s at
Plymouth. He gave me my instructions, sir--Lieutenant Kershaw. I have
thirty men here."

"Bravo, my lad!" cried the Captain. "Forward, and follow me to the
house. Your men will take a bit of refreshment before we get to work."

"Forward," said the lieutenant in a low voice, and the _thrup_, _thrup_
of the footsteps began again, not a man being visible in the gloom.

"Off with you, Nic," whispered the Captain. "Get your men in hiding at
once. This is going to be a grand night, my boy. Good luck to you; and
I say, Nic, my boy--"

"Yes, father."

"No prisoners, but tell the men to hit hard." Nic went off at a run,
and the lieutenant directly after joined the Captain, his men close at
hand following behind.

CHAPTER TEN.

A NIGHT OF NIGHTS.

Nic's heart beat fast as he ran lightly along the path, reached the
house, and ran round to the stable-yard, where Solly and the men were
waiting.

"Ready, my lads?" he said in a low, husky voice, full of the excitement
he felt.

"We'll go on round to the back of the pool at once. The sailors are
here, thirty strong, with their officer; so we ought to give the enemy a
severe lesson.--Ah! Don't cheer. Ready?--Forward. Come, Solly; we'll
lead."

"Precious dark, Master Nic," growled the old sailor in a hoarse whisper.
"We shan't hardly be able to tell t'other from which."

"Ah! I forgot," cried Nic excitedly. "Halt! Look here, my men. Our
password is `Tails,' and our friends have to answer `Heads.' So, if you
are in doubt, cry `Tails,' and if your adversary does not answer `Heads'
he's an enemy."

"Why, a-mussy me, Master Nic?" growled Solly, "we shan't make heads or
tails o' that in a scrimble-scramble scrimmage such as we're going to be
in. What's the skipper thinking about? Let me tell 'em what to do."

"You heard your master's order, Solly," replied Nic.

"Yes, sir, of course; but this here won't do no harm. Look here, my
lads; as soon as ever we're at it, hit hard at every one who aren't a
Jack. You'll know them."

Nic felt that this addition could do no harm, so he did not interfere,
but led on right past the way down to the falls, which had shrunk now to
a little cascade falling with a pleasant murmur, for the draining of the
heavy thunder-showers was nearly at an end, and the pool lay calm enough
in the black darkness beneath the overhanging rocks and spreading
trees--just in the right condition for a raid, and in all probability