urned it, the butts of his
two revolvers and the handle of a huge couteau de chasse were plainly
visible. "The fiends seem to be let loose to-day," he growled. "It would
be the night of all nights! Ha!" The discharged officer noted two men in
sou'westers and oilskins now toiling up the path. And his heart leaped
up in a wild joy.

In another moment, he half dragged his drenched companions into the
weather-worn cave. "What news?" he hoarsely demanded of Blunt, as he
extended his flask.

"The best of all news," cheerily replied the mobs-man. "Here is Antoine.
He raced down from St. Heliers, in a covered fly, and has brought the
very latest news from Fort Regent. The Stella has lost the tide, cannot
enter, and has, therefore, turned south, running down the channel.
She can not dare to enter St. Heliers now till between ten and eleven
to-night. Of course, she will not put back to Southampton, in the teeth
of this southwest gale, the very heaviest known for twenty years. She
has signaled the 'Corbieres,' and they have telegraphed over to the
office at the pier. There's Mattie Jones's telegram. The three we want
are on board, sure enough. And, thank God! the Hirondelle is riding safe
and easy around the point. It's the one night of a million for my job
and for yours."

"What's your final plan? We must get out of here soon," growled Hawke,
shaking off the pouring rain like a burly water dog. "I have my two
men already watching the little gardener's hut in the Tropical Gardens,
where I hid my cracksman's outfit. Old Simpson is boozing away down at
the Jersey Arms. I heard him tell pretty Ann, the barmaid, that he would
have to be home by midnight, for the 'old man' would surely arrive in
the morning. Now, will you stay here with this man, and 'do up' old
Simpson? Mind you, there must be no stab or bullet wound. The 'life
preserver,' and, then over with him! They will only think that rum and
the fall did the business.

"I will make straight for the Hirondelle when I am done, and send a man
to report to you at the old martello tower, where your gang are to meet
you. This man can get over to the boat now and warn them to show up,
carefully, one by one, and hide around there till dark. Not in the tower
itself, for some of the coast-guard roundsmen might take shelter there
and pitch into them for smugglers. I'll stay here till he comes back. If
old Simpson should come along too early, why, you and I could hide him
away here til