, and watched till he slunk away again. Nic,
lad, we shall have them here to-night, and we must be ready."

"Yes, father, if Captain Lawrence sends his men."

"Whether he does or no, sir. I can't sit still and know that my salmon
are being stolen. Come--breakfast! Oh, here's Solly.--Here, you, sir,
what about those two signal flags? Hoist them directly."

"Run 'em up, sir, as soon as it was light."

"Good. Then, now, keep a lookout for the frigate." The day wore away
with no news of the ship being in the offing, and the Captain began to
fume and fret, so that Nic made an excuse to get away and look out,
relieving Solly, stationing himself by the flagstaff and scanning the
horizon till his eyes grew weary and his head ached.

It was about six o'clock when he was summoned to dinner by Solly, who
took his place, and Nic went and joined his father.

"Needn't speak," said the old man bitterly; "I know; Lawrence hasn't
come. We'll have to do it ourselves."

Nic was silent, and during the meal his father hardly spoke a word.

Just as they were about to rise, Solly entered the room, and the Captain
turned to him eagerly.

"I was going to send for you, my lad," he said. "Captain Lawrence must
be away, and we shall have to trap the scoundrels ourselves. How many
men can we muster?"

"Ten, sir."

"Not half enough," said the Captain; "but they are strong, staunch
fellows, and we have right on our side. Ten against twenty or thirty.
Long odds; but we've gone against heavier odds than that in our time,
Solly."

"Ay, sir, that we have."

"We must lie in wait and take them by surprise when they're scattered,
my lads. But what luck! what luck! Now if Lawrence had only kept faith
with me we could have trapped the whole gang."

"Well, your honour, why not?" said Solly sharply.

"Why not?"

"He'll be here before we want him."

"What?" cried Nic. "Is the frigate in sight?"

"In sight, sir--and was when you left the signal station."

"No," said Nic sharply; "the only vessel in sight then was a big
merchantman with her yards all awry."

"That's so, sir,