The Devon Boys, a Tale of the North Shore, by George Manville Fenn. 

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As per the title, the story revolves round the cliffs of the north shoreof Devon, in South West England. It is 1752. There are three localteenage boys, who are all boarders at the nearby Barnstaple GrammarSchool. It is the summer holidays. Bob Chowne is the son of a localdoctor, and is a bit cross in his manner; Bigley Uggleston is the son ofa local fisherman (or smuggler), and is a very pleasant-mannered boy;while Sep Duncan, the "I" of the story, is the son of Arthur JohnDuncan, a naval officer, who has just bought an extensive stretch of thecliffs. 

The boys decide to move a rock from the top of the cliff, to the bottom. They use explosives, and there is exposed a rich vein of galena, a leadand silver ore, so Sep's father begins a mine, which does very well. 

The boys get up to various daring escapades, which generally end up innear-disaster, from which they are rescued by various turns of fortune, including being rescued from way out at sea by a Frenchman, a smugglerof course, who is in league with Bigley's father. 

There is a French attack on the coast, but they were definitely lookingfor the twenty boxes of silver bullion Sep's father has amassed. Luckilythey don't get away with it. NH

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THE DEVON BOYS, A TALE OF THE NORTH SHORE, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

SELF AND FRIENDS. 

Bigley Uggleston always said that it was in 1753, because he vowed thatwas the hot year when we had gone home for the midsummer holidays fromBarnstaple Grammar-school. 

Bob Chowne stuck out, as he always would when he knew he was wrong, thatit was in 1755, and when I asked him why he put it then, he held up hisleft hand with his fingers and thumb spread out, which was always hisway, and then pointing with the first finger of his right, he said:

"It was in 1755, because that was the year when the French war brokeout. "

Then he pushed down his thumb, and went on:

"And because that was the year we had a bonfire in June, because DoctorStacey was married for the third time, and we burned all the birches. "

Then he pushed down his first finger. 

"And because that was the year we had an extra week's holiday. "

Down went his second finger. 

"And because that was the year the Spanish galleon was wrecked on JaggerRock. "

Down went the third finger. 

"And because that was the year your father bought the whole of SlateyGap. "

Down went the fourth finger, so that his open hand had become a clenchedfist held up, and then in his regular old pugnacious way he looked roundthe room as if he wanted to hit somebody as he snarled out:

"Now, who says I'm wrong?"

I could have said so, but what's the use of quarrelling with a fellowwho can't help being obstinate. It was in his nature, and no end oftimes I've known that when my old school-fellow was snaggy and nasty andquarrelsome with me, he'd have fought like a Trojan on my side againsthalf the school. 

But that fourth finger of Bob Chowne's settled it as to the time, for itwas not in 1755 but in 1752, for there's the date on the old parchment, which sets forth how the whole of the Gap from the foreshore right upthe little river for five hundred yards inland, and the whole of thesteep cliff slope and precipice, each side, to the very top, wasconveyed to my father, Arthur John Duncan, of Oak Cottage, Wistabay, lieutenant and commander in the Royal Navy of His Most Gracious MajestyKing George the Second. 

It doesn't matter in the least when it was, only I may as well say when, any more than it does that everybody who knew my father, includingDoctor Chowne of Ripplemouth, said he must be mad to go and buy, at thesale of Squire Allworth's estate, a wild chasm of a place, all slatyrock and limestone crag and rift and hollow, with a patch of scraggyoak-trees here, some furze and heath there, and barely enough grass tofeed half a dozen sheep, and that, even if it was cheap, because no oneelse would buy it, he was throwing good money away. 

But I didn't think so that hot midsummer afternoon when I was back home, and had set out to explore the place as I had never explored it before. 

That was not saying much, for I pretty well knew the spot by heart, butit was my father's now--"ours. "

We three boys had ridden home together the day before, sitting on ourboxes in Teggley Grey's cart, for he was the carrier from Ripplemouth toBarnstaple. 

I say we rode, though it wasn't much of a ride, for every now and thenthe red-faced old boy used to draw the corner of his lips nearly out tohis ears, and show us how many yellow stumps of teeth he had left, as hestopped his great bony horse, to say:

"I'm sure you young chaps don't want my poor old horse to pull you up ahill like this. "

Of course we jumped down and walked up the hill, and as it was nearlyall hill from Barnstaple to our homes we were always jumping down, andwalked quite half of the twenty miles. 

Old Teggley must begin about it too, as he sat with his chin nearly downupon his knees, whisking the flies away from his horse's ears with hiswhip. 

"We'm bit puzzled, Mas' Sep Duncan, what your father bought that placefor?"

"It's all for bounce, " said Bob Chowne, "so as to be Bigley Uggleston'slandlord. Look out, Big, or Sep 'll send you and your father packing, and you'll have to take the lugger somewhere else. "

"I don't care, " said Bigley. "It don't matter to me. "

All in good time we got to the Gap Valley, where there was our Samwaiting with the donkey-cart to take mine and Bigley's boxes, and BobChowne went on to Ripplemouth, after promising to join us next day for agrand hunt over the new place. 

The next day came, and with it Bob Chowne from Ripplemouth and BigleyUggleston from the Gap; and we three boys set off over the cliff pathfor a regular good roam, with the sun beating down on our backs, thegrasshoppers fizzling in amongst the grass and ferns, the gullssquealing below us as they flew from rock to rock, and, far overheadnow, a hawk wheeling over the brink of the cliff, or a sea-eagle risingfrom one of the topmost crags to seek another where there were no boys. 

Now I've got so much to tell you of my old life out there on the wildNorth Devon coast, that I hardly know where to begin; but I think Iought, before I go any farther, just to tell you a little more about whoI was, and add a little about my two school-fellows, who, being verynear neighbours, were also my companions when I was at home. 

Bob Chowne was the son of an old friend of my father--"captain" Duncan, as people called him, and lived at Ripplemouth, three or four milesaway. The people always called him Chowne, which they had shortenedfrom Champernowne, and we boys at school often substituted Chow for Bob, because we said he was such a disagreeable chap. 

I do not see the logic of the change even now, but the nickname wasgiven and it stuck. I must own, though, that he was anything but anamiable fellow, and I used to wonder whether it was because his father, the doctor, gave him too much physic; but it couldn't have been that, for Bob always used to say that if he was ill his father would send himout without any breakfast to swallow the sea air upon the cliffs, andthat always made him well. 

Bigley Uggleston, my other companion, on the contrary, was about thebest-tempered fellow that ever lived. He was the son of old JonasUggleston, who lived at the big cottage down in the Gap, on one side ofthe little stream. Jonas was supposed to be a fisherman, and hecertainly used to fish, but he carried on other business as well withhis lugger--business which enabled him to send his son to thegrammar-school, where he was one of the best-dressed of the boys, andhad about as much pocket-money as Bob and I put together, but we alwaysspent it for him and he never seemed to mind. 

I have said that he was an amiable fellow, and he had this peculiarity, that if you looked at him you always began to laugh, and then his broadface broke up into a smile, as if he was pleased because you laughed athim, and tease, worry, or do what you liked, he never seemed to mind. 

I never saw another boy like him, and I used to wonder why Bob Chowneand I should be a couple of ordinary robust boys of fourteen, while hewas five feet ten, broad-shouldered, with a good deal of dark downywhisker and moustache, and looked quite a man. 

Sometimes Bob and I used to discuss the matter in private, and came tothe conclusion that as Bigley was six months older than we were, weshould be like him in stature when another six months had passed; but wevery soon had to give up that idea, and so it remained that ourschool-fellow had the aspect of a grown man, but what Bob called hisworks were just upon a level with our own, for, except in appearance, hewas not manly in the slightest degree. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

OUR CLIFFS. 

I believe the sheep began all the creepy paths in our part of thecountry--not sheep such as you generally see about farms, or down tomarket, but our little handsome sheep with curly horns that feed alongthe sides of the cliffs in all sorts of dangerous places where a falsestep would send them headlong six or seven hundred feet, perhaps athousand, down to the sea. For we have cliff slopes in places as highas that, where the edge of the moor seems to have been chopped rightoff, and if you are up there you can gaze down at the waves foaming overthe rocks, and if you looked right out over the sea, there away to thenorth was Taffyland, as we boys called it, with the long rugged Welshcoast stretching right and left, sometimes dim and hazy, and sometimesstanding out blue and clear with the mountains rising up in the distancefold behind fold. 

I say I think the sheep used to make the cliff paths to begin with, forthey don't feed up or feed down, but always go along sidewise, unlessthey want to get lower, and then they make a zigzag, so far one way andso far another, backwards and forwards, down the slope till they come towhere it goes straight down to the sea with a raw edge at the top, andthe cliff-face, which keeps crumbling away, in some places lavender andblue where it is slate, and in others all kinds of tints, as red andgrey, where it's limestone or grit. 

In the course of time the sheep leave a regular lot of tracks like tinyshelves up the side of the sloping cliffs, and the lowest of these getstaken by the people who are going along the coast, and is trampled downmore and more, till it grows into a regular footpath, such as we weregoing along this hot midsummer day. 

Part of our way lay close to the edge of the cliff, where it was aboutfour hundred feet straight down, but a dense wood of oak-trees grewthere, and their trunks formed a regular fence and screen between us andthe edge, so that the pathway was quite safe, though it would not havetroubled us much if it had not been, being used to the place; but in ashort time we were through the wood, and out on the open cliff--fromshade to sunshine. 

I ought not to leave that wood, though, without saying something aboutit, for just there the trees grew very curiously. Of course you knowwhat an oak-tree is, and how it grows up tall and rugged and strong, butour oak-trees didn't grow like that. You've seen horses out in a fieldon a stormy day, I suppose, when the wind blows, and the rain beats. Ifthey have no trees, hedges, or wall to get under, they always turn theirbacks to the wind, and you can see their tails and manes streaming outand blown all over them. 

Well there's no shelter out there on our coast, only in the caves, andthe oak-trees there do just the same as the horses, for they seem toturn their backs to the wind; and their boughs look as if they are beingblown close down to the side of the cliff slope and spread out ready tospring up again as soon as the wind has passed. But they don't, forthey stop in that way growing close down and all on one side, and theyvery seldom get at all big. 

That was a capital path as soon as we were out of the wood, running upand down the slope sometimes four, sometimes six or seven hundred feetabove the sea, just as it happened, and with the steep cliff above usjagged with great masses of rock that looked as if they were alwaysready to fall rolling and crashing till they got to the broken edge, when they would leap right down into the sea. Sometimes they did, butonly when a thaw came after a severe frost. There was none of that sortof thing though at midsummer, and the overhanging rocks did not troubleus as we scampered along in the bright elastic air, feeling as if wewere so happy that we must do something mischievous. 

The path was no use to us, it was too smooth and plain and safe, so wewent down to the very edge of the precipice, and looked over at thebeautiful clear sea, hundreds of feet below, and made plans to goprawning in the rock pools, crabbing when the tide was out, and to getBigley's father to lend us the boat and trammel net, to set some calmnight and catch all we could. 

"Think he'll lend it to us, Bigley?" asked Bob. 

"I don't know. I'm afraid he won't. "

"Why not?" I said. "He did last holidays. "

"Yes, " said Bigley; "but your father hadn't got the Gap then, and madehim cross, for he said he was going to buy it, only your father boughtit over his head. "

"But had he got the money?" I said. 

"Oh, yes. He's got lots of money, though he never spends any hardly. "

"He makes it all smuggling, " said Bob. "He'll be hung some day, or shotby some of the king's sailors. "

Bigley turned on him quickly, but he did not say a word; and just then astone-chat's nest took his attention. After that we had to go round theend of a combe, as they call the valleys our way, and there we stoppedby the waterfall which came splashing down forming pool after pool inthe sunny rocks. 

It was not to be expected that three boys fresh from school could passthat falling stream without leaping from rock to rock, and penetrating ahundred yards inland, to see if we could find a dipper's nest, for oneof the little cock-tailed blackbirds gave us a glimpse of his whitecollar as he dropped upon a stone, and then walked into a pool, in whoseclear depths we could see him scudding about after the insects at thebottom, and seeming to fly through the water as he beat his littlerounded wings using them as a fish does fins. 

The nest was too cleverly hidden for us to find, so, tiring of thelittle stream, and knowing that there was one waiting for us in the Gapwhere we could capture trout, we went on along the cliff path, gossipingas boys will, till we reached the great buttress of rock that formed oneside of the entrance to the little ravine, and there perched ourselvesupon the great fragments of rock to look down at where the little streamcame rushing and sparkling from the inland hills till it nearly reachedthe sea at the mouth of the Gap, and then came to a sudden end. 

It looked curious, but it was a familiar object to us, who thoughtnothing of the way in which the sea had rolled up a bank of boulders andlarge pebbles right across the little river, forming a broad path whenthe tide was down, and as the little river reached it the bright clearstream ended, for its waters sank down through the pebbles and passedinvisibly for the next thirty or forty yards beneath the beach and intothe sea. 

But when the tide was up this pebble ridge formed a bar, over whichthere was just room for Uggleston's lugger to pass at high-water; andthere it was now in the little river, kept from turning down on its sideby a couple of props, while the water rippled about its keel. 

From where we were perched it looked no bigger than a row-boat, and thehouse that formed our school-fellow's home--a long, low, stone-builtplace thatched with reeds--seemed as if it had been built for dolls, while the fisherman's cottage on the other side, where an old sailorfriend lived, was apparently about as big as a box. 

The scene was beautiful, but to us boys its beauty lay in what itoffered us in the way of amusement. 

We were not long in deciding upon a ride down one of the clatterstreams--a ride that, though it is very bad for the breeches and worsefor the boots, while it sometimes interferes with the skin of theknuckles, and may result in injury to the nose, is thoroughly enjoyableand full of excitement while it lasts. 

You don't know what a clatter stream is? Then I'll tell you. 

Every here and there, where the slate cliffs run down in steep slopes tothe valleys, you can see from the very top to the bottom, that is to sayon a slope of some nine hundred feet, what look like little streams thatare perhaps a foot wide at the top and ten or a dozen at the bottomwhere they open out. These are not streams of water, though in wetweather the water does trickle down through them, and makes them itsbed, but streams of flat, rounded-edge pieces of slate and shale thathave been split off the face of the rock and fallen, to go slowlygliding down one over the other, perhaps taking years in their journey. Some of the pieces are as small as the scraps put in the bottom of aflower-pot, others are as large as house slates and tiles, perhapslarger; but as they go grinding over one another they are tolerablysmooth, and form a capital arrangement for a slide. 

This thing determined upon we each selected a good broad piece bigenough to sit or kneel on, and then began the laborious ascent, which, Imay at once tell you, is the drawback to the enjoyment, for, though thecoming down is delightful, the drag up the steep precipitous slope, withfeet frequently slipping, is so toilsome a task that two or three slidesdown used to be always considered what Dr Stacey at Barnstaple Schoolcalled _quantum sufficit_. 

As a matter of course we were soon tired, but we managed three, startingfrom right up at the top, and close after one another, with the stonesbeneath us rattling, and sometimes gliding down swiftly, sometimescoming to a standstill; but if it was the foremost, those behindgenerally started him again. 

In this case Bob went first, I followed, and Bigley came last, andthough we two stuck more than once, he never did, his weight overcomingthe friction of the stones to such an extent that, towards the last, hecharged down upon us and we all rolled over together into a heap. 

We tried again, but the fall had made Bob disagreeable. I don't thinkhe was much hurt, but he pretended to be, and said that Bigley had doneit on purpose. 

It was of no use for Bigley to protest. Once Bob had made up his mindto a thing he would not give in, so after about half a slide down westopped short without being driven on again by our companion, and thegame was voted a bore. 

"'Tisn't as if there were a couple of sailors at the top with a capstan, to haul you up again when you've slid down, " said Bob. 

"Ah, I wish there were!" cried Bigley, "I get so tired. "

"No rope would pull you up; you're too heavy, " sneered Bob. "Nevermind, Sep, let's do something else. The clatter streams ain't half soslippery as they used to be. I s'pose we may do something else herethough it is your father's place?"

"Don't be so disagreeable, " I cried. 

"Who's disagreeable?" he retorted. "I didn't make the stones stick andold Bigley come down squelch on us, did I?"

"Oh, if you want to quarrel, Bob, we may as well go home, " I said. 

"There, just hark at him, Big! Quarrel! Just as if I wanted toquarrel. There, I shall go. "

"No, no, don't go, Bob, " I cried. 

"No, no, don't go, Bob, " chimed in Big. "It's holidays now, and we canget up a row when we're at school. "

The force of this, and its being waste of time now the long-expectedholidays had come, made an impression on Bob, who sat down and begansending rounded pieces of slate skimming through the air towards thelittle stream. 

"Didn't I tell you I didn't want to quarrel, " he grumbled out. "I ain'tso fond of--there, you chaps couldn't do that. "

"Ha! Ha! Couldn't we?" I cried, as a stone he threw went plash intothe stream, and I jerked a piece of slate so far that it went rightover. 

This made Bob jump up, and, as there was plenty of ammunition, the oldcontention was forgotten in the new, Bigley Uggleston joining in andhelping us throw stones till we grew tired, when we looked round forsomething fresh to do. 

"Let's climb right to the top of Bogle's Beacon, " I said, as my eyes litupon the highest crags at our side of the ravine. 

"Oh, what's the good?" said Bigley. "It'll make us so hot. "

"Get out, you great lazy fellow, " cried Bob, whose lips had been apartto oppose my plan; but as soon as Bigley took the other side he was alleagerness to go. 

"Oh, all right then, " said Bigley. "I don't mind. If you're going Ishall come too; but wait a minute. "

As he spoke he set off at a trot down the slope, and as we two threwourselves down to watch him, we saw him run on and on till he reachedthe smuggler's cottage, and go round to the long low slate-roofed shedwhere his father kept his odds and ends of boat gear, and then he divedin out of sight. 

"What's he gone for?" said Bob. 

"Dunno, " I said lazily as I turned over on my chest and kicked the looseslates with my toes. "Yes, I do. "

"No, you don't, " said Bob sourly. 

"Yes, I do; he's gone to get a bit of rope. Don't you remember when weclimbed up last year we didn't get quite to the top, and you said thatif we'd had a bit of rope to throw over the big stone, one of us mighthave held the end while the other climbed up?"

"No, I don't remember, and don't believe I ever said so. "

"Why, that you did, Bob. What's the good of contradicting?"

"What's that to you, Sep Duncan?" he retorted. "You arn't everybody. Ishall contradict if I like. "

"But you did say so. "

"I didn't. "

"You did. Now, just you wait till old Big comes and see if he don't sayso too. "

"Yah! He'd say anything. What does he know about it?"

"Well, here he comes, " I said. 

"Let him come; I don't care. "

"And he has got a coil of rope over his shoulder. "

"Well, what do I care? Any fool might get a ring of rope over hisshoulder. "

"Yes, but what for?"

"Oh, I dunno; don't bother!" said Bob surlily. 

Meanwhile Bigley Uggleston was coming along at a lumbering trot, and assoon as he was within hearing I shouted to him:

"What are you going to do with that rope?" And now for the first time Inoticed that he was carrying a long iron bar balanced in his right hand. 

Big did not answer, but came panting on. 

"There, I told you so!" cried Bob; "didn't I say so?"

"I don't care if you did, " I retorted; and just then our companionpanted up to us and threw himself down, breathless with his exertions. 

"What did you fetch the rope for?" I cried eagerly. 

"To"--puff--"throw it over"--puff--"the big stone"--puff--"up atop, same"--puff--"as Bob Chowne said"--puff--"last year. "

"There!" I cried triumphantly, turning on Bob. 

I was sorry I had spoken directly after, for Bob tightened his lips andhalf shut his eyes as he rose slowly to his feet, thrust his hands inhis pockets, and began to move off. 

"Here, what are you going to do?" I cried. 

"Going home. "

"What for?"

"What for? Where's the use o' stopping? You keep on trying to pick aquarrel with a fellow. "

"Why, I don't, Bob. I say, don't go. We're just going to have no endof fun. "

"Yes, " cried Big; "and I've brought one of my father's net bars to drivein the rock and fasten the rope to, and then no one need hold it. "

"No, I sha'n't stop, " grumbled Bob sourly. "Where's the use o' stoppingwith chaps as always want to quarrel?"

"I don't want to quarrel, " I said. 

"And I'm sure I don't, " said Big. "I hate it. "

"More don't I, " growled Bob. "It's Sep Duncan; he's always trying tohave a row with somebody. "

"Here, come on, " cried Big. "I've got the rope and the bar. "

"No, " said Bob, sticking his hands farther into his pockets and sidlingoff; "I'm going home. "

"Oh, I say, don't spoil our fun, Bob, " I cried. 

"'Taint me; it's you, " he said. "I sha'n't stay. "

"Oh, if it's me I'm very sorry, " I said, "I didn't mean to bedisagreeable. "

"Oh, well, if you're sorry and didn't mean to be disagreeable I'llstay, " he said. "Only don't you do it again. "

"Say you won't, " whispered Big. 

"Well, I won't do it again, " I cried, though I felt all the time as if Iwanted to laugh outright. 

"Then I sha'n't say any more about it, " said Bob, relenting all at once. "I say, Big, is that rope strong?"

"Strong enough to hold all of us, " he replied. "Here, come along. It'll soon be dinner-time. I'm getting hungry now. "

"Why, you're always hungry, Big, " cried Bob as we began to climb thesteep slope diagonally. 

"Yes, I am, " he assented. "I do eat such a lot, and then I always feelas if I wanted to eat a lot more. "

It was a stiff climb over the loose slates and in and out among therough masses of stone that projected every here and there; but the airgrew fresher and cooler as we made our way from sheep-track tosheep-track, where the little brown butterflies kept darting up in ourpath; and as we stopped again and again, it was to get a wider view ofthe sail-dotted sea all rippling and sparkling like silver in the sun, while as we climbed higher still we began to get glimpses of the highhills along the coast to the west, and the great moor into which the Gapseemed to run like a rugged trough. 

At last after many halts we reached the piled-up mass of rocks known asthe Beacon--a huge heap of moss-grown grey fragments that stood on thevery crest of the ridge. 

It was a favourite place with us, and many an expedition had been madehere to sit under the shelter of the great lump of rock that crowned theheap, a mass about fifteen feet high, and as many long and broad, thewhole forming just such a cube as you find in the sugar basin, and whosesides were so perpendicular that we had never reached the top. 

But this time, provided with rope, and, by Bigley Uggleston'sforethought, with the iron bar, the ascent seemed easy, and we set aboutit at once. 

Big soon found a place on the shoulder of our little mountain whereblocks of a ton-weight and less lay around, some of them so weakened andoverhanging that they looked as if a touch would send them thunderingdown into the gorge. 

Between two of these Big drove in the long iron bar, the rope was thrownright over the rock, one end tied securely to the bar, the other held byBigley on the other side, the great heavy fellow hanging on to it, andthe question arose as to whether Bob or I was to make the first attempt. 

I wanted to go, but I felt that if I did, Bob would be affronted, so Igave way and let him lead, giving him a hoist or two as he seized therope, and climbed, and scratched, and kicked, and got up half-way andthen slid down again. 

"Here, Big, " he shouted, "what's the good of bringing such a stupidlittle thin rope? It's no good. "

"Can't you get up?" cried Big. 

"No, nor anyone else. It's no use. Let's get back. "

"No, no; let me try, " I cried eagerly. 

"Don't I tell you it's of no use, " he said angrily. "Here, I'll goagain and show you. Hold on tight, Big. "

"Yes, I'm holding, " came from deep down in Bigley's chest, and Bob madeanother attempt, scrambling up over my back and on to my shoulders, andending in his struggles by giving me so severe a kick on the head that Ileaped away, leaving him hanging by his hands, so that when he relaxedhis hold he came down in a sitting position, with so hard a bump uponthe stones that he seemed to bounce up again in a fit of fury to beginstamping about with rage and pain. 

"Oh--oh--oh!" he gasped. "You did that on purpose. "

"Oh, I say, you do make me laugh, " spluttered out Bigley, who held ontightly to the rope to keep it strained. 

"Yes, I'll make you laugh, " cried Bob, flying at him and punching away, while Bigley held on by the rope, and the more Bob punched the more helaughed. 

"Oh, I say, don't, " he panted. "You hurt. "

"I mean to hurt, " cried Bob. "You and Sep Duncan got that up betweenyou, and he did it to make you laugh. "

"I didn't say you kicked me on the ear on purpose, " I grumbled. "Oh, Isay, Bob, your boot-toe is hard. "

"Wish it had been ten times harder, " he snarled. 

"Oh, never mind, " said Bigley, "I'm getting tired of holding the rope. Why don't you climb up? Make haste!"

"I'm going home, " grumbled Bob. "If I had known you were two suchfellows I wouldn't have come. "

"Here, you get up, Sep, " cried Bigley. "I'll stand close up to therock, and you can climb up me, and then lay hold of the rope. "

"No, no, " I whispered; "it would only make Bob savage. "

"Never mind; he'll come round again. He won't go--he's onlypretending. "

I glanced at our school-fellow, who was slowly shuffling away sometwenty or thirty yards down the slope, and limping as he went as if oneleg was very painful. 

"Here, Bob!" I cried, "come and have another try. "

He did not turn his head, and I shouted to him again. 

"Here, Bob, mate, come and have another try. "

He paid no heed; but while I was speaking Bigley placed himself close tothe great rock, reaching up as high as he could, and holding on by therope with outstretched arms. 

"Now, then, are you ready?" he cried. 

The opportunity was too tempting to be resisted, and making a run and ajump, I sprang upon his broad back, climbed up to his shoulders, gothold of the rope, and steadied myself as I drew myself into a standingposition, and then reaching up the rope as high as I could, I managed toget my toes on first one projection, then upon another, and in a fewseconds was right at the top. 

Bigley burst into a hoarse cheer, and began to jump about and wave hiscap, with the effect of making Bob stop short and turn, and then comehurrying back more angry than ever. 

"There: you are a pair of sneaks, " he cried. "What did you go and dothat for?"

"I helped him, " said Bigley. "Hoo--rayah!"

"Yes, and I'll pay you for it, " he snarled; but Bigley was too muchexcited to notice what he said; and, taking hold of the rope again, heplanted himself against the rock to turn his great body into a ladder. 

"Go on up, Bob, and then you two chaps can pull me up to you. "

The temptation was too great for Bob, who began to climb directly, andhad nearly reached where I stood, when I bent down and held out my hand. 

"Catch hold, Bob!" I cried, "and I'll help you. "

"I can get up by myself, thank you, " he cried very haughtily, and heloosed his hold with one hand to strike mine aside. 

It was a foolish act, for if I had not snatched at him he would havegone backwards, but this time he clung to me tightly, and the nextminute was by my side. 

"Oh, it's easy enough, " he said, forgetting directly the ugly fall hehad escaped. 

"Here, now, you two lay hold of the rope and pull me up!" shoutedBigley. "I want to come too. "

We took hold of the rope and tightened it, and there was a severe courseof tugging for a few minutes before we slackened our efforts, and satdown and laughed, for we might as well have tried to drag up any of theton-weight stones as Bigley. 

"Oh, I say, " he cried; "you don't half pull. I want to come up. "

"Then you must climb as we pull, " I said, and in obedience to my advicehe fastened the rope round his waist, and tried to climb as we hauled, with the result that after a few minutes' scuffling and rasping on therock poor Bigley was sitting down rubbing himself softly, and looking upat us with a very doleful expression of countenance. 

"You can't get up, Big; you're too heavy, " cried Bob, who was now in thebest of tempers. "Here, let's look round, Sep. "

That did not take long, for there were only a few square feet of surfaceto traverse. We were up at the top, and could see a long way round; butthen so we could fifteen or twenty feet below, and at the end of fiveminutes we both were of the same way of thinking--that the principalsatisfaction in getting up to the summit of a rock or mountain was inbeing able to say that you had mastered a difficulty. 

Bob thoroughly expressed my feelings when, after amusing himself for afew minutes by throwing dry cushions of moss down at Bigley, heexclaimed:

"Well, what's the good of stopping here? Come on down again!"

"I'm ready, " I said, "only I wish old Big had come up too. "

"I don't, " said Bob; "what's the good of wishing. I'm not going to makemy hands sore with tugging. He had no business to grow so fat. "

"I should like to come up, " cried Bigley dolefully. 

"Ah, well, you can't!" shouted back Bob. "Serves you right pretendingto be a man when you're only a boy. "

"I can't help it, " replied Bigley with a sigh. 

"Let's have one more try to have him up, " I cried. 

"Sha'n't. What's the good? I don't see any fun in trying to do whatyou can't. "

"Never mind: old Big will like it, " I said. "Come on. "

Bob reluctantly took hold of the rope, and after giving a bit of adviceto our companion, he made another desperate struggle while we pulled, but the only result was that we all grew exceedingly hot and sticky, andas Bigley stood below, red-faced and panting with his efforts, Bob putan end to the project by sliding down the rope to his side, so there wasnothing left for me to do but to follow. 

This I did, but not till I had had a good long look round from my highperch at the deeply-cut ravine with its rugged piled-up masses of cliff, and tiny river, to which it seemed to me I was now the heir. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

A GUNPOWDER PLOT. 

We three boys sat down at the edge of the steepest side of the cragsafter this to rest, and think what we should do next, and to help ourplans we amused ourselves by pitching pieces of loose stone down as faras we could. 

Then the rope was dragged over the Beacon rock and coiled up, while Itugged and wriggled the iron bar to and fro till I could get it free. 

"Let's go down to the shore now, and see if we can find some crabs, " Isaid. "The tide's getting very low. "

"What's the good?" said Bob picking up the iron bar, and chipping thisstone and loosening that. "I say, why don't some of those stones rock?They ought to. "

He began to wander aimlessly about for a few minutes, and then, findinga piece that must have been about a hundredweight, he began to prise itabout using the iron bar as a lever, and to such good effect that hesoon had it close to the edge. 

"Look here, lads, " he cried, "here's a game! I'm going to send thisrolling down. "

We joined him directly, for there seemed to be a prospect of someamusement in seeing the heavy rugged mass go rolling down here, making aleap down the perpendicular parts there, and coming to an anchorsomewhere many hundred feet below where we were perched. 

For there was not even a sheep in sight, the side of the valley below usbeing a rugged mass of desolation, only redeemed by patches ofwhortleberry and purple heath with the taller growing heather. 

"Over with it, Bob, " cried Bigley; "shall I help?"

"No, no, you needn't help neither, " said Bob. "I'm going to do it allmyself scientifically, as Doctor Stacey calls it. This bar's afulcrum. "

"No, no, " I said; "that isn't right. "

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Bigley. 

"Then what is it, please, Mr Clever? Doctor Stacey said bars werefulcrums, and you put the end under a big stone, and then put a littleone down for a lever--just so, and then you pressed down the end of thebar--so, and then--"

"Oh! Look at it, " cried Bigley. 

For Bob had been suiting the action to the word, and before he realisedwhat he was doing the effect of the lever was to lift the side of thebig stone, so that it remained poised for a few moments and then fellover, gliding slowly for a few feet, and then gathering velocity it madea leap right into a heap of _debris_ which it scattered, and thenanother leap and another, followed by roll, rush, and rumble, till, always gathering velocity, amidst the rush and rattle of stones, it madeone final bound of a couple of hundred feet at least, and fell far belowus on a projecting mass of rock, to be shivered to atoms, while thesound came echoing up, and then seemed to run away down the valley andout to sea. 

No one spoke for a few moments, for the feeling upon us was one of awe. 

"I say, that was fine!" cried Bob at last. "Let's do another. Youdon't mind, do you, Sep?"

"N-no, " I said, "I don't think it does any harm. "

I spoke hesitatingly, as I could not help wondering what my father wouldhave said had he been there. 

"Come along, " cried Bob, who was intensely excited now, "let's send abig one down. "

His eagerness was contagious, and we followed him up a little along theedge of the steep cliff to find a bigger piece; but, though we couldfind plenty of small ones, which we sent bounding down by the help ofthe iron lever with more or less satisfactory results, the heavy massesall seemed to have portions so wedged or buried in the live rock thatour puny efforts were without avail. 

"I tell you what, " said Bigley at last, "I know!"

"What do you know?" cried Bob with a sneer, for somehow, though he couldeasily have taken us one under each arm, Bigley used to be terriblypecked by both. 

For answer Bigley pointed up at the ragged comb-like ridge above us. 

"Well, what are you doing that for?" cried Bob. 

"Let's send down the big boulder. "

We looked up at the great stone which we had long ago dubbed theBoulder, because it was so much like one of the well-rolled pieces onthe shore, and there it lay a hundred feet beyond us, looking as if atouch would send it thundering down. 

"Hooray!" cried Bob. "Why, I say, Sep, he isn't half such a stupid asyou said he was. "

"I didn't say he was stupid, " I cried indignantly. 

"Oh, yes, you did!" said Bob with a grin; "but never mind now. Come on, lads. I say, it's steeper there, and as soon as it comes down it willmake such a rush. "

"Can't hurt anything, can it?" I said dubiously. 

"Yes; it'll hurt you if you stand underneath, " said Bob grinning. "Comealong. What can it hurt? Why, it wouldn't even hurt a sheep if therewas one there. My! Wouldn't he scuttle away if he heard it coming. "

Bob was right, there was nothing to harm, and the displacement of a bigstone in what was quite a wilderness of rough fragments would not evenbe noticed. So up we climbed, and in a few minutes were well on theridge grouped on one side of the big boulder. 

"Now, then, " Bob cried; "you are strongest, old Big, and you shall helpher. Look here; I'll get the bar under, and Sep and I will hoist. Thenyou put your shoulder under this corner and heave, and over she goes. "

"Bravo, skipper!" I said, for he gave his orders so cleverly andconcisely that the task seemed quite easy. 

"Wait a moment, " he cried. "I haven't got the bar quite right. That'sit. My! Won't it go!"

"_Pah_! _Tah_! _Tah_! _Tah_!" rang out over our heads just like amocking laugh, as a couple of jackdaws flew past, their dark shadowsseeming to brush us softly as they swept by. 

"Now, then, Big. Don't stand gaping after those old powder-pates. Now:are you ready?"

"Yes, I'm ready, " cried Bigley. 

"And you, Sep? Come and catch hold of the bar. Now, then, altogether. Heave up, Big. Down with it, Sep. Altogether. Hooray! And over shegoes. "

But over she did not go, for the great mass of stone did not budge aninch. 

"Here, let's shift the bar, lads, " cried Bob. "I haven't got it quiteright. "

He altered the position of the lever, thrusting in a piece of stoneclose under the rock so as to form a fulcrum, and then once more beingquite ready he moistened his hands. 

"Get your shoulder well under it, Big; shove down well, Sep, and weshall have such a roarer. "

"Wait a moment, " I said. 

"What for?"

"Let's make sure there's nobody below. "

"Oh! There's nobody, " cried Bob; though he joined me in lookingcarefully down into the gorge; but there was nothing visible but a birdor two below, and a great hawk circling round and round high above us inthe sunny air, as if watching to see what we were about. 

"Oh! There's no one below, and not likely to be, " cried Bob. "Now, then, my jolly sailor boys, heave ho. One--two--three, and over shegoes. "

No she didn't. 

We pressed down at the lever, and Bigley heaved and grunted like an oldpig grubbing up roots, but the grey mass of stone did not even move. 

"Oh! You are a fellow, Big!" cried Bob, stopping to wipe his forehead. "You didn't half shove. "

"That I did!" cried Bigley, rising up and straightening himself. "Iheaved up till something went crack, and I don't know whether it'sbuttons, or stitches, or braces. Braces, " he added, after feelinghimself about. "Oh! Here's a bother, it's torn the buckle right off!"

"Never mind the buckle, lad. Let's send this stone over. I want to seeit go; don't you, Sep?"

"Of course I do, " I said. "Now, then, all together once more. Shovethe bar in here, Bob. "

"Oh, it's of no use to shove it there, " he replied. "No; here's theplace. Ah! Now we've got it. "

"Shall I come there and help with the bar?" cried Bigley. 

"No, you sha'n't come there and help with the bar, " sneered Bob. "Thereain't hardly room for us two to work, and you'd want a great bar half amile long all to yourself. Only wish I was as strong as you, an' I'djust pop that stone over in half a minute. "

"Would you?" said Big, staring at him sadly. "I can't. "

"No, because you don't half try. "

"Oh, don't I? Now you both heave again, and this time we'll do it. "

"All right, " cried Bob excitedly. "Now, then, all together, heave ho, my lads, heave ho! And this does it. One--two--three--and--"

"Oh, look at that!" cried Bigley, straightening himself again. "Therenow, did you ever see such a chap?" cried Bob, stamping with rage; "justas she was going over, and it only wanted about half a pound to do it, he leaves off. "

"Well, how would you like your other brace buckle to get torn up by theroots?" said Bigley reproachfully. 

"Brace buckles! Why, your brace buckles are always coming off, " saidBob. "I wouldn't be such a great lumbering chap as you are for allDevonshire and part o' Wales. "

"I can't help it, " said Bigley sadly, as he tried to repair damages, andfailing that, secured his clothing by tying his braces tightly round hiswaist. "I didn't want to grow so big all at once. Everybody laughs atme for it. "

"Nobody minds your being big, " cried Bob, "if you would only be useful. Your braces are always breaking. "

"I'm very sorry, Bob, old chap. "

"What's the good of being sorry now?" replied Bob. "You've spoiled allthe fun. It's no use stopping if you chaps won't help. "

"Why, we did help, Bob, " I said, "and the stone didn't move a bit. It'stoo heavy. "

"It did move, I tell you. If you want to quarrel you'd better say so, and I'll be off home. I don't want to fight. "

"More do I, Bob, " I replied; "but it didn't really move. Did it, Big?"

"If you say it didn't, Big, I'll give you a crack right in the eye, "cried Bob fiercely, as he doubled his fist. 

Bigley's mouth was opened to speak, but Bob was so energetic and fiercethat it remained like a round O, and the great fellow looked so comicalthat I burst out into a fit of laughter which set Bob laughing too, andthis made Big stare at us both in a puzzled way; but by degrees hecaught the mood of the moment and laughed too, and the cloud thatoverhung our expedition drifted away. 

"Well, " said Bob at last in a disappointed tone, "I s'pose we may aswell go down on the beach crabbing, for we can't move that stone. "

"I know how we could move it, " cried Bigley suddenly. 

"Tchah! How?" I said. 

"Same as my father moved the great rock out there in the cove. Therewas a big lump there that was always dangerous for the lugger when shewas coming in. "

"Well, what then?" said Bob contemptuously. 

"Why, " continued Big eagerly, "he waited till the spring tides and thewater was terribly low, and then he put a lot of gunpowder in a holeunder it and laid a train, and smeared a piece of rag with powder, andnicked the flint and steel till the rag caught fire, and then he ranaway. "

"Well?" I said. 

"Well, then the rag sparked and spit fire till the train began to run, and then the train set light to the powder, and there was a big _bomboom_. "

"A big what?" we both cried. 

"A big _bom boom_, " said Bigley. 

"Why, you didn't say anything about a big _bom boom_ being therebefore, " cried Bob. "I don't believe there is such a thing. "

"Now, how you do go on!" cried Bigley. "You know what I mean--a bigbang when the powder went off. "

"Then why don't you call things by their right name?" said Bob. "Abang's a bang and nothing else. "

"Well, the powder went bang and knocked the big rock right off the placewhere it stood. "

"What! Up in the air?" I said. 

"Up in the air? No; over into the deep water, where it sank to thebottom. "

"Well, you don't suppose we're such old stupids as to think it floated, do you?" cried Bob. 

"No, of course not, but that's what it did. "

"I don't believe it, " said Bob stubbornly. 

"You don't believe it?" I said, while poor Bigley stood staring at thelast speaker. 

"No. If that had been true old Big would have been bouncing about it atschool, and told us that story, as he always does everything he knows, nine hundred thousand times, till we were all tired of hearing it. "

"But I'd forgotten all about it till just now, " pleaded Bigley. 

"Ah, well, " said Bob, who was sitting on the big stone swinging his legsto and fro, "I don't believe it, and if I did, what then?"

"Why, I thought, " said Bigley eagerly, "if we were to put some powderunder that stone, and make a train, and strew some wet powder on a pieceof rag--"

"And light it, and make it fizzle, and then run away, " cried Bob, mimicking Bigley's speech. 

"Yes, " cried the latter eagerly, "it would topple it over right downinto the glen. "

"There's an old stupid for you, " said Bob, looking at me. Then turningto Bigley he said sharply, "Why, I haven't got my pockets full ofpowder, have I?"

"N-no, " stammered Bigley, who was taken aback by his fierce way. 

"And powder don't grow in the furze pops, does it?"

"N-no, " faltered Bigley; "but--"

"Here, Sep Duncan, " cried Bob, "go and see if any of the rabbits havegot any in their holes. There, get out! I shall go home. What's thegood of fooling about here?"

"But father's got lots of gunpowder in the shed, " cried Bigley. 

"Eh?" said Bob starting. 

"I could go and get a handful. He'd give it me if he was at home, andhe wouldn't mind my fetching some. "

"Wouldn't he?" cried Bob, whose sour looks changed to eagerness. "Hooray, then! Cut off and bring your handkerchief full, and we'll sendthe stone sky-high. "

"All right, " said Bigley eagerly. 

"And bring a flint and steel. "

"Yes: anything else?"

"No, that'll do. "

"But, I say, " I ventured to put in, "wouldn't it be dangerous?"

"Dangerous! Ha, ha, ha! Hark at him, Big. Here's Miss Duncan verymuch afraid that the powder might go off and pop him. Oh, here's agame!"

"I'm not afraid, " I said; "only I shouldn't like to do anythingdangerous. "

"Well, who's going to, stupid?" said Bob importantly. "Think I don'tknow what powder is. There, cut off, Big, and see how soon you can getback. We'll make a hole for the charge, same as they do in the quarry, and have it ready by the time you come. Run. "

CHAPTER FOUR. 

THE EXPLOSION. 

Bigley wanted no further telling, but started off at full speeddiagonally down the slope, while Bob, who was all animation and goodtemper again, seized the iron bar, and began to look out for a suitableplace for the charge. 

"Hadn't we better wait and see if he can get the powder?" I ventured tosay. 

"Not we, " said Bob. "He'll be sure to get it, and then--oh, I say, Sep, it will be a game!"

Once more I began to feel misgivings as to whether it would be such agame; but I said nothing, only looked on sometimes at Bob, who, inimitation of what he had seen at the quarries, or the places where theyblasted out shelves in the cliff-side for houses to be built, was busydriving in a hole right under the big rock by means of the bar, andsometimes at where Bigley was shuffling and sliding down the side of theGap till he disappeared behind the shed. 

"If he gets the powder I wouldn't put much in, " I said. 

"Why not?"

"Because it may be dangerous. "

"There, get out! Just as if I didn't know what I'm doing. I've watchedthe quarry-men lots of times. "

"Will it split the rock?" I asked. 

"All depends how you put your charge, " said Bob very sagely. "I'm goingto make it lift the rock, and drop it down over the side, and then awayit'll go and sweep a lot of those big bits with it, just as if they wereskittles, and they'll all go down like a big clatter stream to thebottom. "

"Here's a better place here, " I said, crawling down on the opposite sideof the rock. 

"No, it ain't, " said Bob in his opiniated manner, and without looking. "It ain't half so good. This is the place. Now go and look, and see ifold Big's coming back. "

I rose up again, and shading my eyes looked down to the cottage, beyondwhich the sea was glittering in the sun. 

"No, " I said; "not yet. Yes, he is: here he comes. "

"Has he got it?" cried Bob. 

"I don't know, " I replied, "he's so far-off; but he has got something. He's waving his handkerchief. "

"Here, hi! Stop! Don't do that!" cried Bob, jumping up and throwinghis arms about. "You'll spill all the powder. There's an old stupid. He don't take any notice. "

"Why, how can he at all that distance away? You couldn't make him hearif he was only a quarter as far. "

Bob did not reply, but sat down watching, and I did the same, while poorold Bigley came panting and toiling up the slope in the hot sun. 

"Oh, isn't he jolly slow, " cried Bob. "I wish I'd gone myself. It'lltake him all day. "

"You'd have lain down and gone to sleep before you were half-way up thehill, " I said maliciously, and Bob tightened his lips. 

"Go on, " he said sourly. "I know what you want. You want to fall out, but I sha'n't. I hate a fellow who always wants to get up a fight. Icame here to-day to see if we couldn't have a bit of fun, so I sha'n'tquarrel. Oh, I say, what a while he is! He's just like old TeggleyGrey's horse, only he ain't so quick. "

Poor old Bigley wasn't quick, certainly, for it was hot, and hardclimbing to where we were perched. To have come straight up was next toimpossible: the only way was to come sidewise, getting a little higheras you walked along; and toiling industriously at his task, Bigley atlast reached the foot of the piled-up mass where we were waiting. 

"Oh, I say, come up. Be quick. What a while you have been!" said Bob. "Got it?"

"Oh, it's all very well to talk, " panted Bigley wiping his forehead, "sitting down there so quietly. It's hot. "

"Never mind about it's being so hot, " cried Bob. "Have you got it?"

"Got what?"

"Did you ever hear such a chap?" cried Bob. "The powder. "

"Why, of course I have. Didn't I go on purpose to get it?"

We both thought that the intention was not always followed by the deed, but we said nothing in our anxiety to get the material for ourexperiment; and as Bigley had come to a halt, we had to go down about ahundred feet to help him climb up the rest of the way, when he drew outa pint tin can full of powder, the flint and steel, and a piece of rag, which he had taken the precaution to damp in the stream and then wringout before starting back. 

We set to work at once making the damp rag into a fuse by rubbing itwell with the coarse-grained gunpowder, and then, it being decided thatwe could not do better than leave the powder in the tin canister, whoseopening answered admirably for the insertion of the rag fuse, Bob set towork to enlarge the hole he had made till it was big enough to admit thecharge. 

Then with great care the end of the rag was thrust into the powder, andheld there with a piece of slaty chip, sufficient length of the ragbeing left to reach out beyond the side of the stone. 

Next Bob took the tin and thrust it into its place far under the rock, and the only remaining thing to do was to light the fuse and get wellout of the way. 

"Who's going to nick the steel?" I said. 

"Well, " said Bob coolly, "as I've done nearly all the rest of the workyou may as well do that. "

I felt a moment's hesitation, nothing more, and taking the flint, steel, and tinder-box, with a brimstone match, I went down on my knees besidethe stone, where the piece of rag lay out ready, and after a great dealof nicking I made one of the sparks I struck fall into the tinder-box, and, after the customary amount of blowing, produced enough glow toignite the tip of the brimstone-dipped match, which by careful shadingfluttered and burned with a blue flame nearly invisible in the noontidelight. 

It was an extremely risky proceeding, for we had dropped some of thepowder in among the short dry moss and stones, and then, too, the ragwas drying fast, and it was quite within the range of possibilities thatwhen I lit one end it might communicate too rapidly with the powder inthe canister, and the explosion would take place before I could get outof the way. 

But Bob Chowne and Bigley were standing only a couple of yards behindme, ready to dodge behind some of the great rocks on the comb of theridge, and I believe that in those days I possessed so much of theSpartan fortitude which pervaded our school, that I would sooner havebeen blown up than show fear. So I sheltered my match, bending lowerand lower, till I could bring it to a level with the powder-smeared rag, which caught at once, and began to sparkle and scintillate, sending up athin blue flame at the same time. 

That was enough, and throwing the match away, I began to back towardsthe lookers-on, but hearing a scuffling noise among the stones, I lookedround to see that they were both running. 

"Come on!" shouted Bob. "Look sharp, Sep!"

As they had begun to run it seemed to be no shame for me to do the same, so I darted after them, and found them just on the other side of theridge, lying down behind some of the great rocks. 

"That's right, " cried Bob. "Creep close; nothing can hurt us here. Areyou sure you left the thing burning?"

"Quite, " I said. "It must be off directly. "

I don't know whether Bigley was aware of the fact, but he crept closebetween two rocks and behaved just as an ostrich is said to do, for hestuck his head right in and then seemed to consider that he was quitesafe. 

Suddenly, as we were listening impatiently for the explosion, an ideaoccurred to me. 

"I say, " I said, "what's the good of all this? We sha'n't see the stonego down. "

Bob started up in a sitting position, and gave Bigley a tremendous slapwhich made him follow suit. 

"Why, you are a chap!" he said as the idea came home to him too. "Whydidn't you say so sooner?"

"I didn't think of it, " I replied. 

"Oh!" exclaimed Big dolefully, "what was the use of me taking all thattrouble about the powder. I'm hot yet with climbing. "

"It's all Sep Duncan's fault, " cried Bob. "I never did see such a chapas he is. Well, what's to be done now?"

"Let's go on the top again and see it go, " cried Big. 

"Oh, no, " I said, "it wouldn't be safe till the powder's gone off. "

"You mean it wouldn't have been safe if I'd done what you wanted, " criedBob triumphantly. "I say, Big, he wanted me to put the powder under thestone on the other side, so that when it went off it would have blownthe stone over this side instead of down into the Gap, only I wouldn't. "

"Well, it does seem a pity after taking all that trouble, " cried Bigleydolefully. "I say, isn't it time it started?"

"Yes, " said Bob in his sour way. "I don't believe old Sep lighted therag. "

"That I'm sure I did, and it was smoking fast when I came away. "

"Ran away, you mean, you coward!"

"Ho--ho--ho!" laughed Bigley. 

"What are you laughing at, stupid?" said Bob. 

"At you. Didn't you say to me, `come on, Big, let's run for it now. It's all alight. '"

"Well, I thought it was then, old clever-shakes. Don't you be soprecious ready with your tongue. "

"Here, don't make all this bother, " I said pettishly. "I did light therag, and it has gone out again. Never mind, I can soon get anotherlight. "

"Let's wait a minute first, " said Bob cautiously. 

It was good advice, and we did wait I suppose quite a minute, but to usit seemed more than five, and considering now that it was quite safe, Ijumped up and we went back to the ridge, looking eagerly towards theplace where the stone hung over the Gap, but it was hidden from us bythe great blocks we had run round, or else probably we might have seenwhat we smelt--the thin blue stream of smoke that curled up from beneaththe great block. 

As it was, our noses and not our eyes saved us, for I being in front, and just about to pass on to the open edge of the Gap, stopped suddenlyand said:

"I can smell burning. Can't you?"

"I can smell the tinder, " said Bob. "Go on and--"

He did not finish his speech, for the earth shook beneath our feet, andwe saw a flash and a great puff of smoke, and quite a hurricane of bitsof slate and stone and earth came flying by our ears, turning us intostatues for the moment. Then I bounded forward, followed by mycompanions, to stand beneath a broad canopy of smoke that floatedinland, and just in time to see the great stone go rumbling and boundingdown the precipitous place like a pebble, gathering force moment bymoment, till it seemed to glance from a stone and make one tremendousleap of quite a couple of hundred feet right into a clump of ruggedmasses of rock half-way down the precipice, and these it scattered anddrove before it in one great avalanche of _debris_ down and down anddown till the bottom was reached, and what had increased into quite alittle landslip settled into its new home with a sullen roar. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

WE DINE WITH A SMUGGLER. 

We three boys stood gazing down at our work with a feeling closely akinto awe, staring at the rushing stone cataract which kept throwing offmasses of grey foam which were great pieces of rock bouncing and leapingand bounding down as if delighted at being set free to move after beingfixed to the earth since who could say when? No one spoke, no one movedtill all was still below, and then, while I was wondering what my fatherwould say, Bigley Uggleston suddenly made us start by tossing up his capand shouting "Hooray!"

This roused Bob, who began to smile. 

"I thought that would move it, " he said coolly. "Why, what's the matterwith you, Sep? Here, Big, look at him; he's quite white. Here's agame! He's frightened. "

"No, I'm not, " I said stoutly. "I was only thinking about what myfather will say when he sees what we've done. "

"Get out! Hark at him. One can't come down to the Gap now without oldSep Duncan dinning it into your ears about his father, and what he'llsay, and all to show how proud he is, just because an old chap hasbought a bit of land down by the sea. Why, what harm have we done?"

"Torn all that ragged place down the bottom of the cliff, " I saiddolefully. "It wasn't like that before. "

"And what of it? Who's to know but what the stone tumbled down byitself? Nobody heard. "

We looked guiltily round, but the Gap was perfectly solemn and silent, the only thing suggesting life after the two cottages and the luggerbeing the vessels out at sea between us and the Welsh coast. 

"But it seems such a pity!" I said ruefully. "I didn't think the stonewould make so much of a mark coming down. "

"There he goes again!" sneered Bob. "Afraid of spoiling his father'sestate. Oh, arn't we proud of two sides of a hole and a water-gully!"

I had some reason for my remarks, for as I looked down there below us, where the great mass had struck so heavily, there appeared to be asmooth grey patch as if the surface had been scraped away. 

"Hi! Look, look!" cried Bigley. "See the rabbits!" We looked, andcould see at least a dozen little fellows that had been scared out oftheir holes, scuttling about among the stones, their white cottony tailsshowing quite plainly in the clear air. But these soon disappeared, andthe others yielding to my desire to go down and see what mischief hadreally been done by the fall, we all began to slip and slide and stumbledown the precipitous place, keeping as nearly as we could in the coursetaken by the stone, till we came upon the bare-looking spot. 

It was just as it had struck me; the great rock we had sent down hadstarted a number more, and they had literally scraped off all the loosesurface pieces and earth, and scoured the valley slope for a space ofabout three yards wide and fifty feet in depth down to the ancient rock. Below this the valley grew less steep, and the stone slide had had lessforce, beginning after a time to leave fragments behind, so that theplace seemed little changed, except here half-way up the slope. 

"Tchah!" exclaimed Bob; "nobody will notice this, and if they saw itfrom down below they wouldn't take the trouble to climb up. "

His words seemed full of truth, for it seemed to me that nothing but thesheep and rabbits was likely to come rambling and climbing up here; so, feeling more at my ease, I began to look about with the eyes ofcuriosity to see if there was anything to be found. 

My companions followed my example, and we examined the places that hadbeen scoured bare, to see that they were very much like the cliffs downby the shore, being evidently of the slate common there, a coarse greyslate, stained with markings of lavender and scarlet pink, which, whereit was freshly fractured, glistened in the sun like some portions of awood-pigeon's breast. 

There was nothing else to see, and my companions went on climbing down, while I lingered for a few minutes picking up a bit of broken stone hereand another there, to throw them away again, all but one bit whichlooked dark and shiny, something like a bit of Welsh coal, only itwasn't coal, and that I put in my pocket. 

"Come on!" shouted Bob; "we're going down to the shore. "

I hurried after them, and we went lower and lower till we reached thelittle river, which ran glistening and rippling over the stones. 

We had no tackle but our hands, and so the little trout that revelled inthe clear water escaped that day; but we were obliged to stop at everyswirling pool where the water grew deep and dark, to have a good stareat the little speckled beauties, and lay plots against their happiness. 

These pauses took up a good deal of time, so that it was about oneo'clock when we reached Uggleston's cottage, and, as it happened, justas its tenant was coming up from his boat, having just landed from someexpedition along the coast. 

He was not alone, for old Binnacle Bill, as we called him, was behind, carrying the oars and the mast with the little sail twisted round, so asto put them in Uggleston's lean-to shed. 

As we drew nearer I began to wonder what sort of a reception we weregoing to receive from old Jonas Uggleston; and it struck me veryforcibly then, how strange it seemed that he should be the father of myschool-fellow, who was always well dressed, that is as school-boys are, while he was just like an ordinary fisherman of the coast, with roughflannel trousers rolled up, big fisherman's boots, blue worsted shirt, and an otter-skin cap, from beneath which his grisly hair stuck out inan untended mass, while his beard, that was more grisly still, halfcovered his dark-brown face. 

He was a stern, fierce-looking man, with large dark eyes that seemed toferret out everything one was thinking about, and as he came up helooked at us all searchingly in turn. 

"Hallo, father! Been along the coast?" cried Bigley, striding up tohim; and there was just a faint kind of smile on Jonas Uggleston's faceas his son shook hands and then took his arm in a way that seemed tocome like a surprise to me, for it seemed so curious that myschool-fellow Bigley could like that fierce, common-looking man. 

"Hallo, Big!" growled old Jonas grimly, "keeping your holidays then. Who've you got here? Oh! It's you, young Chowne, is it? Ah! I wascoming over to see your father 'bout my foot as I got twisted 'tween twobits o' rock--jumping; but it's got better now. Home from school?"

"Yes, sir; we came home yesterday, " said Bob, staring hard at oldUggleston's mahogany hands. 

"And who's this, eh? Oh, young Cap'n Duncan, eh?" continued the oldfellow, turning to me as if he were not sure. "So you've come home fromschool, eh?"

"Yes, sir, " I said; "I came with them yesterday. "

"Well, I know that, don't I?" he said sharply. "Think folk as don't goto school don't know nothing, eh?"

"Oh, no, sir, " I said apologetically. 

"'Cause they do, you know. And so we must buy the Gap, must we, and getto be landlords, must we, and want to turn parties as has lived heretwenty or thirty years or more out of their houses and homes, must we?Now, look ye here, young gent, what I've got to say is--Bah! What afool I am, " he cried, smiting his open left hand with his fist. "Whatam I talking about? 'Tar'n't his fault. "

I was standing aghast and wishing myself a long way off, when his wholemanner changed and he patted me on the shoulder. 

"'Tar'n't your fault, my lad, 'tar'n't your fault. So you've come homefor the holidays, eh?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Hah! Bigley, my big babby, often talks about you when he writes to me, lad. You're mates, eh?"

"Oh, yes, " I said, finding his tone roughly kind now. "We sleep in thesame room. "

"Hah, yes! Well, and what have you chaps been about?"

"Oh, climbing about, and down by the stream, father, " put in Bigleyquickly. 

"And you ar'n't hungry a bit, eh, lads? Well, I am, " he said, withoutwaiting for us to speak. "Let's go in and see what Mother Bonnet hasgot for us. "

I was for hanging back, and so was Bob, who was jealous of the extranotice taken of me; but old Jonas Uggleston took hold of us both by theshoulders and marched us before him as if we were prisoners, andregularly pushed us in at the low door and into the low rustic-lookingroom, with its floor formed of big rough slabs of slate, and itswhitewashed walls hung with all kinds of fishing gear and odds and ends, that looked very much as if they had come from different wrecks, so outof keeping were they with the plain, homely room, smelling strangely ofsea-weed with a dash of fish. 

"And I thought there'd be something ready to eat, " said old Jonas. "That's right, Big, put some chairs to the table, and come to an anchorall of you. "

He smiled grimly as he thrust both Bob and me into chairs and thenturned to his son. 

"Take the big pitcher, boy, and fill it from the cider barrel. It's inthe back place yonder. Good cider won't hurt boys. It's only likedrinking apples 'stead o' chewing of 'em. I'm going to dip my hands. Back directly. "

He nodded and left the room with his son, leaving Bob and me staring ateach other across the table. 

"Don't it seem rum, " he whispered, "having no table-cloth?"

I said it did, but then the table was beautifully clean, and so were thesilver table-spoons, and the silver mug at the end where old Jonas sat. While, to make the table thoroughly attractive to us hungry boys, whohad been walking all the morning, there was a good-sized cold salmon ona big dish; a great piece of cold ham; a large round loaf that looked asif it had been baked in a basin, and a plate of butter and a dish ofthick yellow cream. 

These substantial things had a good effect upon Bob Chowne, whose facebegan to look smooth and pleasant, and who showed his satisfactionfarther by kicking me under the table, for he was afraid to make anymore remarks, because we could hear Jonas Uggleston, in some place atthe back, blowing and splashing as if he were washing himself in abucket; and of this last there was no doubt, for we heard the handlerattle, then a loud splash, as if he had thrown the dirty water out ofthe window, and the bucket set down and the handle rattling again. 

This made Bob kick me again painfully, and he grinned and his eyesseemed to say, "No jug and basin, and no washstand. "

Just then Bigley came in with a great brown jug of cider, smiling allover his face. 

"I say, I am glad father has asked you to stop, " he said. "We'll gethim to let us have the boat after dinner. "

Just then old Jonas came in without his otter-skin cap, combing thethick grisly fringe round his head, the top of which was quite bare; anddirectly after from another door--for there were doors nearlyeverywhere, because Jonas Uggleston had built the cottage very small atfirst and then kept on adding rooms, and kitchens, and wash-house withstores--Mother Bonnet came in, an elderly plump woman, who always put mein mind of a cider apple when it was ripe. 

Mother Bonnet was Binnacle Bill's wife, and lived at the cottage on theother side of the stream, but she came and "did for" Master Uggleston, as she called it; that is to say, she cooked and kept the house clean;and she bore in hand a dish of hot new potatoes, which were very scarcethings with us and a deal thought of by some people for a treat. 

She nodded to us all in turn, and was going away again, when Jonasshouted "Winegar, " and Mother Bonnet hurriedly produced a big blackbottle from a corner cupboard, and placed it upon the table. 

That was about as rough a dinner as Bob Chowne and I had ever sat downto, but how delicious it was!

"'Live last night, " said Jonas, digging great pieces of the salmon offwith a silver spoon, and supplying our plates. 

"You catch him, father?" said Bigley. 

"Yes, Big. Weir. "

"Weir, " I thought to myself. "Weir? What does he mean by weir?"

"Eat away, my lads, " cried Jonas Uggleston. "Big: have off some bread. "

"When did you finish the weir, father?" said Bigley, with his mouthfull, in spite of all Dr Stacey had said. 

"Seccun April, boy. You can work it a bit, now you're down. "

Bigley looked at us with eager eyes, but we were too busy to pay muchattention, though I was anxious to see a weir that would catch salmon, and ready to ask questions as soon as the dinner was done. 

"Pour out the cider, lad. It's a fresh cask, and it's good. I boughtsome at Squire Allworth's sale. "

Bigley began to pour out for us, old Jonas having pushed his silver mugto my side, while he took a brown one from a shelf for his and Bob'suse; and I was feeling sorry that he should have given me the silvermug, because Bob would not like it, when, just as old Jonas mentionedSquire Allworth's sale, his face changed again, and I saw his scowl ashe looked at me. 

"He's thinking about my father buying the Gap, " I said to myself; butforgot it all directly, for the fierce look passed away as the old manlifted his cup. 

"Taste it, boys, and it'll make you think of being in the sunshine in anorchard, with the sun ripening the apples. Now then: salmon gettingbony. Who'll have some ham?"

We all would, and we were quite ready afterwards to attack and finishoff a pot of raspberry jam which Mother Bonnet brought in with a smile;and the raspberry jam, the beautiful butter and bread, and the creamworked such an effect upon Bob Chowne that he exclaimed suddenly:

"Oh, don't I wish Dr Stacey would give us dinners like this!"

Old Jonas uttered a hoarse harsh laugh, which made me feeluncomfortable, for he did not look as if he were laughing, but as if hewere in a very severe and angry fit with somebody. 

"There, " he said, when we had quite done, "be off, boys, now. I'm goingto be busy. "

"Yes, father, " said Big. "May we have the boat and go out for a sail?"

Old Jonas turned sharply round on him, and looked as if he were going toknock his son down, so fierce was his aspect. 

"No!" he roared. 

"No, father?" faltered Bigley. 

"No!" said old Jonas, not quite so fiercely. "Do you think I want tospend all next week on the look-out to find you chaps when you're washedashore--drowned?"

"Oh, father! Just as if it was likely!"

"Haw, haw!" laughed old Jonas, and it did not seem like a laugh, but asif he were calling his son bad names. "You can manage a boat all ofyou, can't you, and row and reef and steer? Get out. Books is in yourway, and writin', and sums, not boats. "

"But father--"

"Hold your tongue. I don't want to lose my boat, and I don't want tolose you. May be useful some day. Doctor wants his boy too, teach himto make physic; and I ar'n't no spite again' young Duncan here, so Idunno as I partic'lar wants him throw'd up on the beach with his pocketsfull o' shrimps; so, No. Now be off. Go and look at the weir. "

CHAPTER SIX. 

A SEA-SIDE WEIR. 

"It's of no good, " said Bigley, as we tramped down over the rough sandand pebbles. "When he says `no' he means it. We could have managed theboat all right. I say, I'll get him some day to let Binnacle Bill takeus, and we'll buy some twisty Bristol for him, and make him spin yarns. "

"But where's the weir?" I said, as we were getting close down to wherethe sea was breaking, and where the fresh-water of the little river camebubbling up from among the boulders after its dive down below, and wasnow mingling with the salt water of the sea. 

"Where's the weir?" cried Bigley. "Why, this is it. "

"This?" said Bob, "why it's only a lot of hurdles. " So it appeared atfirst sight, but it was ingeniously contrived all the same for itspurpose; and in accordance with the habits of the salmon and other fishthat are fond of coming up with the tide to get into fresh-water, andrun up the different rivers and streams. 

It was a very simple affair, and looked to be exactly what Bob hadsaid--a lot of old hurdles. But it was strongly made all the same, andconsisted of a couple of rows of stout stakes driven down into thebeach, just after the fashion of the figure on the opposite page, withone row towards the sea, and the other running up beside where thestream water bubbled up and towards the shore. In and out of thesestakes rough oak boughs were woven so closely, that from the bottom toabout four feet up, though the water would run through easily enough, there was no room for a decent-sized fish to go through, while down atthe bottom all this was strengthened by being banked up with stonesinside and out, and all carefully laid and wedged in together, andcemented with lime. 

Now when the tide was up all these posts and hurdles were covered withwater, and as the fish swam up to meet the fresh stream, a great manywould sometimes be over the ground inclosed by the weir, searching aboutfor food washed down by the stream, or for the little shrimps and otherwater creatures that hung about the hurdles, which were a favouriteplace too with mussels, which cling to such wood-work by thousands. Nowthough they are easily frightened it does not seem as if fish have muchbrain, for sometimes they stopped swimming about inside these hurdlestill the tide had run down as low as the tops of the posts, and then, feeling it was time for them to be off with the tide, they'd start toswim off, but only to find themselves shut in. 

Sometimes it would be a shoal of grey mullet, sometimes a salmon or twothat had tried to get up the stream, and could not get by the pebblebar; and there they would be swimming about, not feeling their dangertill it was too late. 

First of all they would try to get through the hurdles, and there theywould keep on trying till some wise one amongst them thought that byswimming round the ends at A or B they would reach the open sea. 

Sometimes they would do this and escape. They all follow one anotherlike sheep in a flock; but generally they do not try to get round theends till it is too late, for while there is still plenty of water at Cthere is very little at B and none at all at A, and the consequence isthat the fish are left splashing when the tide goes out, in a few littleshallow pools, where there is nothing to do but scoop them out with abit of a net. 

The tide was getting well down, and the hurdles were nearly all bare, but there was too much water for us to see whether there were any fishleft, and so we stood on first one big boulder, and then upon another, as they were left dry, every now and then making a bold leap on to arock, to stand there surrounded by water, and now and then obliged tojump back to avoid a wetting. 

But at last the hurdles and stones at the sea end of the weir werecompletely left by the tide, so that we could walk down, and then, asthe water shallowed more and more in the triangular inclosure, we lookedout eagerly for fish. 

"There they are--lots of 'em!" cried Bob excitedly, for he was too muchinterested to be disagreeable and say unpleasant things. 

"Oh, those are only little ones, " cried Bigley, as the little silveryfry kept flashing out of the surface. "They'll all go out through theholes. You'll see none of them will be left. "

And so it proved; for as the water in the inclosure sank lower and lowerthe small fry were seen no more, but a swirl here and there showed thatone, if not more, good-sized fish were left, and in the anticipation ofa good catch we hopped about from stone to stone, and clambered alongthe hurdles. 

"Hooray!" shouted Bob, who was now in a high state of delight, "isn'tthis better than learning our jolly old _hic_--_haec_--_hoc_, eh, Sep?"

"I should think so. "

"Oh!"

There was a shout and a splash and we two roared with laughter, forBigley had just then made a jump to gain a stone standing clear of thefalling water, when, not allowing for the slippery sea-weed that grewupon it in a patch, his feet glided over the smooth stone and he camedown in a sitting position in the water, which flew out in spray on allsides. 

"Here! Hi! Net!--net!" shouted Bob. "Come on, Sep, here's such a bigone--a Bigley big one. It's a shark, I know it is. Look at his teeth!"

"It's all very well to laugh, " said Bigley, getting up and standingknee-deep in the water to squeeze the moisture out of the upper part ofhis clothes, "but how would you like it?"

"Ever so, " cried Bob; "I'm as hot as hot. Mind how you go near him, Sep, he'll bite. Oh, don't I wish I had a boat-hook, I'd fetch himout. "

"I don't care. It's only sea-water. I don't mind, " grumbled Bigleywading about in the pool. "I say, boys, here's a salmon and a whole lotof mullet. "

"Where, where?" cried Bob, and, without a moment's hesitation he jumpedin and waded towards Bigley. 

"There! Can't you see 'em? There they go!" cried Bigley pointing. 

"No. "

"Why, out yonder! They're lying there quiet now amongst the stones. "

"Oh, won't I give it you for this, old Big!" cried Bob. "There are nofish there at all. You gammoned me to make me come in and get my legswet like yours are. Never mind, I'll serve you out. "

"Why, there are some fish, " cried Bigley indignantly. 

"Don't you believe him, Sep, " said Bob. "It's all nonsense. "

"Yes, there are, " I said from where I had climbed over the deepest partby clinging to the hurdles, "I can see them. "

"Oh no, you can't, my lad. You'd like me to come splashing through thewater there for you to laugh at me, but it won't do. There isn't asingle fish in the place, only old Bigley--old Babby as his father callshim. I say, Sep, what a game! Did you ever see such a babby?"

"Don't do that, " said Bigley sharply. 

"Don't do what?--splash you?" cried Bob. "There--and there. "

He suited the action to the word, and scooping up the water, he sent itflying over our tall schoolmate. 

"You know what I mean, " said Bigley, speaking in a low angry tone suchas I had never before heard from him. 

"Why, what do you mean?" cried Bob offensively. "Do you want me tothrash you?"

"I want you to leave my father alone, and what he says to me, " saidBigley sharply. "I don't mind your making fun of me. I don't mind whatyou call me; but that's his name he has always used since I was a littlebaby, and you've no business to say it. "

"Ha--ha--ha!" laughed Bob, "here's a game. Do you hear, Sep! He sayshe was once a little baby. I don't believe it. Ha--ha--ha!"

Bigley did not take any notice, and I did not join in the laugh, so Bobmade a movement as if he were going to wade out of the pool, and hislips parted to say something disagreeable. I knew as well as could bethat he was going to say that he should go home if we were about to turnlike that; but his legs were wet, and the walk home was long, and notpleasant to take alone. And then there were the fish in the pool tocatch, and in spite of his expressions of unbelief he knew that theremust be some. So he altered his mind, and changed his tone. 

"I didn't want to upset you, Big, old matey, " he said. "I didn't, didI, Sep Duncan? Here, what's the good of quarrelling when it's holidays?There, I won't call you so any more. "

Bigley's face cleared in a moment, and with a couple of splashes he wasat Bob's side with one hand extended, and the other upon hisschool-fellow's shoulder. 

"It's all right, " he said quickly. "Shake hands, and let's get thefish. There, I'll go for the prawn net and a basket. "

He ran splashing out of the water, and up over the boulders towards thecottage, leaving me and Bob together. 

"I wouldn't be as big as he is, " said Bob, "and I wouldn't have such anasty temper for thousands of pounds. Here, what are you grinning at?"

"At you. " For there was something so comic in his speech, coming as itdid from the most ill-tempered boy in the school--Dr Stacey had oftensaid so, and Bob proved it every day of his life--that I burst into ahearty laugh. 

Bob stood knee-deep in the water staring hard at me. For the first fewmoments he looked furious; then he seemed to grow sulky, and then in alow surly voice he said:

"I say, Sep, it isn't true, is it?"

"Isn't what true?"

"About the--about what old stay-sail said?"

"About you being disagreeable?"

"Yes. It isn't true, is it?"

I nodded. 

"I don't believe it, " he said impetuously. "I'm as good-tempered a chapas anybody, only people turn disagreeable with me. Well, you are apretty mate to turn against me like that. "

"I don't turn against you, Bob, and I don't mind your beingdisagreeable, " I said; "but you asked me, and I told you the truth. "

Bob stood quite still and thoughtful, as if he were watching the fishes, and he began to whistle softly a very miserable old tune that theshepherds sang out on the moor--one which always suggested winter to meand driving rain and cold bleak winds. 

"Look here!" I said, for the water was draining away fast out of thepool now, the stones that banked up the bottom of the woven hurdle-workbeing visible here and there. 

But Bob did not move. He stood there with his hands deep in his pocketsand the water up to his knees still, the part where he was being deeper, and he kept on whistling softly to himself. 

"Why can't you look, Bob?" I said. "You can see the fishes quiteplain. "

"I don't want to see 'em, " he replied sulkily. "When are you goinghome?"

"Oh, not forever so long; not till tea-time. Here comes Big!"

Bob did not look round, but his ears seemed to twitch as the sound ofour schoolmates' heavy tread came over the stones, for he lumbered alongat a trot with a big maund, as we called the baskets there, in one hand, a great landing-net in the other. But as Bigley came to the edge of thepool Bob waded out and said in a low quiet voice:

"Shall I carry the basket?"

We both stared, for in an ordinary way Bob would have shouted, "Here, give us hold of the net, " and snatched at it or anything else in hisdesire to take the lead. 

"No, no, " cried Bigley, though. "You two chaps are visitors. You havethe first go, Bob, and then let Sep Duncan try. But it's no use yet. "

He was quite right; there was too much room for the fish to dart about, and so we stood here, and crept there, to watch them as they glidedabout among the swaying sea-weed, all brown and olive-green, and full ofbladder-like pods to hold them up in the water. Sometimes there was arush, and a swirl in the pool. At another time we could catch sight ofthe silvery side of some fish as it turned over and glided through theshoal. Then for a few minutes all would be perfectly still and calm--sostill that it was hard to imagine that there was a fish left in theplace. 

And all the time the tide kept on retiring, and the water in the poollowering, till all at once there was a tremendous rush, a great silveryfish flashed out into the air, and then fell flat upon its side, makingthe drops fly sparkling in the sun. 

"Salmon, " cried Bigley, "and a big one. "

"Well, let's catch him, then, " cried Bob excitedly, the gloomy feelingforgotten now in the excitement of the scene. 

"Go on!" cried Bigley, handing him the net, and armed therewith Bobbegan to wade about, hunting the salmon from side to side of the pool, under my directions, for being high up on the dry, I could see the fishfar better than those who were wading. 

But it was all labour in vain. Twice over Bob touched the salmon, butit was too quick for him, and flung itself over the net splashing himfrom head to foot, but only encouraging him to make fresh exertions. 

"Here, you come and try!" he cried at last. "You're not tired. Do youhear? You come and try, Sep Duncan. They're the slipperiest fishes Iever saw. "

I shook my head. I was dry, and meant to keep so now, and said so. 

"It's of no use to try, " said Bigley, "not till the water's nearly gone. You can't catch 'em. "

"Why, you knew that all along!" I cried. 

"To be sure I did; but you wouldn't have believed me if I'd said so. Let's wait. In half an hour it will be all right, and we can get thelot. "

So we waited impatiently, wading and creeping from stone to stone, andtrying to count the fish in the weir pool; but not very successfully, for some we counted over and over again, and others were like the littlepig in the herd, they would not stand still to be counted. 

All at once it seemed as if a big retiring wave left room for nearly allthe water left to run out, and though another wave came and drove someback, the next one took it away, leaving room for the weir to drain, andwith a shout of triumph we charged down now at the luckless fish, whichwere splashing about in about six inches of water among the sea-weed andstones. 

I forgot all about not meaning to get wet, for I was in over myboot-tops directly. But what did it matter out there in the warmsunshine and by the sea!

It was rare sport for us, though it was death to the fishes. But theweir was contrived to obtain a regular food supply, and we thought ofnothing but catching the prisoners and transferring them to the basket. 

Bob was pretty successful with the net, but he only caught the mullet. The honour of capturing the eleven-pound salmon, for such it proved tobe, was reserved for Bigley and me, as I managed to drive the beautifulsilvery creature right up on to the stones, and there Bigley pouncedupon it, and bore it flapping and beating its tail to the basket. 

As we worked, the remainder of the water sank away, leaving only a poolof an inch or so deep, and from which Bob fished three small mullet, thetotal caught being eleven, the largest five pounds, and the salmoneleven, the same number of pounds as there were mullet. 

We bore our capture up to the cottage in triumph, where old Jonaspresented me and Bob with a fine mullet a piece, the salmon and the restbeing despatched at once by Binnacle Bill to Ripplemouth for sale. 

It was now getting so near tea-time that we set off for home, it beingunderstood that Bigley was to come with us as far as my home, where wewere all to have tea, after which he was to set off one way, and I wasto go the other; that is to say, walking part of the way home with Bob. 

This I did; but when we set off I could not help feeling how muchpleasanter it would have been to have gone with Bigley, for I did notanticipate any very pleasant walk. And I was right; for, whether it wasthe new bread, or the strength of our milk and water, I don't know--allI do know is, that Bob was as sour as he could be, and insisted upon mycarrying his mullet, because he said I should have nothing to carrygoing home. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

I STARTLE MY FATHER. 

My father was first up next morning, and had been out for an hour beforeI went down the garden to join him, and found him walking thequarter-deck. 

You must not think by these words that he was on board a ship. Nothingof the kind. He called by that name a flat place at the bottom of thegarden just at the edge of the cliff, where there was a low stone wallbuilt to keep anyone from falling over a couple of hundred feetperpendicular to the rocks and beach below. 

This was my father's favourite place, where he used to spend hours withhis spy-glass, and along the edge of the wall, all carefully mounted, were six small brass cannon, which came out of a sloop that was wreckedbelow in the bay, and which my father bought for the price of old metalwhen the ship was broken up and sold. 

I used to think sometimes that he ought to have called the place thebattery, but he settled on the quarter-deck, and the quarter-deck itremained. 

Always once a year on his birthday he would load and fire all thecannons, and it was quite a sight; for he used to call himself the crewand load them and prime them, and then send me in for the poker, whichhad all the time been getting red-hot in the kitchen. 

Then he used to take the poker from me, and I used to stop my ears. Butas soon as I stopped my ears, he used to frown and say, "Take out thetompions, you young swab!"

So I used to take out the tompions--I mean my fingers--and screw up myface and look on while with quite a grand air my father, who was a finehandsome man, with a fresh colour and curly grey hair, used to stand upvery erect, give the poker a flourish through the air, and bring the enddown upon a touch-hole. 

Then _bang_! There would be a tremendous roar, and the rocks would echoas the white smoke floated upwards. 

A quarter of a minute more and _bang_ would go another gun, and so onfor the whole six, every one of them kicking hard and leaping back somedistance on to the shingle. 

When all were fired, my father used to push them on their littlecarriages all back into their places; then he used to "bend, " as hecalled it, the white ensign on to the halyards, and run it up to thehead of a rigged mast which stood at the corner, and close to the edgeof the cliff, and after this shake hands with himself, left hand withright, and wish himself many happy returns of the day. 

It was not his birthday that one on which I ran down the garden to joinhim; but there he was by his guns, busy with his spy-glass sweeping, ashe called it, the Bristol Channel and talking to himself about thedifferent craft. 

"Hallo, Sep, my boy!" he said; "here's a morning for a holidaylandsman--or boy. Well, I didn't see much of you yesterday. "

"No, father, " I said; "I was out all day with Doctor Chowne's boy andyoung Uggleston. "

"Rather a queer companion for you, my boy, eh? Uggleston is a sadsmuggler, they say; but let's see, his boy goes to your school?"

"Yes, father, and he's such a good fellow. We went to his house down inthe Gap, and had dinner, and Mr Uggleston was very civil to me, allbut--"

"Well, speak out, Sep. All but what?"

"He spoke once, father, as if he did not like your having bought theGap. "

"Hah! Very likely; but then you see, Sep, I did not consider myselfbound to ask everybody's permission when I was at the sale, much moreMr Jonas Uggleston's, so there's an end of that. "

"He seemed to think he would have to turn out and go, father, " I said, looking at him rather wistfully, for it appeared to me as if it would bea great pity if old Uggleston and Bigley did have to turn out, becausewe were such friends. 

"If Mr Jonas Uggleston will behave, himself like a Christian, and payhis rent, " said my father, "he'll go on just the same as he did underold Squire Allworth, so he has nothing to complain about whatever. "

"May I go and tell him that, father!" I said eagerly. 

"No: certainly not. "

"I mean after breakfast, father. "

"So do I, my boy, " he replied. "Don't you meddle with such matters asthat. So you had a good look round the place, eh?"

"Yes, father. "

"See many rabbits?"

"Yes, father, plenty. "

"That's right. I want to keep that place for a bit of shooting, and I'mthinking of buying a bigger boat, Sep, and I shall keep her there. "

"Oh!" I cried, "a bigger sailing boat?"

"Yes, a much bigger one, my boy--big enough to take quite a cruise. Youmust make haste and get finished at school, my lad, and then I can takeyou afloat, and make a sailor of you, the same as your grandfather andgreat-grandfather used to be. "

"Yes, I should like to be a sailor, father, " I said. 

"Ah, well, we shall see, " he replied; "but that is not the business tosee to now. The first thing is to take in rations, so come along andhave breakfast. "

I was quite willing, and in a few minutes we were seated in the snugcottage parlour with the window open, and the scent of the roses broughtin by the breeze off the sea. 

"Why, Sep, " said my father, after I had been disposing of bacon and eggsand milk for some time, "how quiet you are! Isn't the breakfast so goodas you get at school?"

"Heaps better, father;" for schools were very different places in thosedays to what they are now. 

"Then what makes you so quiet?"

"I was thinking how nice it would be if it was always holidays. "

"With the sun shining warmly like it is now, and the sky blue, and thesea quite calm, eh?"

"Yes, father. "

"You young goose--I mean gander, " he said laughing. "Pleasure that hasnot been earned by hard work of some kind is poor tasteless stuff, ofwhich everybody would soon tire; and as to its being always hot andsunshiny, why, my dear boy, I've been out in the tropics when the skyhas been for weeks without a cloud, the seams oozing pitch, and therails and bolts and bell all so hot you could not touch them, and wewould have given anything for a thick mist or a heavy rain, or a goodpuff of cool wind. No, no, my dear boy, England and its climate arebest as they are. In all my travels I never found a better or morehealthy place; and as to the holidays--bah! Life was not made for play. Kittens are the most playful things I know, but they soon give it up, and take to work. "

"Yes, father, " I said with a sigh, "but school exercises are so hard. "

"The better lad you when you've mastered them. It's hard work to learnto be a sailor, but the more credit to the young man who mastersnavigation, and gets to know how to thoroughly handle a ship; betterstill how to manage his men, for a crew is a very mixed-up set offellows, Sep. "

"Yes, father, I suppose so. But I am trying very hard at school. "

"I know you are, Sep. Have another egg--and that bit of brown. You'vegot room, I know. Make muscle. "

He helped me to what I was by no means unwilling to take, and thencontinued:

"Of course you are trying hard, and I know it. Otherwise I shouldn'thave been so glad to see you home for the holidays you've earned, and beready to say to you, `Never mind about holiday lessons, I don't approveof them, my lad; put them aside and I'll make excuses for you to thedoctor. Work as hard as you can when you are at school, and now you areat home, play as hard as you can. ' We must have a bit of fishing. I'vegot some new lines, and a trammel net to set, and we'll do a good dealof boating. You sha'n't stand still for want of something to do. What's that?"

"Only a stone, father, " I replied, for in pulling out my handkerchief, the piece that I had put in my pocket on the previous day flew out, andfell with a crash in the fireplace. 

"What do you want with stones in your pocket?" he said rather crossly, as he rose and picked up the piece to throw it out of the window; but, as soon as he had it in his hand, its appearance took his attention. Heturned it over, weighed it in his hand, and then held it more to thelight. 

I went on eating my breakfast and watching him closely, for I did notwant to lose that piece of stone, and I was afraid that he would ask memore questions about it, sooner than bear which I was ready to see himthrow the piece of rock out of the window, when, if he threw it farenough, the chances were that it would go over the cliff and fall uponthe beach. 

Just as I feared, the questions came as he put on his glasses andexamined the fragment more closely. 

"Where did you get this, Sep?" he said--"on the beach?"

"No, father, up on this side of the Gap. "

"Whereabouts?"

"About three hundred yards from Uggleston's cottage, and half-way up theslope, where the rocks stand up so big on the top. "

"Hah! Yes, I know the place. It was lying on the slope, I suppose?"

"Well, ye-es, father. "

"Humph, strange!" he muttered. "There can't be any metals there. Somebody must have dropped it. "

I hesitated. I wanted to speak out, but I was afraid, for I did notknow what he would say if he heard that we had blown up one of the rockswith gunpowder, and sent all those stones hurtling down the side of thecliff. 

"Yes, " continued my father, "somebody must have dropped it. A goodspecimen--a very good specimen indeed. "

Just then he raised his eyes, and caught me gazing at him wistfully. 

"Hallo!" he said, "what does that mean? Why are you looking so seriousand strange?"

"Was I, father?"

"Yes, sir: of course you were. No nonsense. Speak out like a man, anda gentleman. Not quite the same thing, Sep, for a gentleman is notalways a thorough man; but a thorough man is always a gentleman. Now, what is it?"

I did not answer. 

"Come, Sep, " he said sharply, "you're getting a great fellow now, and Iwant you, the bigger you grow, the more frank and open. I don't wantyou to grow into one of those men who look upon their father as someoneto be cheated and blinded in every way, instead of as their truest andfirmest friend and adviser. Now, sir, you have something on your mind. "

"Yes, father, " I said slowly. 

"Hah! I thought as much. In mischief yesterday?"

"I'm afraid so, father. "

"Well, out with it. You know my old saying, `The truth can be blamed, but can never be shamed. '"

"Yes, father. "

"Well, I'm sure my boy could not bear to be shamed. "

"Oh, no, father. "

"Of course not, " he said quietly. "And I'm sure you've got manlyfeeling enough not to be afraid of being blamed; so out with it, sir, and take your punishment, whatever it is, as the son of a sailorshould. "

"Yes, father, " I exclaimed with a sort of gasp, and then I told him whatwe had done with the powder. 

"Humph! Nice fellows!" he exclaimed as I ended. "Why, you might haveblown each other to pieces. Powder wants using only by an experiencedman, and young Chowne, who seems to have played first fiddle, seems toknow more about his father's powders than that out of a keg. Humph! Soyou blew down one of the lumps of stone?"

"Yes, father. "

"Well, why didn't you say so at once?" he continued tartly, "and notshuffle and shirk. It was a foolish, monkeyish trick, but I suppose nogreat harm's done. What did you do it for?"

"To see the stones rush down, sir, " I said. 

"Humph! Well, don't do so any more. "

"I will not, father, " I said hastily. 

"That's well. Now we will not say any more about it. Many stones comedown?"

"Yes, father, they swept a bare place down the side of the cliff rightto the old rock. "

"Here, Sep, " said my father excitedly, holding out the lump of mineral, "did you pick this up before or after?"

"After, father; where the rock was swept bare. "

My father looked at me quite excitedly. 

"Done breakfast?" he said sharply. 

"Yes, father. "

"Put on your hat and come with me to the Gap. Stop a moment. Did yourschool-fellows notice that piece of rock--did you show it to them?"

"No, father. I was alone when I found it. "

"So much the better. Then, look here, Sep; don't say anything to themabout it, nor about what you see to-day. "

"No, father; but--"

"Don't ask any questions, boy. I am not sure but you may have made avery important discovery in the Gap. I had no idea of there being anymetals there. "

"And are there, father?"

"We are going to see, my boy. So now, keep your counsel. Put on yourcap and we will walk over to the Gap at once, when you can show me theexact spot where you found this piece. "

I grew as excited as my father seemed to be, but with this difference, namely, that as I grew warmer he grew more cool and business-like. 

After I had given him some better idea of the place where the specimenhad been found, he decided that we would not go round by the cliff path, and past Jonas Uggleston's cottage, but take a short cut over the highmoorland ground at the back of the bay, and so on to the Gap, where wecould descend just where we lads had blown down the rock. 

It was not a long walk that way, though a hilly one, and before half anhour had passed we were close to the edge of the ravine, and directlyafter on the spot from whence the stone had been dislodged. 

Here for the first time I noticed the handle of a hammer in my father'spocket as he stooped down and examined the place where the rock lay, andthen shook his head. "No, not here, " he said. "Go on first. " I ledthe way and he followed, noting where the rock had bounded off, and thendescending to where it had charged the other pieces and rushed on down, baring a portion of the side of the ravine, as I have said, to the veryrock. 

"Hah!" ejaculated my father suddenly, as he seemed to pounce upon afragment of stone something like the first I held. "Here's another, andanother, and another, " I said. "Yes, plenty, " he replied ratherhoarsely, as he picked up a couple more pieces. "Place them in yourpocket, boy. "

As he spoke he looked about him up and down, and ended by utteringanother sharp exclamation, for in one place there was a rugged patch ofrock just like the fragments we held, and seeming as if the cliff-sidethere was one solid mass. 

"Look here, Sep, " he said quietly; "be smart, and gather up all therough pieces of common grey slate you can find and throw them about hereI'll help. "

I set to work and he aided me vigorously, with the result that in ashort time we had hidden the bright metallic-looking patch, and then helaid his hand upon my arm. 

"That will do, " he said. "Now, keep a silent tongue in your head. I'lltalk more to you afterwards. Let's go home now. Stop, " he cried, starting; "don't seem to look, but turn your head slightly towards thesea. Your eyes are better than mine. Who's that standing on the pieceof rock over yonder. Can you see?"

"No, father, not yet. "

"Look more to the north, boy. Just over the big rock that stands out ofthe cliff-side. There's a man watching us. "

"Yes, I see, father, " I cried. 

"Who is it?" he whispered, as he led the way along by the steep slope sothat we might descend and go up the Gap by the stream side and reach theshore. 

"Yes, I know, I'm sure now, " I cried. "It's old Jonas Uggleston. "

"Humph! Of all men in the world, " said my father. "Well, the place ismy own now, and no one has a right to interfere. "

He walked on silently for a few minutes, and then said softly: "I wouldrather no one had known yet. " Then aloud to me: "Come, Sep, let's gethome and see what these rocks are made of. I'm beginning to think thatyou have made a great find. "

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

THE DOCTOR AND I BUILD A FURNACE. 

My father was very silent as we walked swiftly back home, where helocked up the specimens we had obtained, and then after a few minutes'thought he signed to me to follow him and started for Ripplemouth. 

About half-way there we met Doctor Chowne on his grey pony with Bobwalking beside him, and directly after the doctor and my father weredeep in conversation, leaving us boys together. 

"What's the matter!" said Bob. "Your father ill?"

"No, " I replied; "I think it's about business. " How well I canrecollect Doctor Chowne! A little fierce-looking stoutish man, in drabbreeches and top-boots, and a very old-fashioned cocked hat that lookedterribly the worse for wear. He used to have a light brown coat andwaistcoat, with very large pockets that I always believed to be full ofpowders, and draughts, and pills on one side; and on the other oftooth-pincers, and knives, and saws for cutting off people's legs andarms. Then, too, he wore a pigtail, his hair being drawn back andtwisted up, and bound, and tied at the end with a greasy bit of ribbon. But it was not like anybody else's pigtail, for, instead of hanging downdecently over his coat collar, it cocked up so that it formed a regularcurve, and looked as if it was a hook or a handle belonging to hiscocked hat. 

Before my father and he had been talking many minutes, the doctor turnedsharply round in his saddle, with one hand resting on the pony's back. He was going to speak, but his hand tickled the pony, which began tokick, whereupon Doctor Chowne, who looked rather red-faced and excited, stuck his spurs into the pony's ribs, and this made him rear and backtowards the cliff edge, till the doctor dragged his head round so thathe could see the sea, when he directly ran backwards and stood with histail in the bank. 

"Quiet, will you?" cried the doctor, and, as the pony was not beingtickled, he consented to stand still. "Here, Bob!" said the doctorthen. 

"Yes, father. "

"Go home. "

"Go home, father! Mayn't I go along with Sep Duncan?"

"I said go home, sir, " said the doctor sternly; and Bob turned shortupon his heel, and I saw him go along the road cutting viciously at theferns and knapweeds at every step. 

"Come along, Sep, " said my father, and I followed them as they walkedslowly back towards our cottage, my father holding on by the pony's maneas he talked quickly to the doctor. 

For my father and Doctor Chowne were great friends, having once servedfor a long time in the same ship together; and so it was that, when myfather left the service and settled down to his quiet life at the littlebay, Doctor Chowne bought the practice off the last doctor's widow, andsettled himself, with his boy, at Ripplemouth. 

As I say, the doctor and my father were very great friends, such greatfriends that when one day my father felt himself to be dangerously ill, and sent over in great haste for Doctor Chowne, that gentleman gallopedover and examined him carefully, and then began to bully him and callhim names. He told him there was nothing the matter with him but fancy, and made him get up and go out for a walk, and told him afterwards thatif they had not been such great friends he--the doctor--would have runhim up a twenty-pound bill for attendance instead of nothing at all. 

And there before me were those two, one walking and the other riding, with their heads close together, talking in a low eager tone, while Iwas thinking about how hard it was for Bob Chowne that he should be sentaway, and began to wish that I had not found that piece of stone. 

We reached home, and our Sam, who kept the garden in order, and cleanedthe boots and knives, and washed the boat, was called to take thedoctor's pony, after which Doctor Chowne whispered something to myfather. 

"Oh, no, " my father said. "He found it, and we can trust him. "

Doctor Chowne whispered something else, and it set me wondering how myfather could be such good friends with a man who made himself so verydisagreeable and unpleasant to every one he met; but all at once itseemed to strike me that I was always good friends with Bob Chowne, whowas the most disagreeable boy in our school, and that though he could beso unpleasant, there was something about him I always liked; for thoughhe bullied and hectored, he was not, like most bullying and hectoringboys, a coward, for he had taken my part many a time against bigger andstronger fellows, and at all times we had found him thoroughly staunch. 

As soon as Sam had gone off with the pony, my father called Kicksey, ourmaid, a great, brawny woman of forty, who was quite mistress at ourplace, my father being, like Doctor Chowne and Jonas Uggleston, awidower. 

Kicksey came in a great hurry, with her muslin mob-cap flopping and hereyes staring, to know what was the matter. 

"Light the back kitchen fire, " said my father. 

"No, " said Doctor Chowne, "put some wood and charcoal ready, and fetch adozen bricks out of the yard. "

"Is Master Sep ill?" cried Kicksey. "Oh, no: there he is. I wasquite--"

"There, be quick, " said my father; "and if anybody comes, go to the gateand say I'm busy. "

Kicksey stared at us all, with her eyes seeming to stand out of her headlike a lobster's, she was so astounded at this curious proceeding, butshe said nothing and hurried out. 

And here I ought to say that her name was Ellen Levan, only, when I wasa tiny little fellow after my mother died, she used to nurse me, and inmy childish prattle I somehow got in the habit of calling her Kicksey, and the name became so fixed that my father never spoke of her as Ellen;while our Sam, who was an amphibious being, half fisherman, halfgardener, with a mortal hatred of Jonas Uggleston's Bill Binnacle, andthe doctor's man, always called her Missers Kicksey and nothing else. 

"Now, then, Duncan, are we to do this together, or is--"

He made a sign towards me. 

"Let him stop and help, " said my father. "I can trust Sep when I'vetold him not to speak. But can you stop? I understood you to say thatyou were going to see a couple of patients. "

"Only old Mrs Ransom at the Hall, and Farmer Dikeby's wife. The oldwoman's got nothing the matter but ninety-one, and as for MistressDikeby, she has had too much physic as it is, and if I go she won't behappy till I give her some more, which she will be far better without. No: I am going to stay and see this through. "

"I shall be very glad. "

"And so shall I, Duncan. I said you were an idiot to buy that Gap, andI told you so; but no one will be better pleased than I shall if itturns out well. "

He held out his hand and my father took it without a word. 

"Now, then, " said the doctor, "let's see the stuff. "

My father opened the corner cupboard and took out the pieces of rock, and Doctor Chowne put on his glasses and examined them carefully, frowning severely all the time and without a word. 

"Do you think it _is_ tin?" said my father at last. 

"No, sir, I don't, " said Doctor Chowne, throwing down one of the piecesin an ill-humoured way. "I'll take my oath it isn't. "

"Oh!" ejaculated my father in a disappointed tone; "but are you sure?"

"Sure, sir? Yes. I'm not clever, and I'm better at gunshot wounds andamputations than at medical practice, but I do know a bit about metalsand mining. Why, didn't we touch at Banca in '44 and see the tin miningthere?"

"Yes, " said my father; "but I took no interest in it then. "

"Well, I did, my lad. Tin? No. Tin would either be stream-tin, looking like so much grey stone, or else tin in quartz, all littleblackish grains. "

"Then this is--"

"Like the yellow iron you showed me once, and wanted to make me believewas gold--a mare's nest?"

My father looked at him with his brow all wrinkled up. 

"No, " said the doctor quickly, "it is not tin, Duncan, but very finegalena--"

"Galena?" said my father; and I stared at the glittering blackish orelike metallic coal. 

"Yes, sir, galena-lead ore, and I shall be very much surprised if we donot find in it a large proportion of silver. "

"Silver!" cried my father excitedly. "Then it is a great find. "

"Great find, my boy? A very great find. Now get a hammer and let'spowder some of this up, and see whether we can melt it. Got a pair ofbellows?"

"Oh yes, big ones. "

"Hah! That's right, " said the doctor. "Now the way would be to takeour powdered specimens to the blacksmith's forge, and melt them there, but that would be like letting the whole country-side know about it, andwe've no occasion to do that. I suppose no one knows as yet?"

"No--I'm not sure, " said my father; and he mentioned how Jonas Ugglestonseemed to be watching him. 

"That's bad. But never mind; the place is yours. Have you got yourdeeds?"

"No, " said my father, "Lawyer Markley said they would be ready in a dayor two. That was last week. "

"Take the pony and ride over to Barnstaple at once, and get them. Don'tcome back without them, or, mark my words, there'll be some quibble orhindrance thrown in the way. Make quite sure of the place at once Isay. "

"But to-morrow, when we've tested these stones, " said my father. 

"My dear Duncan, " cried the doctor, "I'm a disagreeable crotchetyfellow, but you know you can trust me. Now, take my advice, and godirectly. If I saw a patient in a bad way, should I put off my remediestill to-morrow; and if you saw that you were getting your shipland-bound on a lee shore, would you wait till to-morrow before youaltered your course?"

"No, " said my father smiling. "There, I'll go. "

He started directly, and as soon as we heard the pony's hoofs on theroad the doctor turned to me. 

"Come along, Sep, " he said, "and let's see if we can't make yourfather's fortune. "

He was quite at home in our house, and I followed him into the backkitchen, where he set me at work powdering up the specimens with ahammer on a block of stone, while he built up in the broad openfireplace quite a little furnace with bricks, into which he fitted asmall deep earthen pot, one that he chose as being likely to stand thefire, which he set with wood and charcoal, after mixing the broken andpowdered ore with a lot of little bits of charcoal, and half filling theearthen pot. This he covered with more charcoal, shut in the littlefurnace with some slate slabs, and then, when he considered everythingready, started the fire, which it became my duty to blow. 

This did not prove necessary after the fire was well alight, for thedoctor had managed his furnace so well that it soon began to roar andglow, getting hotter and hotter, while, as the charcoal sunk, more andmore was heaped on, till the little fire burned furiously, and thebricks began to crack, and turn first of a dull red, then brighter, andat last some of them looked almost transparent. 

All this took a long time, and our task was a very hot one, for frombetween the places where the bricks joined, the fire sent out atremendous heat, where it could be seen glowing and almost white in itsintensity. 

But hot as it was on a midsummer day, the whole business had a greatfascination for me, and I would not have left it on any account. 

The doctor, too, seemed wonderfully interested. Kicksey came about twoo'clock to say that the dinner was ready, but the doctor would not leavethe furnace; neither would I, and each of us, armed with a pair of tongsfrom the kitchen and parlour, stood as close as we could, ready to puton fresh pieces of charcoal as the fire began to sink. 

"How long will it take cooking, sir?" I said, after the furnace hadbeen glowing for a long time. 

"Hah!" he said, "that's what I can't tell you, Sep. You see we have notgot a regular furnace and blast, and this heat may not be great enoughto turn the ore into metal, so we must keep on as long as we can to makesure. It is of no use to be sanguine over experiments, for all this mayturn out to be a failure. Even with the best of tools we make blunders, my lad, and with a such a set out as this, why, of course, anything mayhappen. "

"Anything happen, sir?" I said. 

"To be sure. That ore ought to have been put in a proper fire-claycrucible. "

"What's a crucible, sir?" I said. 

"A pot made of a particular material that will bear any amount of heat. Now perhaps while we are patiently waiting here that pot in the furnacemay have cracked and fallen to pieces, or perhaps melted away instead ofthe ore inside. "

"Oh, but a pot would not melt, sir, would it?" I said. 

"Melt? To be sure it would, if you make the fire hot enough. Did youever see a brick-kiln?"

"Yes, sir. "

"And did you never see how sometimes, when the fire has been too hot, the bricks have all run together?"

"And formed clinkers, sir? Oh yes, often. "

"Well, then, there you have seen how a mixture of sand and powderedstone and clay will melt, so, why should not that earthen pot?"

"Then if that pot melts or breaks all our trouble will have been fornothing, sir?"

"Yes, Sep, and we must begin again. "

"But shouldn't we find the stuff melted down at the bottom of the fire?"

"Perhaps; perhaps not; we might find it run into a lump, but we shouldmost likely find it not melted at all, and then, as I said, we shouldhave to begin over again. "

"That would be tiresome, " I said. "But never mind, we should succeednext time, perhaps. "

"We should try till we did succeed, Sep, my lad. There, that's the lastof the charcoal. "

"Shall I fetch some more?" I cried. 

"No, my lad, perhaps what has been burned may have melted it, so we'llwait and see. "

"And take out the pot?"

"No, we couldn't do that. We must wait till it cools down. Maybe byand by I can take out a brick, and we shall be able to see whether theore has melted. "

I waited impatiently for this to be done, and about an hour later thedoctor took the top brick from the glowing furnace with the tongs, andtouched the charcoal embers, which fell at once down to a level with thetop of the pot, the interior having burned away, so as to leave quite aglowing basket or cage of fire. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

THE RESULT OF THE SMELTING. 

But there was nothing to see yet, and the brick was replaced, the fireroared once more, and for what must have been quite another quarter ofan hour we waited before the doctor took out the brick again. 

It was now possible to make out what seemed to be a regular ring red-hotin the midst of so much glowing ember with which the pot was filled; andinto this the doctor thrust the poker, to find that it passed throughwhat was light as feathers. 

"I must be gentle, " he said quietly, as he thrust the poker lower, tillhe could gently tap the bottom of the pot. 

"It's quite sound, " he said, as he gave the poker a stirring motion andended by withdrawing it. 

"I think we may let out the fire, " he said; and we proceeded to bearaway the slates we had used for screens, and then to take down theglowing bricks one by one, and toss them into the yard. 

This done, I proposed throwing a bucket of water over the heap ofembers, in the midst of which stood the pot. 

"No, thank you, young wisdom, " said Doctor Chowne. "I should like tohave some result to show your father when he comes back. If you didwhat you say, the pot would fly all to pieces, and where would our workbe then?"

"I say, Doctor Chowne, " I said, looking at him rather wistfully, "I wishI knew as much as you do. "

"Learn then, " he said. "I did not know so much once upon a time. "

As he spoke, he slowly and carefully drew the ashes down from about thepot, and as they were spread about the brilliant glow began to giveplace to a pale grey feathery ash, which flushed red, and then yellow, whenever the air was disturbed, while the earthen pot that had beenred-hot changed slowly to a dull drab. 

"There, Sep, " said the doctor, "that pot will take pretty well an hourto get thoroughly cool, so we may as well go and have some dinner. Whatdo you say?"

"I was thinking, sir, " I said, "that if there is any metal in that potnow, it would be something like the lead when we are casting sinkers forfishing. Why couldn't we lift the pot with the tongs, and pour outwhat's at the bottom and run it into a mould. "

"Have you got a mould, Sep?" he said. 

"Yes, sir; three different sizes--up here on the shelf. "

I went to a corner of the back kitchen, and reached down three dustyclay moulds, one of which the doctor took and set upon the floor. 

"You are right, " he cried. "There, take your tongs, and we'll catchhold of the pot together, and set it out here. Then, both together, mind, we'll pour out what there is into the mould. "

It was easy enough. We each got a good hold of the pot, lifted it outwith its glowing feathery charcoal ashes half filling it, and then, after setting it down to get a more suitable hold, we tilted itsidewise, and then more and more and more, but nothing came out savesome glowing ashes, which fell beyond the mould in a tiny heap. 

"Higher still, Sep, higher, higher, " the doctor kept on saying; and wetilted it more and more; but still nothing came till, just as we wereabout to turn it upside down, there was a flash of something bright andsilvery, and a tiny drop of fluid metal ran out on to the mould, anddown the side. 

"That's it. Up with it, Sep. A little more this side. Now then. "

Up went the bottom of the pot higher still, and out came a little rushof glowing charcoal, and directly after a bit of heavy clinker, and thatwas all. 

"Oh, I say, doctor, " I cried, "what a pity!"

"Pity, my lad! I don't think so. Here, let me do it. "

He lifted up the piece of hard clinker and set it upon the slate slabsby itself, and then taking hold of the mould with the tongs, he raisedit and gave it a tap or two on the floor, to get rid of the feather ash, and I could see that there was what seemed to be a piece of thin leadbeginning in a sort of splash running to the edge in a thread, then downthe side of the mould, to finish off in a little round fat button ofmetal. 

"Hah! I don't think we've done so badly after all, Sep, " he said, as heplaced the mould upon the table; "but first of all, brush those emberslightly aside, and let's see if there is anything left. "

I took a wisp of birch and did as I was told, but there was nothing tobe seen, and when the doctor took the pot out into the yard, andcarefully examined it, he found nothing there, and brought the littleclay vessel back. 

"You must take care of that pot, Sep, " he said. "It is nothing to lookat, but a thing which will stand fire in that way may prove valuable. Now, then, my lad, bring that bit of refuse, and we will go in and havesome dinner. These things will be quite cool by the time we have done. "

We carried our treasures into the parlour, and, to Kicksey's greatdelight, had a wash and our dinner, while she obtained leave to clearaway what she was pleased to call our "mess. "

But the doctor did not let the dinner pass without carefully examiningthe rugged piece of metal and the button, and then the piece of refuse, the remains of the broken-up specimen. 

For my part I was not at all dazzled by the result of our experiment, and at last, with my mouth full of jam and bread and cream, I said:

"But that's only a shabby little bit to get out of all those bits Ibroke up, isn't it, sir?"

"Do you think so, Sep?" he replied smiling. 

"Yes, sir!"

"Well, I think quite differently. We put in rough stony uncleansed ore, and we have got out this piece. If there's plenty of it in the sides ofthe Gap, my boy, and it is properly worked, your father will be a richman from the produce of the lead alone; and I feel pretty sure, " hecontinued, as he examined the scrap of metal through his glass, "thatthere is a great deal of silver in this as well. Here, what are youdoing?" he cried. 

"I was looking to see if father was coming, " I cried, as I turned backat the door. 

"You need not look, " he said quietly, "for it will be three hours at theleast before he can get back. The pony must have a rest at the town. "

I came back slowly, for I felt that what the doctor said was true, andit seemed to be all so curious that our bit of mischief should turn outso strangely that I did what was a very unusual thing for me in thosedays, sat down and thought. 

The piece of metal was lying before me, and I took it up and examinedit, turning it over and over in my hands, while I could not keep astrong feeling of doubt from creeping in. 

"Perhaps the doctor is wrong, " I said to myself, and this may be worthnothing at all; and as I thought in this fashion, I longed for my fatherto come back, so as to hear what he had to say about the value of themetal. For in those days I had a very frank loyal feeling towards myfather, and a belief in his being about the best man anywhere in theneighbourhood, and that he knew better than anybody else. 

The silence in the room was broken by the entrance of Kicksey to takeaway; and as she did so she took the opportunity of informing us thatshe had cleared everything away, and that the kitchen was as clean oncemore as a new pin. 

As I have before said, the doctor, as my father's old friend andcompanion, was quite at home in our house, and, after refreshing himselfwith a pinch of snuff, he proceeded to have some tobacco in anotherform, for he went to the corner cupboard and got out the jar and a longpipe, which he filled and lit, and then sat there in silence, watchingthe piece of rugged metal. 

As he sat watching the metal and surrounding himself with smoke, I satand watched him, till it became so tiresome and dull that I rose quietlyat last, and stole out into the garden and had a look at the sea, allaglow now with the evening sunshine, and looking curiously like theburning charcoal when it had been spread out on the kitchen floor. 

It was very beautiful, but I had watched that too often, so I crossedthe garden and went out into the lane to see if I could find anythingamusing there. 

For it seemed to me that it might be very nice for my father to havefound a mine of lead and silver, and that it would be very interestingto see it dug out and melted, as we had melted those pieces that day--ofcourse in a large way; but I did not feel as if I wanted to be rich, andI would a great deal rather then have been wandering out there on thecliff with Bob Chowne or Bigley Uggleston, when I heard a shout, and, looking in the direction, there, high up on the cliff path, and comingtowards me with long strides, was my last-named school-fellow. 

"Hallo, Big!" I shouted, running towards him; "where are you going?"

"Coming to look after you, " he said. "Why didn't you come over again?"

"Because I was wanted at home, " I replied. "You might have come over tome. "

"I couldn't. I didn't like to. Father was put out this morning, because he saw you and your father on our grounds. "

"Your grounds!" I said. "Oh, come, that is a good one. "

"Well, father always talks about it as if all the Gap belonged to him. What were you doing there?"

"Having a walk, " I was obliged to say. 

"Oh, well, you might have stopped. "

"Didn't I tell you my father wanted me, " I replied in a pettish way. "I've only just got out again. "

"I've been waiting at home to see if my father would come back. Hestarted off to walk to Barnstaple. "

"Your father has?" I cried involuntarily. "Why, that's where my fatherhas gone. "

"What! To Barnstaple, Sep?"

I nodded. 

"I say, " he said, "I hope they won't meet one another. "

"Why?" I exclaimed. 

"Because they might quarrel. I say, Sep, I wish your father and myfather were good friends like we are. "

I shook my head at that, and felt rather lofty. 

"I don't see how that can ever be, " I replied; and then I felt quiteuncomfortable as I recalled my father being uneasy about old Jonaswatching us that morning. I felt, too, that it would be much worse nowif Jonas got to know that there was a mine upon the estate, and itseemed as if we were going to be at the beginning of a good deal oftrouble. 

"Father went up the Gap after you had gone, " said Bigley, "and I saw himgo right up to the place where we blew down the big rock, and when I sawhim go there I went indoors and got his spy-glass and watched him out ofthe window. "

"I say, you oughtn't to watch people, " I said sharply. 

"I know that, " replied Bigley; "but I was afraid there was going to be abother, and I wanted to tell you if there was. "

"Well, what did he do?"

"Why, if he didn't seem to make it all out exactly just where we hadbeen, and he followed down the place where the stone fell, and then wenton down till he came to the rough part where the rock was all bared, andstooped and looked it all over and over. Oh, he has got eyes, my fatherhas. I could see as plain as could be through the spy-glass that hepicked up bits of the stone, and once he knelt down and I think he smeltthe stones. "

"Smelt them!" I exclaimed. 

"Yes, to find out about the gunpowder. He has found it all out, I'msure. "

"So am I, " I said sadly, but without telling Bigley I meant somethingelse. 

"And then he went right down slowly just where the big rock slippedalong, and down to the stream, and washed his hands and came home. "

"And did he speak to you about it?"

"No, " replied Bigley. "I expected him to say a lot. I didn't mind, forI should have told him all about it, and I don't think he would havebeen very cross with me; but he didn't say a single word about it, though I saw him shake his fist several times when he was talking tohimself, and soon after he set off to walk in to Barnstaple, and, as Itold you, he hasn't got back. "

Just then there was the clattering of hoofs, and I looked up and saw myfather coming down the zigzag road. 

"I must go now, " I said. "Don't think me unkind, Big, old chap. Or youstop and I'll come out to you again. "

"Yes, do, " he said. "I'll go and sit down on the rocks till you come. Only, mind you do. "

I promised that I would and we parted, one going down towards the sea, the other along the lane, where I met my father looking very hot andtired; but he seemed in good spirits, so I supposed that he had not metold Jonas. 

"Well, Sep, " he cried, "how about the experiment? What luck?"

"Oh, we melted the stones, father, and got out of them a little bit oflead. "

"It was lead, then?" he said eagerly, as we reached the cottage. 

"Yes, father, and Doctor Chowne says he thinks there's silver in it aswell. "

"You young dog!" cried the doctor, coming out pipe in mouth. "Why, youare telling all the news, and there'll be nothing left for me to do. "

"Only show the stuff, " I said. 

"Ah, yes; show the result, " said the doctor. "But come in, Duncan, thetea's waiting, and I want a cup myself. "

"And I am regularly tired out, " cried my father. "Here, Sam, feed thepony well, for he has worked hard. "

Sam, who had heard the pony coming, took the rein and led it off to thestable, while I followed my father into the little parlour, where thedoctor caught him by the arm. 

"Here's the specimen, father, " I said; but he did not turn his head, forthe doctor was speaking to him. 

"Did you get the deeds?" he said. 

"Chowne, you're as good as a witch, " cried my father. 

"Why?"

"As I came out of the lawyer's office, who should I see but old JonasUggleston coming along the street, and as I went into the hotel I sawhim turn in where I had been. "

"But did you get the deeds?" cried the doctor. 

"Specimen, Sep?" said my father. "Oh, that's it, is it? Well, itdoesn't look worth all this trouble. "

"Duncan, what a man you are!" said Doctor Chowne pettishly. "I've saidtwice over, Did you get the deeds?"

"I beg your pardon, Chowne. Yes, of course. He wanted to put me off, said I'd better let them stop with him, and that there was no hurry, andthat a little endorsing was wanted. "

"Oh, of course!" said the doctor. 

"But when he saw that I was in earnest, and that I meant to wait forthem, he set to work and got the business done--that is, all that waswanted. In fact, it was a mere nothing. "

"And he wanted to keep them in his charge unsigned, with the chance ofmaking more of the estate to somebody else if that somebody else turnedup. "

"Jonas Uggleston to wit?" said my father. 

"Exactly. Duncan, old fellow, you see that you were just in time. "

"That's what I felt, Chowne; but there the deeds are safe and sound; theGap is thoroughly mine--my freehold. "

"And you may congratulate yourself on being the owner of a valuable leadand silver mine. "

"Then you feel sure of that, Chowne?" said my father, who seemed quiteovercome. 

"I am certain of it; but of course I can't say what is the quantity. "

"Silver?"

"Probably. Lead, certain. "

"Then, Sep, my boy--" cried my father excitedly, catching me by theshoulder. 

"Yes, father, " I said. 

I believe now that my father was going to say something about my growingup to be a rich man; but he checked himself, and only said quietly:

"Come and sit down to tea. "

CHAPTER TEN. 

WE BALE THE ROCK POOL. 

Now there was very little done during the rest of our holidays; all Iremember was, that instead of old Jonas Uggleston being verydisagreeable, and making himself my father's enemy, he grew very civiland pleasant, and nodded to my father when they met, and called him"Captain. "

He was wonderfully kind to me too, asking me into the house, and seemingvery pleased whenever he knew that Bigley had come over to see me. 

The news that there was lead and silver in the Gap soon spread, and agreat many people came to see my father, and wanted to buy the littleestate; but he said no, that he should work it himself, for he wantedsome occupation; and he and the doctor planned it all out, how to beginin a small way; and men were set to work to wall in the part where themine was to be opened, and to build sheds and pumping-house. 

But after a few days this became monotonous to us boys, who had plentyof things to tempt us about the cliffs and the shore, and I'm going toput down one or two of our bits of adventure which we had about thistime. 

Our little bay or cove was one of three or four little bays within onebig bay, formed by Norman's Head at the west and Barn's Nose in theeast, and all round from point to point there was one tremendous wall orcliff of reddish or bluish rock, nowhere less than a couple of hundredfeet high; and the only places where you could get down to the sea wereat the heads of the coves, or where one of the little streams from themoor made its way down to the beach. Here and there when the tide waslow lay patches of blackish sand, but the foot of the cliffs nearly allthe way was one jumble of great rocks, beginning with lumps, say as bigas a chest of drawers, and running up to rugged masses as large ascottages. 

They did not look so big when you were up on the cliff path, six orseven hundred feet above them; but when the tide went down, and we boyswent for a ramble over and among them, it was to find the smaller blocksnearly as high as our heads, while the big ones made the mostmagnificent climbing any lad could wish for who was an enemy to theknees of his breeches and the toes of his boots. 

Of course we could have gone east or west along the cliff path aspeaceably as the sheep; but what was a walk like that to wandering inand out among the sea-weed-hung masses, full of corners and ways as amaze; with rock pools amongst them, and chasms and rifts, and rockarches and hollows, and caves without end?

Some of these blocks were of a sort of limestone or grit, and they wererugged and rounded at the corner, and lumpy, but the slaty rocks weregenerally flat-sided, and split off regularly, forming smooth flat formsthat often rose one above another in rough steps, so that you couldeasily climb to the tops, or, where they had fallen and split away fromthe cliff, and lay resting against one another, you could walk underwhat seemed to be like great stone lean-to sheds, whose floors were asoften as not water as pure and clear as crystal. 

It was a wonderful place, and never ceased to attract us, for there wasalways something to find when the tide had gone down leaving the rocksbare. 

All the things that lived or grew upon them had been seen by us hundredsof times, but after some months at school they always seemed new again, and we got our little pawn nets and baskets, and went prawning with asgreat zest as ever. 

There are plenty of ways to go prawning, I daresay, but I'll tell youhow we managed. We each used to have a small ring net, fixed at the endof a six-foot stick that answered two or three purposes, and, with ourlittle baskets slung at our backs, set off along the shore. 

I remember one morning very well. It was about three weeks afterfinding the lead vein that Bob Chowne and Bigley came over to the Bay, and we started, our Sam saying that it was going to be a very low tide. 

Off we went down by the little waterfall which came along by the back ofour house, and down to the beach, getting as close to the sea as therocks would let us, and looking out for the first pool where the sea hadleft a few prisoners. 

We were not long in seeing one, and then the thing was to approach asquietly as possible and look in. 

These pools were generally fringed with sea-weed, great greenish-brownfronds in one place, dark streaks of laver in another, and lower downthe bottom would be all pink with the fine corallite, while all aboutthe sea-anemones would dot every crack and hole, like round knobs ofdark red jelly, where the water had left them high and dry, spread outlike painted daisy flowers, where they were down in the pool. 

No matter how cautiously we approached, something would take fright. Perhaps it would be a little shore crab that betrayed itself byscuffling down amongst the corallite or sea-weed, perhaps a littlefierce-looking bristly fish, which shot under a ledge of the rock allamongst the limpets, acorn barnacles, or the thousands of yellow andbrown and striped snaily fellows that crawled about in company with theperiwinkles and pelican's feet. 

Those were not what we wanted, but the prawns, which would be balancingthemselves in the clear water, and then dart backwards with a flip oftheir tails right under the sea-weed or ledges. 

I remember that day so well because it was marked by a big black stone, of which more by and by; and everything connected with our doings thatmorning seems to stand out quite clear, as the Welsh coast did under theclear blue sky. 

We reached our first pool, and Bob Chowne shouted, "There's one!" whileI was certain I saw two more. Then Bob and Bigley softly thrust intheir nets, and it became my duty to poke about among the sea-weed andunder the ledges where we had seen the prawns take shelter. 

At about the second stirring of the overhanging weed on one side, outdarted a big prawn. "I've got him!" cried Bob, and we all shouted"Hooray!" but when the net was raised, dripping pearls in the brightsunshine, the prawn was not there, for, preferring open water to nets, it had shot between the two and taken shelter under the ledges on theother side. 

But there he was, for there was no way out to where the sea sucked andgurgled among the rocks three or four yards away, and we continued ourhunt, not to dislodge this one, but three more, one being larger, andtwo much less. 

For a good ten minutes they dodged us about, hiding in all manner ofout-of-the-way corners, till all at once it seemed as if they must havegone. The water, that had been brilliantly clear when we started, wasnow thick with sand and broken sea-weed, and Bigley lifted out his netto clear it and to let the water settle a little before we startedagain. 

"I don't know where they've got to, " said Bob sourly. "Prawns are nothalf so easy to catch as they used to be. "

"Hallo! Why, here's one, " cried Bigley just then, as he found one ofthe biggest kicking about among the sea-weed that he had turned out ofthe bottom of his net. 

This first capture was soon transferred to the basket, and the fact ofone being taken so encouraged Bob that he set to with renewed energy, and the result was that we caught two more out of that pool, the biggestof all--at least Bob Chowne said it was--having to be left behind in theinaccessible crack where he had hidden himself. 

Another pool and another was visited with excellent luck, for the tidewas down lower than usual, and prawns seemed plentiful, there havingbeen plenty of time for them to collect since they were last disturbed, for we boys were the only hunters on that deserted shore. So on wewent, one poking about among the weeds till the prawn darted backwardsinto the nets held ready, and we had soon been able to muster over adozen. 

Then, all at once, we came upon quite a little pool right under a largemass of rock with a smaller and deeper pool joined to it by a narrowchannel between two blocks of stone, and farther from the sea. 

We caught sight of several prawns darting under cover as we came insight, but, to our disgust, found that we could not attack them, thepool being so sheltered by overhanging rocks that the only possible wayseemed to be by undressing and going into what was quite a grotto. 

Travellers tell us how the natives of some far-off islands dive into thesea and do battle with sharks; but no boy ever lived who could dive intoa pool and catch a prawn in his native element--at least I never knewone who could, and we were going to give it up after a few franticthrusts with our nets, when an idea occurred to me. 

"Here, I know!" I cried. "Let's bale out the little low hole, and thatwill empty the big one. "

"To be sure, " cried Bob. "Go it! But we've got nothing to bale with. "

"Big's shoes, " I cried as I caught sight of them hanging from his neck, tied together by their thongs, and each with a knitted worsted stockingplugging up the toes. 

Big made not the slightest objection, but laughed as he pulled out hisstockings and thrust them into his breeches' pockets. 

The next minute he and I were scooping out the water at a tremendousrate, making quite a stream flow down from the upper part under therock, and it soon became evident that in less than an hour both would bedry. 

We worked away till I was tired and gave place to Bob Chowne, Bigley allthe while working away and sending out great shoefuls over the loweredge of the rocks. 

I sat down to rest, and as I watched where the water fell I suddenlymade a dart at something thrown out, but it only proved to be a pricklyweaver. 

Five minutes later, though, Big threw out a prawn which had come downwith the current, and this encouraged him to work harder, but Bob beganto be tired, and he showed it by sending a shoeful of water at me, making me shout, "Leave off!"

Then he sent one flying over Bigley, who only laughed and worked on fora few moments till Bob was not looking, and then sent a shower back. 

Bob jumped out of the hole like a shot and turned upon Bigley angrily:

"You just see if I'm going to stop down there and be smothered withwater. Yah! Get out, you ugly old smuggler. "

As he spoke he flung Bigley's great shoe with a good aim down by hisfeet, and splashed him completely all over. 

Some lads would have jumped out and pursued Bob in a fury, but Bigleyonly brushed the water out of his eyes and began to laugh as if herather enjoyed it. 

"Come on, Sep, " he cried to me; "you and I will finish, and if he comesnear we'll give him such a dowsing. "

I went to his help, and we worked so well that no less than six moreprawns came down to our pool, and were scooped out; and at last theupper one was completely emptied, but it was nearly an hour's work. 

"Now then, I'll go in, " said Bob, and he crept in through the riftbetween the two pools, and under the overhanging rocks. 

"Oh!" he cried as soon as he was in, "what a jolly place! And--ugh!Here's a conger. "

"No!" we cried together. 

"Yes there is, long as my arm, and he's squirming about. Here, give mea landing-net. I'll poke him, and make him come out to you chaps. "

We handed him the net, and he began banging and thrusting at the rockfor some time without result. 

"Well, isn't he coming?" I cried. 

"No; he gets up in a corner here so that I can only feel his slipperytail with the stick, and he won't come out. "

"Take hold of it with your hand and pull, " said Bigley. 

"Oh yes, I daresay. Just as if I didn't know there's only one placewhere you can hold on. "

"Where's that?" said Bigley. 

"With your hand in his mouth. You come and put yours in. "

Of course Bigley did not respond to the invitation, and the banging andrattling went on for a few minutes longer. 

"Why don't you chaps stand away from the light? I can't see, " criedBob. "That's better: now I can tell. Look out, boys, look out! Herehe comes. "

"Catch him in the net, Bob, " I shouted. 

"Yah! Don't talk stuff, " was the answer. "Look out! Is he coming yourway?"

"No!" we both shouted, and then "Yes!" for there was a quick movement inthe channel between the two pools, and the next instant a large eel wassplashing and writhing in the water and sea-weed of the pool which wehad baled. 

"Here he is, Bob!" we shouted; and, as we finished the struggle whichresulted in our getting the eel into one of the nets, and then out onthe open rocks, and in a position to make it cease its writhings, BobChowne backed out to look on and help us gloat over our capture, whichproved to be a plump young conger of a yard long. 

"Well, that's something, " said Bob. "Now I'm going after the prawns. No, you go, Sep, " he said. "I don't see why I should do all the work. "

I went into the dripping grotto nothing loth, and by careful searchamong the wet weed I found first one prawn and then another, till I hadthrown out six, the work being tolerably easy, for the littlehorny-coated fellows made known their presence by their movements, flipping their tails sharply and making a noise that betrayed theirhiding-places. 

The grotto-like place, shut in by some rocks overshadowed by others, wasso gloomy that it was hard to make out everything, but twice over Inoted a bit of a rift on my left all fringed with sea-weed and slipperywith anemones, where it was not rough with limpets and barnacles. 

"Was it down here, Bob, down on the left, that you found the conger?"

"No, " he shouted, "on the right. "

I looked round, and found the crack where the conger must have been, andthen came a summons from without. 

"Well, can't you find any more?"

"No, " I said; "but there's a big hole here. Perhaps there's anotherconger. "

"Put your hand in and pull him out, then, " cried Bob with a sneer. 

I did not answer, for I felt now very plainly how much easier it is togive orders than to obey them. But a little consideration taught methat there was nothing to fear, for if there was a conger in the holethe chances were that he would have thrust his head into the farthestcorner, and that it would be his tail that I should touch. 

"Now, then, " cried Bob. "Ar'n't you going to find any more prawns?"

"I don't know, " I said, as I carefully introduced my hand and arm, goingdown on one knee so as to get closer, and so by degrees hand, arm, andshoulder had nearly disappeared, as I touched the far end of the cleft. 

"Nothing, " I said to myself, as I felt about with my cheek touching thewet slippery sea-weed. Then I uttered a loud "Ugh!" and started away. 

"What's the matter?" cried my companions. 

"I don't know, " I cried. "Here's something alive in a hole here. "

"Well, why don't you pull it out?" cried Bob. 

"I--I don't know, " I said. But I'm afraid I did know. The feeling, though, that my companions were laughing at me was too much, and with asudden burst of energy I thrust my hand right into the rift again, feltdown cautiously till my hand touched, not the slimy serpentine form ofan eel, but the hard back of a shell-fish, and as I touched it, therewas a curious scuffling down beneath my fingers that told me it was acrab. 

"Hooray, boys!" I shouted. "Crab!"

"Have him out, Sep! Mind he don't nip you!" they shouted; and after aminute's hesitation I plunged my hand into the hole again, knowing thatI must feel for a safe place to get hold of the claw-armed creature, sothat I should not have to suffer a severe pinch or two, from itsnippers. 

I was pretty quick, but the crab was quicker, and as I caught it theleft claw seized tight hold, but only of my sleeve. 

My natural instinct was to start back, and this had the effect ofdragging the crab out of its lurking place, and I ran to the openingholding out my arm, just as the crab dropped with quite a crash into thelittle channel, and then began running sidewise back towards me and thedarkness. 

I stopped my prisoner with my foot, and he scuffled back and into thelittle empty pool, where he tried hard to hide himself under thesea-weed fronds, but Bigley worked him out, and by clever managementavoided the pincers, which were held up threateningly, and popped himinto one of the baskets. 

"It's my turn now, " said Bigley. "Think there's anything else?"

"I don't know, " I said. "Try. "

"What's the good of saying that?" said Bob laughing. "He couldn't getin. "

"Oh, couldn't I?" cried Bigley. "You'll see. Mind that eel don't slipout. Now you'll see. "

He rolled up his sleeves nearly to the shoulder, and picking out thewidest spot began to crawl in, dragging himself slowly through, and atlast drawing his legs in after him, and standing in a bent positionright under the rock. 

"There!" he cried triumphantly. "Who can't get in? Now then, where arethese cracks?"

"Right up at the other end, " I cried; and he groped on into the narrowerpart, Bob and I looking into the slippery grotto-like place enjoying hisslow cumbersome manner, and paying no heed to the fact that the tide hadturned, and that already a little water had run into the little poolwhere we had baled. 

"Found anything, Big!" we shouted, though he was only a couple of yardsaway. 

"N-no. Nothing here. I'm going to try this other hole. Oh, I say, isn't it deep?"

"Mind! Mind!" shrieked Bob, and Bigley scuffled back. 

"What--what is it?" he panted. 

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" roared Bob. "Did he bite you?"

"What a shame!" grumbled Bigley in his gruff voice. "I didn't try toscare you. I don't care though. You won't frighten me again. "

He crept back, and we could hear him grunting and panting. 

"I say, it is deep, " he said. "I've got my arm in right to the shoulderand there's nothing here. Stop a minute; here's a crack round thiscorner where I can get my hand. It's quite a big opening with water init, and slippery things in the rock, and--Ugh!--oh!--ah!"

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

A TERRIBLE DANGER. 

Bigley dragged his arm out of the crack and came scuffling back to us, and as soon as he reached the opening we could see that he looked quitepale. 

"Why, Big, what is it?" I cried eagerly. 

"Don't frighten him. He has seen the ghost of an old cock shark, " criedBob Chowne grinning. 

"Oh, I don't know, " he panted. "Something soft, and cold, and alive. "

"Why, it was a jelly-fish, " we said together. "Did it sting?"

"No. You wouldn't find jelly-fishes in a hole like that. It felt likea tremendously great polly-squiggle with a big parrot's beak, and myhand nearly went in. "

"Get out!" said Bob, "there are no big ones. "

"How do you know?" retorted Bigley. "That felt just like a large one. "

"Did he take hold of you with his suckers?" I said. 

"No, I didn't give him time. "

"If it had been a polly-squiggle it would have got you fast directlywith its suckers, " I said oracularly. 

"Never mind what it was, old Big. Go in and fetch it out again. "

"No; one of you two go, I don't like, " said Bigley. "You can't seewhere you're putting your hand; and suppose he bites it off?"

"Why, then, you could have a wooden peg, " said Bob sneeringly. "Here, come out, my poor little man, and let me go in. I'll soon fetch out mygentleman, you see if I don't. Here, come out. "

Bob Chowne never meant to go in. His face said as much as he lookedround at me; but his words had the effect he intended, for Bigleygrunted and went back as far as the narrow crack in the grotto wouldallow, and boldly thrust in his hand. 

"Mind, Big, " I said seriously, "be ready to snatch away your fist. "

He did not answer, but we heard him draw his breath hard; then therecame a splashing noise, and directly after our school-fellow backedtowards us. 

"I've got him, " he shouted, his voice sounding hollow and strange. 

"What is it?"

"I dunno, " he cried, and then, wrenching himself round, he droppedsomething soft down upon the rock. 

"Why, it's a crab!" I cried. 

"A soft one, " shouted Bob. "He can't nip now. "

As he spoke he poked the curious-looking object with his finger, makingit wince and threaten with its claws, but they were perfectly soft, andit was evident that the creature had only just crept out of its oldshell, and was hiding away in the dark hole waiting for the new armourto form. 

"Well, he is a rum one, " said Bob, growing bolder. "Why, he's just likea counterfeit is when you pull his tail out of a whelk shell. "

"Not quite so soft, " I said, gaining confidence and handling the crab inturn, for it was not so fleshy feeling as the back part of hermit crabs, which we called counterfeits in our part of the world. 

"What shall we do with if?" said Big. "It isn't good to eat now. "

"Kill the nasty, bloaty thing, and throw it in for bait for the fishes. "

"No, no, " I said, "put it down and let it creep back. It will grow intoa fine crab, and we know its hole and can come and get it some day whenthe tide's down. "

"That's it, " said Big; and taking the pulpy, soft crab, which pinched athis hands without the slightest effect, he crept back and thrust it intoits hiding-place once again. 

We two were looking in after him when--_thud_!--_plash_!--came a wave, breaking just below us and drenching us from head to foot, while aquantity of the water rushed into our baled-out hole, filled it, andbegan running swiftly up the channel, so swiftly that we saw at a glanceit would only take another or two to fill the upper pool. 

"Here, come out, Big. Quick!" I cried. "Tide's coming in. Now, Bob, get the baskets and nets. "

I ran down a few yards, and was only just in time to snatch mine upbefore a wave washed right over the spot where they had lain. For thetide was coming in rapidly, and, as I have shown, we were on a part ofthe shore that was only bare about once a month. 

"All right, " cried Bob. "I've got mine and old Big's. "

"Where are Big's shoes?" I said. 

"Down by the pool. Come on, Big, old chap, " shouted Bob. 

"I'll get them, " I said, and I ran to the bottom pool and had to fishthem out of the bottom where they had been left. 

As I took them out I felt ready to drop them, but I did not, for I flungthem and my net and basket as far up the shore as I could, and held outmy hands to Bigley, who was looking out at me from the grotto-likeplace. 

"Why don't you come out?" I cried. "Can't you see the tide's comingin?"

"Yes--yes, " he said in a curious hollow voice, "I can see, but I can'tmove. I'm stuck fast. Help!"

I felt a chill of horror, and in those moments saw the tide risinghigher and higher till it had filled the little cavern and drowned mypoor school-fellow, we his companions being unable to drag him out. 

Those thoughts only occupied moments, but they made an impression that Ihave never forgotten, and I don't think I ever shall have the memoriesweakened. 

I saw it all plainly enough. Poor fellow! He had been startled by theincoming tide and tried to creep out, but not in about the only partthat would permit of his passing, but in the first that offered, and hehad become fixed, and, as in a few words he explained, the harder hetried to free himself the tighter prisoner he became. 

"Here, Bob! Bob!" I shouted in such a tone of anguish that he camerunning from the back of the rocks to where I was standing knee-deep inwater. 

"Get out!" he shouted as soon as he saw me. "You can come. Look here, if you play me a trick like--"

"No, no, don't go, " I shouted. "Bob: he's fast!"

Bob dashed down to me now as quickly as the rough place would let him. He had thrown down his load at my first appeal for help, and as he camesplashing through the water he looked horribly pale. 

He saw the position in an instant, and stood by me too much horrified toact; and, as he told me afterwards, his thoughts were just like mine. How long would it take to go to the Gap and bring Bigley's father with aboat?

"Can't you get any farther?" I cried at last as a fresh wave camerushing in, and nearly swept me off my legs. 

"No; I'm fast; I can't move, " said Bigley in a hoarse whisper. "Run forhelp. "

"No, no, " shouted Bob. "Don't go, Sep. We must get him out. "

The curious dreamy feeling of helplessness had left us both now; and, taking hold of our companion's hands, we set our feet against the rockand dragged with all our might, while poor Bigley struggled andstrained, but all in vain. He had by his unaided efforts got to acertain distance and then stopped. Our united power did not move him aninch. 

We stopped at last panting, and all looking horror-stricken in eachother's faces. It was a calm enough day, but down there among the rocksthe tide rushed in with such fierce power and so rapidly that we werebeing deluged by every wave which broke, while at intervals the greaterwaves threatened to be soon big enough to sweep us away. 

"Don't stop looking, " cried Bob Chowne frantically. "Sep, Sep! Pull, pull!"

He dashed at poor Bigley again, and we dragged with all our might; butthe efforts were vain, and again we stared at each other in despair. 

"Try again!" I cried breathlessly, and with a horrible feeling comingover me as I once more seized my school-fellow's hand. 

Bob followed my example, and again we dragged and hauled at the poorfellow, whose great eyes stared at us in a wildly appealing way thatseemed to chill me. 

It was of no use. We could not stir him, and we stopped again panting, as a bigger wave struck us and drove us against the rocks, and rangurgling up into the grotto where poor Bigley was fixed. 

"Shall I run for help?" groaned Bob, who was crying and sobbing all thetime. 

I shook my head, for I knew it was of no use, and then dashed at poorBigley again, to catch hold of his hand, not to drag at it, but to holdit in both mine. 

I don't know why I did it, unless it was from the natural feeling thatit might encourage and comfort him to have someone gripping his hand insuch a terrible time. 

I tried not to think of the horror as the water splashed and hissedabout us, and gurgled horribly in the grotto; but something seemed to besinging in my ears, and I heard again the shrieking of a poor boy whowas drowned years before by getting one leg fixed in a rift among therocks when mussel gathering and overtaken by the tide. 

He, poor fellow, was drowned, for they could not drag him out, and itseemed to me that our poor schoolmate must lose his life in the same wayunless we could devise some means to rescue him. 

We looked round despairingly, and for a moment I tried to hope that thetide might not, upon this occasion, rise so high; but a glance at thetop of the rocks showed them to be covered with limpets and weed, indicating that they were immersed at every tide, as I well enough knew, and I could not suppress a groan. 

"Sep, " said poor Bigley, drawing me closer to him, with his great stronghand, and gazing at me with a terribly pathetic look in his eyes. "Sep, tell poor father not to take on about it. We couldn't help it. Anaccident. Tell him it was an accident, will you?"

I could not answer him, and I turned to Bob Chowne, who was standingwith his fingers now thrust into his ears. 

"Bob!" I cried. "Bob, let's try again!"

He sprang to poor Bigley's other hand, and we dragged and tugged withslow steady strain and sharp snatch, but without any effect; and everynow and then, as we pulled, the waves came right up, and drove usagainst the rock. 

"It's of no use, boys, " said Bigley at last. "I'm fast. "

"Help!" yelled Bob Chowne with all his might; but in that great solitudehis voice had no more effect than the wail of a sea-bird. There was nota soul in sight either on cliff path or the shore. Out to sea therewere sails enough, small craft and goodly ships going and coming fromBristol and Cardiff; but no signals on our part were likely to be seen. And besides, if they had been understood, it would have been an hour'srow to shore from the nearest, and before a quarter of that time hadelapsed the rocks where we stood would be under water. 

"Big, Big!" I cried piteously in my despair and wonder to see him nowso pale and calm; "what shall we do?"

"Nothing, " he said in a low whisper. "Only be quiet now; I'm going tosay my prayers. "

I dropped down on my knees by him and hid my face, and how long I kneltthere I don't know; but it was till I was lifted by the tide and drivenheavily against the rocks. 

"It's of no use, " said Bigley then, after a tremendous struggle. "Ican't get out. You must go. "

"For help?" I said. 

"No; run both of you, or you'll be drowned. "

As he spoke a wave came in, broke and deluged us, and I don't know whatmy words would have been if Bob Chowne had not wailed out:

"Nobody sha'n't say I didn't stick to my mate. I sha'n't go. I won'tgo. Sep Duncan may if he likes, but I shall stop. "

He caught frantically at poor Bigley's collar as he spoke, set histeeth, and then closed his eyes. 

"No, no! Run, Bob; run, Sep!" panted Bigley, as if he was beingsuffocated; "the water will be over us directly, and you must go andtell poor father where I am. "

"I sha'n't go and leave you two, " I said sullenly; and I also caughthold of him, set my teeth, and swung round as a bigger wave than evercame rolling smoothly in, and regularly seemed to leap at us as it brokeupon the rocks, and after deluging us, rushed up, and came down again ina rain of spray. 

What followed seems wild and confused, for the sea was rising fast, andwe were deluged by every wave, while the greater ones that came everynow and then threatened to snatch us away; but everything was as if itoccurred in a dream. 

Somebody said to me once that Bob Chowne and I behaved in a very heroicmanner, standing by our school-fellow as we did; but I don't think therewas much heroism in it. We couldn't go and leave him to drown. Iwanted to run away, and Bob Chowne afterwards said that he longed to go, but, as he put it, poor fellow, it seemed so mean to leave him to drownall alone. 

At all events we stayed, and, as I say, what followed appears to me nowto have been dreamy and strange. The water came splashing over usalways, but every now and then a great solid wave drove us together, lifting us to strike against the rocks, and then letting us fallheavily, but only to leap in again, and snatch us up as they beat, andswirled, and hissed, and dragged at us like wild creatures, and if wehad not held on so tightly to poor Bigley, we must have been washedoutwards from the shore. 

As I say I don't know how long this lasted, only that we were gettingmore and more helpless and confused, when a tremendous wave came rollingin and struck full in the grotto-like opening where poor Bigley waswedged. I felt as if my arms had been suddenly wrenched from theirsockets, and then I was being carried out by the retiring wave. 

It was so natural to us sea-side boys that I involuntarily struck out, tossing my head so as to get the water out of my eyes, and then I sawthat Bob Chowne was swimming too, a short distance from me. 

My next glance was in the direction of the little cave now some tenyards away, about whose mouth the water was rising and falling; and as Ilooked, there was nothing but water; then Bigley seemed to crawl outquickly into the next rising wave, and then he too seemed to be swimmingtowards the shore. 

It appeared to be so impossible that I could not believe it, or doanything but swim in amongst the rocks where the long slimy sea-tanglewas washing to and fro; but there was no fancy about it, as I found, forBigley was standing knee-deep in the water, and ready to give us each ahand as we staggered in. 

"Why, Big, " I exclaimed, "how did you manage to get out?"

He could not answer me, nor yet Bob Chowne, when he repeated thequestion, but walked slowly and heavily up towards the cliff, and satdown upon a dry stone, to rest his head upon his hands, while werespected his silence. 

It was some time before he could speak, and when he did, it was in adull half-stupefied way, to explain what was simple enough, namely, thatwhen that last big wave came, it struck him violently and buried himdeep, the blow, and the natural effort to escape from the water, makinghim shrink backwards into the hole, a task he achieved without muchdifficulty; while, when, as the wave retired, he made another effort topass out, he involuntarily tried where the rocks were a little fartherapart, or placed his body in a different position, for he glided outover the slimy rock with ease. 

His explanations were, however, like our questions, confused; and we hadonly one thought now, which was to get home and obtain dry clothes, sowe parted as we reached the nearest combe, Bigley going one waybare-footed, and we the other, Bob Chowne afterwards going home in asuit of mine. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

WE MAKE ANOTHER SLIP. 

I'm afraid that we thought very little about Bigley's escape from ahorrible death, for by nine o'clock the next morning he was over at theBay, and while we were talking outside, Bob Chowne came trotting up, holding on to the mane of his father's pony, for the doctor had riddenover to see my father. 

Half an hour later we were down on the beach to look for our baskets andnets which had been covered by the tide, and which we were too muchexhausted to hunt for after our escape. 

For a long time we had no success, for, until the tide ran lower, wewere not quite sure of the spot; but we hung about hour after hour tillthe cluster of rocks were uncovered, and as soon as the water was lowenough we were down at the place, and, but for the labour necessary tobale out the lower pool, we should, I am sure, have crawled in again totry how it was Bigley was held. 

It did not take much examination to show that, however, for it was plainenough now to see how one part of the opening was a good deal narrowerthan the other; and here it was that Bigley had become fast, never oncestriving in his horror to get back, but always forward like an animal ina trap. 

As I stood there looking, the whole scene appeared to come back again, and I shuddered as I seemed to see my school-fellow's agonised facegazing appealingly in ours, and for the moment the bright sunny daylooked overcast. 

"Come away, " I said nervously; "let's look for the nets. "

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Bob, who had quite recovered his spirits and tookup his usual manner; "look at old Sep! He's frightened, and thinks it'shis turn to be stuck in the rock. "

"Never mind; let's look for the nets, " said Bigley, who seemed to bemore in sympathy with me, and we set to work, finding one before long, buried all but a scrap of the net in the beach sand and shingle. 

This encouraged us, and we hunted with more vigour, finding anotherwedged in between some blocks of rock, and soon after we discoveredsomething that we had certainly expected would have been swept out tosea, namely, one of the baskets. 

It was the one which contained the crab, and it had been driven into arock pool surrounded by masses of stone, which had held it as the tideretired. 

To our great satisfaction the crab was still inside alive and uninjured;but we found no more relics of our expedition. The other baskets weregone with the eel and prawns, and the third net was wanting. I mustexcept, though, one of Bigley's shoes, which had been cast up fourhundred yards from the rock pool, and lay at high-water mark in a heapof sea-weed, battered wreck-wood and shells. 

I am not going to enumerate all our adventures during those holidays;but I must refer to one or two more before passing on for a time to themore serious matters in connection with the silver mine in the Gap, where, while we were enjoying ourselves on the shore or up one of thenarrow glens baling out holes to catch the trout, business matters wereprogressing fast. Our mishap was soon forgotten, and we determined tohave another prawning trip, for, as Bob Chowne said, there was no riskover it, if we didn't go and stick ourselves between two stones readyfor the tide to come in and drown us. "But it was an accident, " saidBigley gravely. "Oh, no, it wasn't, " cried Bob; "an accident's whereyou can't help it--where a boat upsets, or a horse falls down, or awheel falls off, or you slip over the edge of the cliff. "

"Well, that was an accident too, " I said; "wasn't he nearly drowned?"

"No, " cried Bob, "not nearly; and how could it be an accident when hecrept into the hole, and turned round and stuck fast when he tried toget out?"

It was of no use to argue with Bob that morning, as we three ran down tothe shore after finding that old Uggleston's lugger was at sea, crushingthe weed under our feet, and enjoying the curious salt smell thatascended to our nostrils. We had another net, and a big basket, borrowed of our Sam. It was not so handy as our old ones, for two of ushad to carry it; but as I said it would hold plenty, and we could lay abit of old net over the prawns to keep them from flicking themselvesout. 

"I don't believe we shall catch any to-day, " said Bob, who was in one ofhis hedgehog fits, as Bigley used to call them. But he was wrong, forafter walking about a mile along the shore, so as to go right away fromthe cottages, the first pool we stopped at gave us three fine fatfellows. 

In another we were more successful, and as we roamed: farther andfarther away the better became our sport. 

This time we went on past the Gap, and under the tremendous cliffs thatkept the sun from shining down upon the shore in winter. Then on and onwith our numbers always increasing, for we passed very few pools thatdid not contain one prawn at least. 

"I tell you what, " said Bob, as we stopped to rest, net in hand; "we'llgo to old Big's this afternoon, and get Mother Bonnet to boil theprawns, and then have a thorough good feast. You'll find us some breadand butter, won't you, Big?"

"Of course, " he replied; "but we haven't got them home yet. "

"No, " said Bob, "we haven't got them home; but you're not going to getstuck in a hole this time, are you?"

Bigley shook his head, and the remarks were forgotten, as we discovered, just washed in by the tide, a good-sized cuttlefish, that was quitedead, however, having been killed I suppose by being bruised against therocks, so we were not favoured with a shower of ink. 

A little farther on we came to a bare smooth patch of dark sand, overwhich the sea ran gently, sweeping before it a rim of foam whichsparkled and displayed iridescent colours like a soap-bubble. Here wefound our first jelly-fish, a beautifully clear disc of transparencyabout the size of a penny bun, and from which, when we plunged it in thefirst rock pool, hung down quite a lovely fringe of the most delicatehues. 

Perhaps it was too nearly dead from being washed ashore, for it did notsting, as some of these creatures do slightly, when encountered whilebathing. 

We thought the jelly-fish curious, but it was not good to eat, so it wasleft in the little rock pool with a few tiny shrimps, to get well ordie, and we went on kicking over the little shells, getting our feetwet, and finding more prawn-haunted pools, as we made for one big rockwhich lay close to the water's edge, a quarter of a mile farther on, where it stood up in the midst of a clump of smaller ones, the beacharound being tolerably level for some distance. 

"That's where old Binnacle always goes when he wants to find a lobster, "said Bigley; "and I shouldn't wonder if we get one, for he hasn't beenthere lately. "

"How do you know?" I said. 

"Because he hasn't sold one, nor given us one, nor had one himself. "

"There, hark at him!" cried Bob. "How can you tell?"

"Easy enough. "

"But how?"

"Haven't lobsters got shells?"

"Yes. "

"And aren't they red?"

"Why, of course they are. "

"Well, don't they always throw the shells out on the heap by thepig-sty?" cried Bigley. "And there hasn't been one there since I camehome. Old Bill has been too busy making a new net to go lobstering. "

"I say, what a day for a bathe!" cried Bob suddenly, as we approachedthe big rock which formed out here a point, from which a series ofsmaller rocks ran right to sea, for the heads of some were level withthe surface, and others only appeared at times. 

"Why, you couldn't bathe here, " said Big; "you ought to know that. "

"Why not?" cried Bob. 

"Because the tide hits against those rocks, and then runs right out tosea like the river runs down the Gap after a storm. "

"Oh, I don't believe all these old stories, " cried Bob contemptuously;"and suppose it did run out, couldn't I swim out of the stream and comeashore?"

"No. "

"Oh, couldn't I? Precious soon let you see. "

"Hi! Look there, " cried Bigley, "there's father's boat. "

"Where?" I said. 

"Out yonder. He has been with Binnacle Bill to Swincombe, and that'sthem coming back. "

"Why, you can't see anything but a bit of sail, " cried Bob scoffingly, as he shaded his eyes and looked far-off into the west. 

"No, but I know the shape of it, " cried Bigley. "There isn't anotherboat hereabouts with a sail like that. "

"I don't believe you know it, " cried Bob. "It's a Frenchman, or aDutchman, or a Welsh boat. "

"Well, you'll see, " said Bigley decisively, and the matter dropped, forwe were close up to the big rock now, a mass that stood about a dozenfeet above the beach, and to our great delight there were several littlepools about, all of which seemed to be well occupied by the toothsomedelicacies we sought. 

The baskets were set down and we were soon hard at work catching prawnafter prawn; but, though we peered into every crack, and routed about asfar as we could reach, there was no sign of a lobster large or small. 

"Never mind, " said Bob sourly, "they're rather out of season if you docatch them now. I don't mind. "

For another half hour or so, with the tide coming whispering and lappingin, we went on prawning, getting a dozen fine ones. 

Then Bob insisted upon bathing, and it was only by an effort we stoppedhim from going into the water at so dangerous a spot. 

It was Big who took off his attention at last, by telling him that hecould not scale the big rock and get on the top. 

"Tchah!" cried Bob sneeringly; "why, I could almost hop on it. "

We laughed at him, and he began to peer about for one of the surroundingpieces to form a step to help him part of the way, but all were toodistant, the great stone lying quite isolated. There was one spot, though, where the big stone was split, as if some gigantic wedge hadbeen driven in to open it a little way, and here, as it was encrustedwith limpets, there seemed to be a good prospect for us to climb up theroughened sides. 

As it proved it was like many tasks in life, it looked more difficultthan it really was, and by the exercise of a little agility and somemutual help we contrived to get to the top, where there was a largedepression like a caldron, scooped out by the action of the sea upon aheavy boulder lying therein, and which looked as if, when the wavesbeat, it must be driven round and round and to and fro. 

We all sat down with our legs in the hole, following Bigley's example ashe set himself to watch the coming of his father's boat, which wasgrowing plainer now every minute, and trying, by spreading all the sailshe could, to reach the Gap. 

"I wonder how long she'll be?" said Bob, sitting there with his chinupon his hands. 

"About an hour, " replied Bigley. 

"What! Coming that little way? Why, she's close here. "

"It isn't close here, and the boat's a good six miles away, I know, "replied Bigley. "Distances are deceiving by the sea-side. "

"Hark at the doctor, " cried Bob; "he's going to give us a lecture. Isay, this isn't school. "

It was very pleasant seated there on that smooth, warm platform of rockin the glowing sunshine, and with the soft sea-breeze fanning ourcheeks. There was plenty of room, and before long we were all lyingdown in various attitudes. Bob turned himself into a spread-eagle bylying upon his back, and tilting his cap over his nose as he announcedthat he was going to sleep. 

We both laughed and did not believe him, as we each took up the positionmost agreeable to him, Bigley stretching himself upon his breast, folding his arms and placing his chin upon them, so as to gaze at hisfather's boat with undivided attention. 

As for me, I lay on my side to stare at the great wall of cliff that ranalong the land, and curved over and over into great hills and mounds. 

It was very beautiful to watch the many tints in the distance, and thebright colours of the broken rock. The upper parts were of a velvetygreen; then in the hollows where the oak-trees flourished there wereendless tints, against which the soft grey of the gulls, as they floatedalong, seemed to stand out bright and clear. 

We three lads had been walking and climbing and exerting ourselves forhours now, and the strange restful sensation of stretching one's self onthat warm, smooth mass of rock was delicious. 

To make it more agreeable, the soft wind fanned our faces, and the seaseemed to be whispering in a curious lulling way that was delightful. 

I remember raising myself a little to look at Bob Chowne in his lazyattitude. Then I stared at Bigley, who had doubled back his long legs, as he watched the boat, whose sails seemed to be coming nearer now, andthen I sank back in my former attitude, to gaze at the cliffs and thesoft blue sky flecked with silvery gauzy clouds. 

Then one of the big grey gulls fixed my attention, and I lay staring atit hard, and watching its movements, as I wondered why it was that itshould keep flying to and fro, for nothing apparently, turning itself soeasily by a movement of the tail, and curving round and round without aneffort. 

That gull completely fascinated me. Sometimes it floated softly so nearthat I could plainly see its clear ringed eye and the colour of itsbeak, the soft white of its head and under parts, the delicate grey ofits back, and the black tips of its wings, which formed soft bends thatsustained the great bird with the slightest exertion. For now and thenit beat the air a little, then the wings remained motionless a minute ata time, and the secret of flying seemed to me to be to float about inthat clear transparent air, just as a fish did in the sea. 

It was very wonderful to watch it, feeling so dreamy and restful thewhile. The gull seemed to have fixed its eyes on me, and to know that Iwas noting all its graceful evolutions, and I felt that it was flyingand floating and gliding to and fro, and round and round, now up, nowdown, on purpose to show off its powers to me, for it never occurred tome that the bird was waiting till my eyes were closed to make a pouncedown upon the big basket and help itself to the prawns. 

No, it all seemed done for my special benefit, and lulled by the lappingof the sea, and with the fanning motion of the gull's wings having acuriously drowsy effect, I lay there watching--watching, till I seemedto be able to float with the gull, and to be gliding onward and onwardthrough space, up and down, up and down, in a soft billowy, heavingmovement, with the blue sky above me, the green cliff-side draped withoak and ivy below, and all about me, and pervading me and sustaining meas the sea did when I swam, there was the soft pure air. 

Was I a gull or myself? I did not know, only that I seemed to befloating deliciously on with wide-spread invisible wings, and that therewas no such thing as the earth and shore, over which I laboriouslyplodded, for me. 

It was one soft dreamy ecstasy, such as comes to the weary sleeping inthe summer breeze out in the open air. Now and then I seemed to hearthe wild softened harshness of the gull's cry, then all was still again, and I was floating on and on, wishing nothing, wanting nothing, only togo on, when all at once a huge roc-like bird seemed to sweep overbetween me and the sunshine, to grasp me as Sindbad was seized, andraise me up. 

But this roc spoke and cried harshly:

"Quick! Wake up! You have been to sleep. "

"Sleep?" I said, rousing myself. "Sleep?"

"Yes; we've all been to sleep, and--Here, Bob! Wake up! Wake up!"

He shook Bob Chowne, who was so sound that it was with difficulty hecould be made to sit up, and in that little interval I realised why itwas that Bigley looked so scared. 

It was plain enough: tired out with our prawning, we had beenthoughtless enough to let our weariness get the better of us, and whilewe had slept the enemy had not only approached, but surrounded us andcut us off from the shore. In fact, as we stared about us, a wavestruck the rock and sent its soft spray right up to where we werestanding. 

"Here, what's the matter?" cried Bob. "I say, what is it? Oh, I say, where are the prawns?"

Prawns? They and the baskets were far away now, while the nets might beanywhere. Between us and the shore the water for a good hundred yardswas six feet deep at least, and there was a swim of a hundred and fiftybefore we could begin to wade, while, if we did not start at once, therewould be a swim of nearly half a mile, for the points of the little baywhere we were would soon be covered, the rocks were perpendicular, andto stay in the bay was to be drowned. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

A PERILOUS SWIM. 

"I say, what shall we do?" cried Bob. 

"We must take off our clothes and swim for it, " said Bigley. 

"No, no, " I cried, for the idea was appalling. "Let's stay here. "

"What, and be swept off?" said Bob. "No; Bigley's right. We must swimfor it. No, I see! There's your father's lugger, Big. Let them comeand take us off. "

"They durstn't come in on account of the rocks, " said Bigley slowly. 

"Then, let them send the boat. Let's hail them. "

"Yes, they might send the boat, " said Bigley thoughtfully, "and theywould if we could make them understand. "

"Shout, " cried Bob. 

"What's the use when they're nearly two miles away. "

"'Tisn't so far, is it?" I said in an awe-stricken whisper. 

"Almost, " he said. "The wind's against them, and they're beating upvery slowly, and keeping off so as to run straight in when they get pastthe point. You see they don't want to go in at the Gap till it'shigh-water and the pebble bar is covered. "

"But they must hear us, " cried Bob, "and send a boat to fetch us off. Idon't know that I could swim so far as the shore, and we should have toundress and lose all our clothes. Here, ahoy! Boat--oh! Ahoy!"

The sound died away in the vast space, but there was no movement aboardof the lugger, and after each had hailed in turn, and we had all shoutedtogether, we looked at each other in despair. 

"Oh, " cried Bob, "what a set of stupids we are! Only just now we wentand got into trouble, and lost our nets and baskets, and now we've beenand done it again. Here, Big, it's all your fault, what are we going todo?"

Bigley looked to sea, and he looked to shore, and then down at thewater, that kept lapping round the rock and rising and falling. Thesmall blocks all about us had long been covered, and at its mostquiescent times the sea was now within some three feet of the top, whileas the waves swayed and heaved, they ran up at times nearly to where westood. 

The peril did not seem very great, because we did not quite realise ourposition; but stood disputing as to which would be the betterproceeding--to try and swim ashore, or to wait till we could attract thenotice of those on board the boat. 

Several attempts were made to do the latter, for the stripping to swimwith the loss of our clothes was not a course to be thought upon withequanimity; and though we shouted and waved handkerchiefs, the luggerpursued its slow way, and it was quite plain that we were not seen. 

Meanwhile the water was steadily rising up the sides of our littleisland rock, and our position was beginning to wear a more seriousaspect. 

"We shall have to swim ashore, boys, " said Bigley, speaking in a tonewhich seemed to indicate that he would rather do anything else. 

He looked towards the cliff as he spoke, and being so much taller thanwe, of course he had a much better view. 

"Oh!" he exclaimed, with a look of horror, "the tide is round bothpoints, and we shall have to swim right along ever so far before we canland. "

"No, no, " cried Bob, "let's swim straight in. "

"I tell you, " cried Bigley, "if we do, we shall be drowned. "

"What nonsense!" cried Bob. "Why, we'd climb up the rocks. "

"There is not a place where you could climb, " said Bigley gloomily. "Iknow every yard all along here, and there isn't a single spot where youcould get up the cliff. "

"It's too far to swim, " I said gloomily. "I know I can't go so far asthat. Could you, Bob?"

He shook his head. 

"Oh, yes, you could, " cried Bigley excitedly. "It would be swimmingwith the stream, you know, and it would carry us along--I mean the tidewould, and you've only got to think you could do it, and you would. "

Bob Chowne shook his head, and I began to feel chilled and oppressed bythe task we had before us. 

"No, I couldn't swim so far, " cried Bob suddenly. "It would take astrong man who could keep on for hours to do that. "

"I tell you that you could do it, " cried Bigley, who seemed to be quitepassionate now. "Don't talk like that, Bob, or you'll frighten SepDuncan out of trying. "

"I'm not going to try, " I said gloomily. "It would be no use. I couldswim to the shore but not round the point. "

"What's the good of talking like that?" cried Bigley. "You both canswim it, and you must. "

"Why, I don't believe you could, Big, " cried Bob in a whimpering tone. 

"I do, " said the great fellow doggedly, "and I'm going to try, and soare you two fellows. "

"That we are not, " we cried together. 

"Yes, you are, for it's our only chance, unless they see us from theboat. You'll have to try, for the water will be up and over here beforelong, and what will you do then?"

"Drown, I s'pose, " said Bob. 

"Nonsense!" cried Bigley, who astonished us by the eager business way hehad put on. "Who's going to stand still and drown, when he can swim toa safe place? Here, let's try and get 'em to see us aboard the lugger, "he cried. "All together! Let's wave our caps and handkerchiefs. "

We did all wave our caps and handkerchiefs, together and separately, butthe boat went slowly on, as if there was no one in danger, and we turnedand looked at each other in despair. 

"They must be asleep, " said Bob angrily. "Oh, it's too bad. "

"No, " said Bigley sadly. "They can't be asleep, because there's someonesteering, and someone else attending to the sails when they go about. It's only because they cannot see us. The rocks and cliffs hide us fromthem. "

"Why, we can see them, " said Bob bitterly. 

"Yes, because they are against the sky, " I said. "We are against thecliff. Oh, look at that!"

My schoolmates wanted no telling, for they were looking aghast at theway in which the water had washed up, and lapped over the edge of therock upon which we stood. It fell directly, but it had risen highenough to show that in a few minutes it would sweep right to where wewere, and in a few more completely cover the stone. 

At this Bigley began to wave his jacket frantically, but the boat stillglided slowly on with its sail lit up by the sunshine, and the seaglittering as far as we could see. 

"It's of no use; we must swim, " cried Bigley; but we neither of usstirred, though he began resolutely to take off his big shoes. We sawwhat he was doing, but our eyes were strained towards the boat, whichwas much nearer now, making a long reach in towards the land, and itseemed so strange that those on board should be calmly sitting there, while we were in such peril, looking longingly for a sign that we wereseen. 

And still the water slowly rose, threatening several times, and thenmaking a bold leap which carried it right over the stone, though itbarely wetted our feet. 

As it came over, Bigley stooped down quickly and caught up his shoes andclothes to keep them dry, and it seemed very ridiculous to me that heshould trouble himself about that, when in a few more minutes they mustbe afloat. 

Another wave and another came over us, and though I kept on waving myhandkerchief at times, there seemed to be no hope of help from thelugger. So in a fit of despair, after a glance towards the shore, Ibegan to follow Bigley's example and undress, feeling that it was forcedupon me, and that I must make an effort and swim for my life. 

Bob Chowne stood with his forehead all wrinkled up watching me for a fewminutes, and then he began to undress slowly; but a wave came and roseright up to our knees as it swept in, telling us plainly enough thatbefore many minutes had passed we should be unable to stand there, andin frantic haste we tore off our garments, and followed Bigley's lead intying them together in a bundle, in the faint hope of being able to takethem in our teeth and carry them ashore. 

We were ready none too soon, for the tide rose rapidly, and it wasevident that the time had come for our plunge. 

"I'll go first, boys, and you follow, " cried Bigley. "Now, don't hurry, and try and keep together. I won't swim fast. Ready?"

There was no answer. 

"Are you ready, I say? I want to give the word, and for us all to takethe water together. "

Still neither of us answered; and we stood there, bundles in hand, unwilling to quit the firm rock on which we stood knee-deep, for thetreacherous sea. 

"I say, boys! Are you ready!" cried Bigley again. 

Still there was no answer, and the reluctance to stir would havecontinued longer, but an unexpected termination was put to ourindecision by a larger wave sweeping over us, and making Bob Chowne slipand stagger. 

He tried hard to recover himself, and we to catch him, but the wet rockwas bad for the feet, or he placed his foot upon a piece of sea-weed. At all events over he went with a splash and disappeared. 

We two followed, bundles and all, and as Bob rose we were one on eachside, and started swimming level with the shore so as to round the pointbetween us and the western side of the Gap. 

Driven to it as we were, Bob Chowne and I forgot our dread and began toswim steadily and well; but we had not been in the water five minutesbefore I found that we had undertaken to do that which was impossible, and that we had quite forgotten all about this being a dangerous spotfor bathing. 

I think we all discovered it about the same moment, but Bigley was thefirst to speak. 

"Be cool, boys, as the doctor says, " he called out to us. "This is nouse. We're not going with the tide, but fighting against it. "

"But the tide's coming in, " I said. 

"Yes, underneath, " cried Bigley; "but the top part of the water'srunning out like a mill-race, and we must go with it now. Follow me. "

There was no help for it. The tide carried us along into a tremendouscurrent, caused by the meeting of two waters at the point formed by theridge of rocks which ran down into the sea, and to my horror, as I swamsteadily on, still holding to my bundle, I found that we were in a linewith the cliff about which I had watched the gull flying, but that itwas getting farther and farther away. 

It was all plain enough. We were well in the fierce current that ranoff the point, and being carried straight out to sea. 

My first idea was to shout this to my companions; but I felt that if Idid I should frighten them, and I knew well enough that as soon asanyone grew frightened when he was swimming the best half of his powerhad gone. 

It was a great thing to recollect, and I held my tongue. It was hardwork, and something seemed to keep prompting me to shout the bad news, but somehow I mastered it, and instead of swimming faster made myselftake my strokes more slowly, so as to save my breath. 

Bigley told me afterwards, and so did Bob Chowne, that they felt justthe same, and would not shout for fear of frightening me, swimmingsteadily on, though where we did not know. 

"I say, how warm the water is!" cried Bigley; and we others said it was. Then I thought of something to say. 

We had each tied our clothes up as tightly as we could in ourpocket-handkerchiefs, and so it was a long time before they wereregularly saturated and heavy. 

"I say, " I cried, "my bundle's just like a cork, and holds me upbeautiful. How are yours?"

Bob Chowne panted out that his was better, and to prove hew good andbuoyant his was Bigley thrust it before him, and swam after it, givingit pushes as he went. 

All this took up our attention for a little while from the horror of ourposition, for a horrible position it was indeed. It was a glorioussunny day, and sea and sky were beautiful, but the fierce current thatset off from the point was sweeping us rapidly away, and it was only aquestion of how long we could keep on swimming--a quarter of an hour, half an hour, an hour--and then first one and then another must sink, unless in our efforts to save the first weak one we all went downtogether, and the glittering sea flowed over our heads with only a fewbubbles of air to show where we had been. 

We must have been swimming twenty minutes when Bigley uttered a shout, and looking up, Bob and I for the first time caught sight of a littledinghy coming towards us, and far beyond it the lugger lying with hersails flapping in the breeze. 

The boat was a long way off, but the man in it had evidently seen us, and was coming down to our help, and a thrill of exultation ran throughme, as I struck out more vigorously to reach the haven of safety. 

The minute before we were all swimming steadily and well, but the sightof help coming seemed to have completely unnerved us, and in place oftaking slow long regular strokes, and steady inspirations, with thesides of our heads well down in the water, we all quickened our strokesand strained our heads above the surface, while, as if moved by the samethought, we all together shouted "Boat!"

"Ahoy!" came back from what seemed a terrible distance, and the feelingof fear I had begun to experience increased more and more. 

A couple of minutes earlier I had not thought about the distance I couldswim, but had kept on swimming. Now I could think of nothing else butwas it possible that I could keep on long enough for the boat to reachme; and, instead of steadily trying to decrease the distance, and sohelp the boatman, I began to make very bad progress indeed. 

"Hooray!" shouted Bigley just then. "Keep up, boys, and don't lose yourbundles. It's father, and he'll soon pick us up. "

Bundles?--bundles? Where was my bundle?

I dared not turn my head to look, but it was not by me, and I must havelet it float away just when most excited by the coming of the boat, butI could say nothing then. 

"Steady!" shouted Bigley again, checking his own speed, for he had beengetting ahead of us, and he waited till we were abreast of him, bothswimming too heavily and fast. 

"Don't do that, " he cried. "Go steady. Go--"

He said no more, poor fellow, for the curious dread that unnerves peoplein the water, and robs them of the power and judgment that are theirsaving, seemed to have attacked him, and he began to swim in a more andmore laboured fashion. 

His example affected us, and away went all coolness. We were allswimming, and the tide was carrying us along towards the boat, thatseemed to be getting farther away instead of nearer to my dimming eyes. Then in my rapid splashing I struck up the water, and grew confused; andfeeling all at once that I was regularly exhausted, I turned over on myback to float. 

It was an unlucky movement, for I did it hastily and with theconsequence that my head went under. I inhaled a quantity of thestinging briny salt water, and raising my head as I choked andsputtered, I turned back again, struck out two or three times, and thenbegan to beat the surface frantically like a dog which has been throwninto the water for the first time. 

I can remember no more of what occurred during the next few minutes, only that I was staring up at the sky through dazzling water-drops; thenthat all was dark, and then light again, and not light as it was before. Then it was once more dark, and then I was sitting in a boat halfblind, shivering, and helpless, with the boat rocking abouttremendously, and Bob Chowne over the side holding on to the gunwalewith one hand, to my wrist with the other. 

It all seemed very wild and strange; but my senses were coming backfast, and in an indistinct manner I saw someone swimming and plashingthe water about twenty yards from the boat. It was a man in a bluewoollen shirt, and his head was bald and shining in the sun, as I saw itfor a moment, and then, whoever it was, reared himself high as he couldin the water, and then struck off and swam away from us out to sea. 

He did not go far, but stopped suddenly and shouted to us; and as he didso, I saw a gleam of something white, and then that he was holdingsomeone's face above water. 

Devon Boys--by George Manville Fenn

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

JUST IN TIME. 

"Ahoy, lad!" he shouted. "Shove a scull over the stern, and scull herthis way. "

This roused me, and I jumped up to seize a scull, but felt giddy andnearly fell, for Bob Chowne had hold of my wrist. 

"Take hold of the gunwale, Bob, " I panted, as I tried again, and thistime felt better, getting an oar over behind, and sending the boatalong, as I had learned to years before. 

It was slow and awkward work, with Bob hanging on to the side with hiseyes fixed, and his face white; but I got her along, and before I hadbeen sculling many minutes, a great brown hand was thrown over on theopposite side to where Bob clung, and Jonas Uggleston said hoarsely:

"Lay in your oar, mate, and lean over, and take hold of Bigley here. Get your arm well under him. That's right. Keep his head out of thewater. I'm about beat for a bit. "

I obeyed him in a dreamy way, getting Bigley's arm over into the boat, while I knelt down and put mine round him, and held him close to theside. 

"Can you hold on, youngster?" said old Jonas hoarsely. This was to BobChowne, who stared at him wildly, and did not speak. 

"Nice chance for me, " growled old Jonas. "There, hold fast, my lads. I'm going to get in over the starn. "

The boat rose and fell and rocked as he came round, passed me hand overhand, to pause by the stern, and I thought he was going to climb in; buthe altered his mind, and went on round by where Bob Chowne clung, heldon with one hand, while he thrust his right arm under the water, and thenext moment he had hoisted Bob right up and rolled him over into theboat, where he lay for a few moments apparently quite helpless. 

"Now, young Duncan, " said old Jonas, "you hold him fast. I'll get inthis side. She won't go over. "

It was done in a moment; he let himself sink down, and turn, gave aspring as I turned my head round to watch him; the gunwale of the boatseemed to go down level with the water, and he was on board, while, before I could realise it, he was bending over me to get his arms underpoor Big's and drag him into the boat, this time sending the gunwale solow that a quantity of water came in as well. 

Old Jonas set his son up in the stern with his back against the rowlock, and it was no easy job, for Big was limp, and tremendously heavy; butthe bumping about seemed to do him some good, for, just as I was aboutto ask in a voice full of awe if he was dead, poor Bigley uttered a lowgroan. 

"Hah! He's coming to, then, " said old Jonas, panting heavily, as heseated himself on the middle thwart. "Here, you young doctor, take thatpannikin, and bale out some of that water you're lying in. You don'twant another bath, do you?"

Bob Chowne got up on to his knees in the bottom of the boat, shiveringand blue, and stared wildly at us all in turn. 

"Cold, eh?" growled old Jonas. "Well, then, I'll bale, and you two rowto the lugger. "

He glanced round at his son, who was showing signs of returninganimation; but it evoked no sympathy before us, whatever he might havefelt, for he only frowned as, in a shivering mechanical way, we twowretched boys seized an oar apiece, sat down on the wet thwarts andbegan to row. 

"Now, then, " shouted old Jonas, "look where you're going. Pull, doctor!Easy, captain! That's better. "

Between his words he kept sending out pannikins of water rapidly to easethe boat, for it was above our ankles as we sat and pulled. 

"Nice fellows all of you!" grumbled old Jonas. "Why, you all look blue. Fool's trick! Who put it up?"

"I--I don't know what you mean, Mr Uggleston, " I said. 

"Who proposed to swim off to the lugger? Was it Bigley?"

"N-no, Mr Uggleston, " I panted, half hysterically, as I tugged at theoar, an example followed by Bob Chowne, who was very silent and veryblue. 

"Soon as I get you aboard, I'll give you all a good rope's-ending, andchance what your fathers say, " grumbled old Uggleston, as he sent thewater flashing over the side. "I suppose it was my Bigley as set you atit, wasn't it?"

"No, sir, " I said, as I rapidly grew more composed now. "We were on therock yonder, and had to swim for it. We wanted to get to shore. "

"And the current took you out, eh? Of course it would. Then youweren't swimming for the lugger, eh?"

"Oh, no, sir, " I cried; "we had forgotten all about the boat. "

"Then, where were you going to swim to--Swansea?" he cried. 

"I don't know, sir, " I said dolefully. 

"No more do I, " he snarled. "'Cross the sea to Ireland, eh? And nobiscuit and water. Ah, you ought to be all rope's-ended. How came youon the rock?"

I told him. 

"Lucky I saw you all standing on it white-skinned against the blackrocks. I see you all dive in and took my spy-glass, and see youswimming this way, and when I told Binnacle Bill, he said just what Ithought, that you was swimming out to the lugger, and wouldn't do it, and so I took the boat and come to you, and I'm sorry I did now. "

"Sorry, sir?" I said. 

"Ay, sorry. You're a set o' young swabs. What's the good of either ofyou but to give trouble. Here, where are your clothes? Under thecliff?"

"No, sir, " I said dolefully. "We undressed on the big flat rock there, and tied them up in bundles. "

"Bundles? Where are they then?"

"Lost mine, " said Bob, speaking for the first time. 

"Oh, you're coming round then, are you?" cried old Jonas. "You've lostyours then; and has my Bigley lost all his kit?"

"Yes, sir; we've all lost our bundles, unless they get thrown up by thetide. "

"Which they won't, " snarled old Jonas. "Rope's end it is, for if Idon't thrash that big ugly cub of mine as soon as I get him aboard, I'll--Now then, what are you yawing about that way for? Easy, captain!Pull, doctor, will you? Now, both together. Regular stroke. That'sbetter. And so's that, " he said, as he scooped out the last few dropsof water with the tin pannikin, and finished off by sopping theremaining moisture with a piece of coarse flannel stuff which he wrungout over the side. 

Bob and I did not speak, but tugged at our oars, as absurd-looking acrew as was ever seen upon the Devon coast, while we kept lookingpityingly at poor Bigley. 

Poor fellow! He had placed his arms one on either side, resting uponthe gunwale, and appeared to be hard set to keep his head up from hischest. Then he had one or two violent fits of coughing, and ended bysitting back in the bottom of the boat with a weary sigh and closing hiseyes. 

"Look, sir, look!" I cried in agony, for I thought Bigley must bedying. 

"Well, I am looking at him, boy. He's coming round. I can't doanything for him here, can I? Pull hard, you young swabs, both of you, and let's get aboard. I don't know what folks want to have boys for. "

We rowed hard, bending well to our oars, and after a few minutes Iventured to speak again, for Bigley looked terribly ill. 

"Do you think he's getting better, sir?" I said. 

"Better, boy? Yes, " he said, not unkindly, for I suppose my anxietyabout his son moved him. "He'll be all right when I've warmed and lacedhim up with the rope's end. I'm going to make you all skip as soon as Iget you aboard and there's room to move. "

"But he looks so ill, sir, " I said, quite ignoring the rope's-ending. 

"Of course he does, my lad. So would you if you had gone down as far ashe did, and swallowed as much water. Easy. In oars. "

I did not know we had rowed so far, but just then the boat bumped upagainst the side of the lugger, and old Jonas rose, took the painter ashe stepped into the bows, and handed it to Binnacle Bill, whose grim oldface relaxed into a grin as he saw our plight. 

"What have you got, Master Uggles'on?" he said. "White seals?"

"Ay, something o' the sort, " grumbled old Jonas. "Here, boys, on boardwith you. "

We needed no second order, but scrambled over the side into the lugger, while, at a word from his master, Binnacle Bill unbolted the piece ofthe lugger's bulwarks that answered the purpose of a gangway, and as, bymain force, old Jonas lifted up Bigley, the old sailor leaned down, puthis arm round the poor limp fellow, and lifted him on deck, where he layalmost without motion. 

The next thing was to make fast the little boat astern, after whichBinnacle Bill seized the tiller, the sails filled, and the boat began toglide through the sunny sea, while Bob and I picked out the sunniestspot we could find, and watched old Jonas as he bent over Bigley andpoured a few drops of spirit between his teeth from a bottle he hadfetched from the little cabin. 

"Rowing's put you two right, " said Jonas. "Ah, I thought that would dohim good. "

Certainly it did, for in a few minutes' time Bigley was able to sit upin an oil-skin coat of his father's, while we two were accommodated witha couple of Jersey shirts, which when worn as the only garment are niceand warm, but anything but becoming. 

The little lugger tacked and tacked again before we could make the mouthof the Gap; and, probably because he was too busy over Bigley and theboat, old Jonas said no more about the rope's end, but ran us right inover the pebble bar into the little river, when Binnacle Bill was sentover to our cottage to fetch some clothes for me and Bob, he being aboutmy size, and till they came we lay in old Jonas's bed. 

Then a tremendous tea was eaten, Bigley being well enough to join in, and afterwards in cool of the evening old Jonas rowed us round and alongthe coast to see if we could pick up our bundles; but they had eithersunk or gone off to sea, and we returned without. 

Bigley was evidently very poorly, but he wouldn't give up, and startedto walk part of the way back with us. 

I noted one thing as we were going. Bob Chowne and I held out our handsto say "Good-night, " and to thank old Jonas for saving our lives. 

"Oh, it was nothing, " he said, shaking hands very warmly with BobChowne, but taking no notice of mine. "It's all right. Good-bye, lads, but don't do it again. "

We said we would not, and started off home, where we both expectedsevere scoldings; but before we had gone fifty yards up the cliff pathold Jonas hailed us with a stentorian, "Ahoy!"

"What is it, father?" shouted Bigley. 

"Bring those boys back, " roared old Jonas. "I forgot to give 'em therope's end. "

I need not tell you we didn't go back. But when we parted from Bigleyhalf a mile further on, I said to him:

"Why wouldn't your father shake hands with me?"

"Hush! Don't take any notice, " said Bigley in low voice; "he's veryangry still about Captain Duncan buying the Gap and finding the silvermine. That's all!"

"That's all!" Bigley said. But it was not. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

BACK TO SCHOOL. 

I tried very hard not to meet Doctor Chowne when he next came over toour cottage, which was two days after the escape from drowning, for hewas very frequently in confab with my father. 

They went into the little parlour, and so as to be out of the way I wentinto the cliff garden to watch the sea seated astride of one of thegates; but, as luck would have it, my father and the doctor came out totalk in the garden, and as there was no way of escape without facingthem, I had to remain where I was and put on the boldest front I could. 

"Oh, you're there, are you, Mr Sep?" exclaimed the doctor grimly. 

"Yes, sir, " I said. 

"That's right; I only wanted to ask a favour of you. "

"What is it, sir?" I said. 

"Oh, wait a minute and I'll tell you, " said the doctor in his grimmestway. "It was only this. You see I'm a very busy man, twice as busy asI used to be since your father has taken to consulting me. What I wantyou to do is this--"

He stopped short and stared at me till I grew uncomfortable. 

"This, my lad, " he continued. "To save time, I want you to tell me whenyou are going to try next to kill my boy. "

"To kill Bob, sir?"

"Yes, I want to be ready, as I've so little time to spare. I want toorder mourning from Exeter, and to give orders for the funeral. "

"I--I don't understand you, sir, " I stammered. 

"Not understand me, my lad! Why, I spoke plainly enough. You've triedto kill my Bob twice; third time never fails. "

"Doctor Chowne!" I exclaimed. 

"Your most humble servant, sir, " he continued sarcastically. "I onlywanted to add, that I should like you to do it as soon as you can, forhe is costing me a great deal for clothes and boots. "

"There, there, Chowne, " said my father, taking pity upon me, "boys willbe boys. I daresay your chap was just as bad as mine, and oldUggleston's baby quite their equal. "

"They lead my Bob into all the mischief, " cried the Doctor sharply. 

"Oh, no doubt, no doubt, " said my father in his driest way. 

"And I should like to know as near as I can when it's to come to anend?"

"There, there, never mind, " said my father good-humouredly. "Give themanother chance, and if they spoil these clothes we'll send into Bristolfor some sail-cloth, and have 'em rigged out in that. "

"Sail-cloth!" cried the doctor, "old carpet you mean. That's the onlything for them. "

"Holidays will soon be over, Chowne, and we shall be rid of them. "

"Yes, that's a comfort, " said the doctor; and, as he turned away, Ilooked appealingly at my father, who gave me a dry look, and taking itto mean that I might go, I slipped off and went in to Ripplemouth. 

I soon found Bob, sitting in a very ragged old suit, out of which he hadgrown two years before, and he looked so comical with his arms farthrough his sleeves, and his legs showing so long beneath his trouserbottoms, than I burst out laughing. 

"Yah! That's just like you, " cried Bob viciously. "I never saw such achap. Got plenty of clothes, and it don't matter to you; but look atme!"

"Well, I was looking at you, " I said. "What an old guy you are!"

"Do you want me to hit you on the nose, Sep Duncan?" he said. 

"Why, of course not, " I said. "I came over to play, not fight. Whereare your Sunday clothes?"

"Where are they?" snarled Bob, speaking as if I had touched him on avery sore spot. "Why, locked up in the surgery cupboard along with the'natomy bones and the sticking-plaster roll. "

"What! Has your father locked them up?"

"Yes, he has locked them up, and says he isn't going to run all over thecountry seeing patients to find me in clothes to lose--just as if Icould help it. "

"But haven't you been measured for some more?"

"Yes, but they won't be done yet, and father says I'm to go on wearingthese the rest of the time I'm at home. "

I looked at him from top to toe as he stood before me, and it was of nouse to try to keep my countenance. I could not, and the more I triedthe more I seemed to be obliged to laugh. 

As for Bob he ground his teeth and clenched his hands, but this onlymade him look the more comic, and I threw myself in a chair and fairlyroared, till he came at me like an angry bull; but as I made noresistance, only laughed, he lowered his fists. 

"I can't help it, Bob; I was obliged to laugh, " I cried. "There, youmay laugh at me now; but you do look so droll. Have you been out?"

"Been out? In these? Of course I haven't. How can I? No: I'm aprisoner, and all the rest of my holiday time is going to be spoiled. "

"Oh, I say, don't talk like that, old boy, " I cried. "Why didn't youkeep the suit I lent you?"

"I don't want to be dependent on you for old clothes, " he saidhaughtily. 

"Well, I'd rather wear them than those you have on, Bob. Oh, I say, youdo look rum!"

"If you say that again I shall hit you, " cried Bob fiercely. 

"Oh, very well, I won't say it, " I said; "but I say, wouldn't you wear asuit of old Big's?"

I said it quite seriously, but he regularly glared and seemed as if hewere going to fly at me, but he neither moved nor spoke. 

"Never mind about your clothes, " I said. "Big's sure to be over beforelong. Let's get out on the cliff, or down by the shore, or go huntingup in the moor, or something. "

"What, like this?" said Bob, getting up to turn round before me and showme how tight his clothes were. 

"Well, what does it matter?" I said. "Nobody will see us. "

"It isn't seeing you, " he replied, "it's seeing me. No, I sha'n't goout till I get some clothes. "

Bob kept his word, and for the rest of the holidays when I went out italways used to be with Bigley Uggleston. But we did not neglect poorBob, for we went to see him nearly every day, and played games with himin the garden, and finished the gooseberries, and began the apples, contriving to enjoy ourselves pretty well. 

As for the doctor, it was his way of dealing with his son, and I supposehe thought he was right; but it was very unpleasant, and kept poor Bobout of many a bit of enjoyment, those clothes being locked away. 

I said that Bob would not go out. I ought to have said, by daylight, for he used to go with us after dark down to the end of the tiny pier, where we sat with our legs swinging over the water, each holding afishing-line and waiting for any fish that might be tempted to take theraw mussel stuck upon our hooks. 

But somehow that narrow escape of ours seemed to act like a damper uponthe rest of our holidays, and I spent a good deal of my time withBigley, watching the preparations made by the masons at the works in theGap. 

We all declared that we were not sorry when one morning old TeggleyGrey's cart stopped at our gate to take up my box. Bob Chowne's wasalready in, and he was sitting upon it, while Bigley was half-way up theslope leading over the moor waiting by the road-side with his. 

I said "Good-bye" to my father, who shook my hand warmly. 

"Learn all you can, Sep, " he said, "and get to be a man, for you have abusy life before you, and before long I shall want you to help me. "

I climbed in, and old Teggley drew out the corners of his lips andgrinned as if he was glad that Bob Chowne was so miserable. For Bob didnot move, only sat with his hands supporting his face, staring downbefore him, bent, miserable, and dejected. 

"What's the matter, Bob?" I said, trying to be cheerful. "Got thetoothache?"

"Yes, " he said sourly, "all over. "

"Get out! What is it? Father made you take some physic?"

"Yes, pills. Verbum nasticusis, and bully draught after. "

"What! Has he been scolding you?"

"Scolding me! He never does anything else. I sha'n't stand it muchlonger. I shall run off to sea and be a cabin-boy. "

"Hi, hi, hi!"

"What are you laughing at?" snapped Bob, turning sharply upon oldTeggley. 

"At you, Mars Bob Chowne, going for a cabin-boy. "

_Whop_!

That last was a severe crack given to admonish the big bony horse oldTeggley drove; but he was a merciful man to his beast, and always hit onthe pad, the collar, or the shafts. 

"S'pose I like to go for a cabin-boy, 'tain't no business of yours, isit?" cried Bob snappishly. 

"Not a bit, my lad, not a bit. I'll take your sea-chest over toBarnstaple for you when you go. "

"No, you won't, " grumbled Bob viciously, "for I won't have one. "

"Ahoy! Bigley, " I shouted, looking out from under the tilt. "Hoorayfor school!"

"Aha! Look at him--look at him!" shouted Bob, whose whole mannerchanged as soon as he saw Bigley's doleful face. "I say, old Grey, here's a little boy crying because he is going back to school. "

Bigley did not say anything, only gave Bob a reproachful glance as hehanded his box up to the carrier, and then climbed in. 

"Gently, Mars Uggles'on, " cried the old carrier, who seemed to considerthat he had a right like other people to joke Bigley about his size;"gently, my lad, or you'll break the sharps. I didn't know I was goingto have a two-horse load. "

"Look here, old Teggley Grey!" cried Bigley firing up; "if you sayanother word about my being so large, I'll pitch you out of the back ofthe cart, and drive into Barnstaple without you. "

"Do, Bigley, do, " cried Bob in ecstasy. "Here, I'll hold the reins. Chuck him out. "

"Don't talk that way, Mars Bob Chowne, " whined the old man. "Youwouldn't like me to be hurt. "

"Oh, just wouldn't I!" cried Bob spitefully. "Pitch him overboard, Bigley, old boy, and hurt him as much as you can. "

"No, no, you wouldn't, Mars Bob Chowne. You wouldn't like me to have tobe carried home on a wagon, and your father have to tend me for brokenbones and such. "

"I tell you I would, " cried Bob savagely; "and I hope you'll bite yourtongue, and then you won't be so ready to ask questions. There!"

"Me ask questions!" exclaimed the old carrier in an ill-used tone. "Asif I ever did. Well, never mind, he'll know better some day. "

The old man sniffed several times quite severely, and sat bolt uprightat the side of the cart, looking out at his horse's ears, and left us toourselves. Bob's fit of melancholy was over, and he was ready to makeremarks upon everything he saw; but neither Bigley nor I spoke, for wewere intent upon something the latter told me. 

"I don't want to tell tales, " he said to me in a low tone, "but fathermakes me miserable. "

"But do you think it is so bad as you say?"

Bigley nodded. 

"He goes and sits on a stone with his spy-glass where he can see them, but they can't see him, and he stops there watching for hours everythingthey do, and comes back looking very serious and queer. "

"Well, what does it matter?" I said. "He won't hurt us. He can't, because he is my father's tenant, and if he did he'd have to go. "

"Don't talk like that, Sep, " whispered Bigley. "It's bad enough now, and it would be worse then. "

"I say, what chaps you two are!" cried Bob Chowne. "Why don't you talkto a fellow?"

No one answered, and Bob turned sulky and went and sat on the front ofthe cart, where he began to whistle. 

"What do you mean by being worse?" I said. 

Bigley shook his head. 

"I don't know; I can't say, " he whispered. "I mean I don't want fatherto be very cross. "

"I say, Big, " I whispered. "Your father really is a smuggler, isn'the?"

Bigley looked sharply round to gaze at old Teggley Grey and Bob Chowne, creeping as he did so nearer to the tail-board of the cart, and Ifollowed him. 

"I oughtn't to tell, " he whispered back. 

"But you'll tell me. I won't say a word to a soul, " I said. 

"Well, I don't know. I'm not sure, but--"

Bigley paused, and looked round again before putting his lips close tomy ear and whispering softly:

"I think he is. "

"I'm sure of it, " I whispered back; "and I know he goes out in hislugger to meet French boats and Dutch boats, and makes no end of moneyby smuggling. "

"Who told you that?" whispered Bigley fiercely. 

"Nobody. It's what everybody says of him. They all say that he'll becaught and hanged some day for it--hung in chains; but of course I hopehe won't, Big, because of you. "

"It's all nonsense. It isn't true, " said Bigley indignantly, "and thosewho talk that way are far more likely to be hung themselves. But I wishyour father hadn't bought the Gap. "

"I don't, " I said. "He had a right to buy it if he liked, and I don'tsee what business it is of your father. Why don't he attend to hisfishing?"

Bigley looked up at me sharply, to see if I had any hidden meaning. 

"He does attend to his fishing, " he said angrily; "and if he hadn't beenattending to his fishing he wouldn't have been out in his boat that day, and saved you from being drowned. "

I never liked Bigley half so well before as when he spoke up like thatin defence of his father; but I was in a sour disappointed mood thatday, because the holidays were over and I was going back to school, so Isaid something that was thoroughly ungenerous, and which I felt sorryfor as I spoke. 

"Yes, he saved us all from being drowned, I suppose, " I said; "but hehadn't been fishing, for there were no fish in the boat. "

"Just as if anybody could be sure of catching fish every time he wentout, " cried Bigley angrily. "There, you want to quarrel because you aremiserable at having to go back to school, but I sha'n't. I hate it. Goand fall out with old Bob Chowne. "

This made me feel angry and I drew away from him, for it was trying tomake out that I was as quarrelsome as Bob Chowne delighted to be. But Ifelt so horribly in fault directly after that I went back to my placeand sat by him in silence. 

After a time the old carrier turned to us with a request that we wouldget out and give the horse a rest up the hill. 

We all obeyed, two of us jumping out over the tail-board, the other bythe front, and leaping off the shaft. 

It was plain enough that the holidays were over, and that the joyoushearty spirit of the homeward-bound was there no more, for Bob Chownetook one side of the road in front of the horse, and the old carrier theother, while Bigley and I hung back behind and walked slowly after themon opposite sides after the fashion of those in front. 

Then came the stopping of the cart, and mounting again and descending acouple more times, before we reached Barnstaple, dull, low-spirited, andready to find about a score of boys just back, and looking as doleful aswe did ourselves. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

OUR SILVER MINE. 

School life has been so often narrated, that I am going to skip overmine, and make one stride from our return after Midsummer to Christmas, when we all went back home in a very different frame of mind. 

The country looked very different to when we saw it last, but it was amild balmy winter, with primroses and cuckoo-pints pushing in thevalleys, and here and there a celandine pretending that spring had come. 

The roads were dirty, but we thought little about them, for we knew thatthe sea-shore was always the same, and, if anything, more interesting inwinter than in summer. 

I was all eagerness to get home and see what had been done in the Gap, for my father in his rare letters had said very little about it. 

Bigley was equally eager too. Six months had made a good deal ofdifference in him, for, young as he was, he seemed to be more manly andfirm-looking, though to talk to he was just as boyish as ever, and neverhappier than when he was playing at some game. 

He, too, was ready enough to talk about the Gap, and wonder what hadbeen done. 

"I hope your father has made friends with mine, " he kept on saying as wedrew nearer home. "It will be so awkward if they are out when you and Iwant to be in. Because we do, don't we?"

"Why, of course, " I cried. "And it will be so awkward, won't it?"

"No, " I said stoutly, "it won't make any difference; you and I are notgoing to fall out, so why should we worry about it? I say, look at BobChowne!"

Bigley turned, and there he was once more seated upon his box, right upon the big knot of the cord, just as if he liked to make himselfuncomfortable. Then his elbows were on his knees and his chin was inhis hands, as he stared straight before him from out of the tilt of thebig cart. 

"Why, what's the matter, Bob?" I said. 

"Nothing. "

"Why, there must be something or you wouldn't look like that. What isit?"

"Oh, I don't know; only that we're going home. "

"Well, aren't you glad?"

"Glad? No, not I. What is there to be glad about? I haven't forgottenlast holidays. "

"What do you mean?" said Bigley and I in a breath. 

"Oh, wasn't I always getting in rows, because you two fellows took meout and got me in trouble. I haven't forgotten about that old suit ofclothes. "

"But I say, Bob, " I cried, "didn't you do your part of getting intotrouble?"

"Oh, I don't know. Don't bother, I'm sick of it. I'm tired of being aboy. I wish I was a man. "

"Nay, don't wish that, " cried the old carrier, who had been hearingeverything, though he had not spoken before. "Man, indeed! Why, aren'tyou all boys with everything you can wish for? How would you like to bea man and have to do nothing else every day but sit in this here cart, and go to and fro, to and fro, from year's end to year's end, and neverno change?"

As we drew near the Bay Bob Chowne grew more fidgety and despondent, butwe tried to cheer him up by making appointments to go fishing andexploring the shore; but my first intent was to run over to the Gap, andsee what was going on there. 

As the carrier's cart descended the hill and we came in sight of thecottage, I saw some one at the gate, and leaning out on one side I sawthat it was my father and the doctor, but before I could say so therewas a jerk which nearly threw me off, and I heard a familiar voice cry:

"There you are, then. Out with your box, lad. Here's Binnacle Billcome to carry it. How do, young gentlemen! Well, young doctor, I'vegot that rope's-ending saved up for you whenever you like to come. "

Old Jonas did not offer to shake hands with either of us, but Bigley didafter handing out his box. 

"You'll come on to-morrow, " he said quickly. 

"Yes, we'll come, " I said, answering for both; and I observed that oldJonas smiled grimly, though he did not speak. 

Then Bob and I were alone and jogging down the zigzag road, traversinganother five hundred yards before we reached our gate, where my fatherand the doctor were waiting for us. 

"Brought the lads home quite safe, captain, " said old Teggley Grey. "Shall I take Mars Robert's box on to the town, doctor?"

The old carrier remained unanswered, for we were both being heartilyshaken by the hand, while old Sam came up smiling to carry in my box. 

"Yes, take on the other box, Grey, " cried the doctor. "We shall walkhome, Bob. "

"After a good tea, " put in my father; and I found that meal awaiting usall, and very hearty and cosy it looked after the formal repasts atschool. 

"Why, you've both grown, " said the doctor, as we sat down in the snugold room, where every object around seemed to be welcoming me. 

"Yes, that they have, " said my father. "Your Bob has the best of ittoo. "

"Trifle, " said the doctor, "trifle. Well, sir, how many suits ofclothes shall you want this time? I've never heard any more of the onesyou lost. "

I saw Bob turn red and take a vicious bite out of a piece of bread andbutter. 

"They're nearly six months older now, " said my father smiling, as heperformed the feminine task of pouring out the tea, "and they'll be morecareful. "

"Will they?" said the doctor emphatically. "You see if the youngvarlets are not in trouble before the week's out, sir. "

"Let's hope not, " said my father. "Come, boys, help yourselves to theham and eggs. "

"Come, boys, help yourselves to the ham and eggs!" said Bob Chowne tome, as soon as we were alone. "Who's to help himself to ham and eggswhen he's having the suit of clothes he lost banged about hisunfortunate head? It regularly spoiled my tea. "

"Why, Bob, " I cried, "you had three big cups, six pieces of bread andbutter, two slices of ham, three eggs, a piece of cake, and some cream. "

"There's a sneak--there's a way to treat a fellow!" he cried, growingspiky all over, and snorting with annoyance. "Ask a poor chap to tea, and then count his mouthfuls. Well, that is mean. "

"Why, I only said so because you declared you had had a bad tea. "

"So I did--miserable, " he retorted. "I seemed to see myself againsitting at home in those old worn-out clothes, and afraid to go out atany other time but night, when no one was looking. "

"Now, Bob: where are you?" cried his father. "I'll take him off atonce, Duncan, or he'll eat you out of house and home. "

"Hear that?" cried Bob, "hear that? Pretty way to talk of a fellow, isn't it. I don't wonder everybody hates me. I'm about the mostmiserable chap that ever was. "

"Not you, Bob. Come over to-morrow. "

"What for?"

"Oh, I don't know. We'll go rabbiting or something. "

"Now, Bob!" came from the doctor. 

"Here, I must go. Good-bye. I'll come if I can. I wish I was you, orold Bigley, or somebody else. "

"Or back at school, " I said laughing. 

"Yes, or back at school, " he said quite seriously; and then his arm wasgrasped by his father. 

"Just as if I was a patient, " he grumbled to me next day. "Father don'tlike me. He only thinks I am a nuisance, and he's glad when I'm goingback to school. I shall run off to Bristol some day and go to sea, that's what I shall do. "

But that was the next day. That evening I stood with my father at thegate till Bob and his father were out of sight in the lane, and then wewent back into the parlour, where my father lit his pipe and sat smokingand gazing at me. 

"Well, Sep, " he said after a pause, "don't you want to know how the mineis getting on?"

"Yes, father, " I said; "but I didn't like to ask. "

"Well, I'll tell you without, my boy. I've not got much profit out ofit at present, because the expenses of starting have been so great; butit's a very fine thing, my boy. "

"Is it going to make you rich, father?"

"I hope so, boy, for your sake. There's plenty of lead, and out of thelead we are able to get about four per cent of silver. "

"Four per cent, father!" I said; "what--interest?"

"No, boy, profit. I mean in every hundred pounds of lead there are fourpounds of pure silver, but of course it costs a good deal to refine. "

"And may I go and see it all to-morrow?" I asked. 

"To be sure; and I hope, after a year or two, you will be of great useto me there. "

I felt as if I could hardly sleep that night when I went to bed. Therehad been so much to see about the place, so much talk to have with oldSam and Kicksey, that it hardly needed the thought of seeing the minenext day to keep me awake. 

I thought I should never go to sleep, I say; but I awoke at half-pastseven the next morning, feeling as if I had had a thoroughly goodnight's rest, and as soon as breakfast was over I started with my fatheron a dull soft winter's morning to see the mine. 

Bob and Bigley were to come over; but I felt that it would be twelveo'clock before Bob came, and that I should meet Bigley; so no harm wouldbe done in the way of breaking faith in the appointment. 

We walked sharply across the hill and descended into the Gap, but beforewe had gone far we met old Jonas Uggleston. 

"Morning!" he said pleasantly. "Morning, squire!" to me. "Seen myBigley yet?"

"No. "

"Ah! He has gone your way. Tell him I want to see him if he comes. "

We said we would, and old Jonas went his way and we ours. 

"Why, father, " I said, "how civil he has grown!"

"Yes, " said my father gravely, "he has; but I would almost rather he hadkept his distance. Don't tell your school-fellow I said that. "

"Of course not, father, " I said confidently; and we went on to themine--the silver mine, and I stood and stared at a part of the valleythat had been inclosed with a stone wall. There were some rough stonesheds, a stack of oak props, and a rough-looking pump worked by a largewater-wheel, which was set in motion by a trough which brought waterfrom the side of the hill, where a tiny stream trickled down. 

There was one very large heap of rough stone that looked as if barrowsfull of broken fragments were always being run along it, and turned overat the end, for the pieces to rattle down the side into the valley;there was a small heap close by, and under a shed there was a manbreaking up some dirty wet stuff with a hammer. 

That was all that was to see except some troughs to carry off dirtywater, and the rough framework and trap-doors over what seemed to be awell. 

"Why, Sep, " said my father laughing, "how blank you look! Don't youadmire the mine?"

"Is--is this a silver mine, father?" I faltered. 

"Yes, my lad, silver-lead. Doesn't look very attractive, does it?"

I shook my head. 

"But is it going to be worth a great deal of money?"

"Yes, my boy; only wait and you'll see. But I suppose you expected tosee a hole in the earth leading down into quite an enchanted cave--eh?--a sort of Aladdin's palace, with walls sparkling with native silver?"

"Well, not quite so much as that, father, " I replied; "but I did expectto find something different to this. "

"So do most people when they go to see a mine, Sep, and they arehorribly disappointed to find that they have not used their commonsense. They know that if they dig down into the earth to make a well, in twenty feet or so, perhaps less, they come to water; and it has neveroccurred to them that if they dig down to form a mine, it must naturallybe a wet dark muddy hole just like this one upon which you look with somuch disgust. But wait a bit, my boy. We shall soon have furnaces atwork and be smelting our ore and converting some of it into silver. There'll be more to see then. You don't care to go down?" he said, leaning his hand upon a windlass over the trap-doors. 

"Is there anything to see, father?" I said rather dolefully. 

"To see! Well, there are the sides of a big well-like hole which youcan see from here. Look!"

He threw open a trap-door, and I gazed into a well-like place with acouple of ropes hanging down it, and I noted that the walls were made ofthe stone that had been dug and broken out. The place looked dark anddamp, and there was the trickling of dripping water. That was all. 

"Well, Sep, what do you say?--will you go?"

"Is it all like this, father?" I said. 

"Yes, precisely, my lad. Shall I have you let down?"

"No, thank you, " I said; "I think I'll stop up. "

He nodded and smiled, and after staying with him for a time while heexamined some of the ore that the man was breaking up he set me free, but not till I had asked him how many men he had at work, and been toldthat at present there were only six. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

WE HAVE A LITTLE FISHING. 

I went away to see if I could find Bigley, feeling very much put out, and full of hope that Bob Chowne, when he came, would not ask me to takehim to see the mine. 

For, truth to tell, I had made rather a fuss about that mine, talkingabout silver-lead in a very important way at school; and, as I recalledmy words, I felt quite a shudder of horror as I thought of all the boysin my class coming and standing at the mouth of the mine, and burstinginto a roar of laughter at this being the silver cavern in the earth. 

There was no likelihood of any of them coming save Bob Chowne; but therewas no knowing what he would say when we got back if I offended him andhe was in one of his teasing fits. 

I walked down to the end of the Gap, past the cottage, and was justgoing to ask if Bigley had come back, when I saw old Jonas and BinnacleBill, with another man, putting off in the lugger, which was lying by abuoy about a quarter of a mile from the shore. 

After five months at school it seemed such a pretty sight to see the redsails hoisted and fill out, and the lugger begin to move slowly over thesmooth water, that I sat down on a stone and watched the boat, wishing Iwere in her, till she gradually grew more distant, and there was a dullthud close beside me. 

I looked round but saw nothing, and I was turning to watch the luggeragain, when I heard a fresh pat on the slate rubbish by me, and soonafter a piece of flat, thin shale struck the clatter stream behind me. 

"Some one throwing, " I said to myself, and looking up, there, about sixhundred feet above me on the cliff path, were Bigley and Bob Chowne. 

I shouted to them, and they ran to the nearest clatter stream and beganto slide down standing. Sometimes they came swiftly for a few yards;sometimes they stopped and each had a check, a fall, and a roll over, but they were up again directly, and in less than half the time it wouldhave taken them to walk they were down by my side. 

"Here, where have you been?" cried Bob, who was in the highest of glee. "Old Big says it's such a dark quiet day that the fish are sure to bite, and he's going to ask his father to let us have the boat, and row out. "

"But Mr Uggleston isn't at home. "

"No, that he isn't, " said Bigley, who had just caught sight of thelugger. "That is tiresome. "

"But they haven't taken the boat, " cried Bob, "so it don't matter. "

"Yes, it does, " said Bigley gravely, "because I shouldn't like to takethe boat without leave. "

"Why, of course you wouldn't if your father was at home, " said Bobquickly; "but I'm quite sure Mr Uggleston wouldn't like us two to bedisappointed when we'd come on purpose to go. "

"Oh, I don't think he'd mind, " said Bigley. 

"But I know he would, " cried Bob, who spoke in the most consequentialmanner. "Your father is rough, but he is very good at bottom. "

"Why, of course he is, " cried Bigley. 

"Then he wouldn't like us to be cheated out of our treat, so you get themussels for the bait, and some worms, and let's go. "

Bigley hesitated. He wanted to go, for the sea was as smooth as amill-pond--a rare thing in winter; and perhaps we should have to waitfor some time before another such day arrived. 

He looked at me and I wanted to go too. That was plain enough, and thechance seemed so tempting that, even if I did not openly abet Bob, Isaid no word to persuade Bigley not. 

"You'd got all the lines and bait ready, hadn't you?" said Bobcunningly. 

"Yes, everything's ready, and I meant to ask father as soon as I gotback. Here, hi! Mother Bonnet, how long will father be?"

"Oh, all depends on the wind, " said the fresh-looking old lady comingout, smiling and smoothing her hair. "They've gone across to Swansea, my dear. It will be a long time 'fore they're back. "

"There, you see, you can't ask, and it's no use to signal to them in thelugger, because they couldn't understand, so you've got to take theboat, and we shall be back long before they are. "

"But it would be so horrible if we were to meet with any accident thistime, " said Bigley. "You know how unlucky we were over the prawns. There, we'd better not go!"

"There's a Molly for you!" cried Bob. "Just because we got in a muddletwice over in catching prawns and crabs you think we're always going tobe in a mess. "

"No, I don't, " said Bigley; "but it would be so queer if we got into ascrape the very first time we go out. "

"Get out! Oh, I say, you do make me grin, old Big. There, go and getyour lines, and a gaff, and the basket of bait. Let's be off while thesea is so smooth. "

Bigley hesitated, and after a good deal of banter from Bob, and anappeal to me, he went off, sorry and yet pleased, to get the lines andbait. 

"And now he'll be obliged to go, Sep. Don't let's give him time tothink, or he's such an old woman he'll back out. "

"But--"

"Get out! Don't say but. There, we won't go out far, only to the mouththere by the buoy, and we can catch plenty of fish without any troubleat all. "

I gave way--I couldn't help it, and we two went on, so that when Bigleycame with the baskets and lines we were waiting for them, and hisscruples were nearly overcome. 

"Think it will matter if we take the boat?" he said dubiously, for heevidently shared our longing to go. 

I said no, I did not think it would, for we could clean it out after wehad done fishing, and we had been boating so often with other peoplethat I for one felt quite equal to the management of the little vessel. 

But all the time there was a curious sensation of wrong-doing worryingme, and I wished that I had not been so ready to agree. It was as if Ifelt the impression of trouble that was coming; but I kept the feelingto myself. 

"Well, " said Bigley, "I did mean to ask for leave. "

"Of course you did, " cried Bob Chowne; "but as your father is off youcan't. Come along, boys, and let's get a good haul this time. "

He seized the bait-basket and made the shells of the mussels rattle ashe trotted down towards where the little five-pointed anchor or grapnellay on the beach, and began to haul in the boat. 

As the light buoyant vessel came gliding over the smooth surface, andgrated and bumped against and over the stones, the thoughts of whetherwe were doing right or wrong grew faint, and then, as the bait-basketwas thrown in, and the lines followed, they were forgotten. 

"In with you, lads!" cried Bob, making a spring, and leaping from a drystone right into the boat; but his feet slipped, and he came downsitting in the basket of mussels with an unpleasant crash. 

"Now, look here!" he cried in a passion, "if you fellows laugh at me Iwon't go. "

Of course this made us all the more disposed; but we turned our backsand went down upon our knees to begin seeing to the hooks upon one ofthe reeled-up lines. 

"There, you are laughing both of you!" cried Bob, who was easing thepain he felt, or thought he was, by lifting up and setting down firstone leg and then the other. 

"That we are not!" I cried, and certainly our faces were seriousenough, as we hurriedly popped the lines over the bows, when I jumpedin, and, catching up the little grapnel, Bigley took one big stride withhis long legs, and was on the gunwale, which went down nearly to thewater with his weight; but as the boat rose again, the impetus of thethrust he gave her in leaping aboard carried her out a couple oflengths. 

There was no thought now of any wrong-doing, as Bob and I seized an oarapiece and began to paddle as the boat rose and fell and glided over theswelling tide. 

"Pull away, Sep!" cried Bob. "Here, old Big, you're sitting all on oneside and making the boat lop. Get in the middle or I'll splash you!"

Bigley moved good-humouredly, and the boat danced beneath his weight. 

"Heave ho! Steady!" shouted Bob. "Don't sink us, lad. I say, what aweight you are! Let's put him ashore, Sep. He's too big a Big for aboat like this. "

"Make good ballast, " said Bigley, laughing good-humouredly. "Boats arealways safer when they are well ballasted. "

"I daresay they are, but I like 'em best without Big lumps in 'em. Isay, how far out shall we go?"

"Oh, about a quarter of a mile, straight out, over the Ringlet rocks. You pull, I'll watch the bearings, and drop out the grapnel. Pullhard!"

We rowed away steadily, while, to save time, Bigley took out hispocket-knife and, taking a board from the bait-basket, laid it upon theseat, and began to open the mussels and scrape out the contents of theshells ready for placing them upon the hooks when we reached the fishingground. 

For I may tell you that knowing the bottom well has a great deal to dowith success in sea-fishing. A stranger to our parts might think thatall he had to do was to row out in a little boat a few hundred yards, and begin to fish. 

If he did that, the chances are that he would not catch anything, whilea boat three or four lengths away might be hauling in fish quite fast. 

The reason is simple. Sea fish frequent certain places after thefashion of fresh-water fish, which are found, according to their sorts, on muddy bottoms; half-way down in clear deeps; among piles; in gravellyswims; at the tails of weeds; or under the boughs of trees close in tothe side of river or lake. 

So with the sea fish. If we wanted to catch bass, we threw out inplaces where the tide ran fast; if we were trying for pollack, it wasalong close by the stones of the rocky shore; if for conger, in deepdark holes; and if for flat-fish, right out in deep water, where thebottom was all soft oozy sand. 

Upon this occasion we had decided for the latter, and with Bigley givinga word now and then to direct us, as he watched certain points on theshore, we rowed away for quite half a mile, but keeping straight outfrom the Gap. 

"Now we're just over the Ringlets, " cried Bigley suddenly. 

"Heave over the anchor then!" I shouted. 

"No, go on a bit farther, about fifty yards, and then we shall be on themuddy sand. I know. "

We boys pulled, and then all at once Bigley shouted "In oars!" and weceased rowing as the grapnel went over the side with a splash, and thecord ran across the gunwale, grating and _scrorting_ as Bob called it, till the little anchor reached the bottom, and the drifting of the boatwas checked. 

"I say, isn't it deep?" I said. 

"Just about nine fathoms, " said Bigley. "You'll have plenty of haulingto do. "

"I say, look!" I cried, as I happened to look shoreward, "you can seeright up the Gap nearly to the mine. "

"Isn't the sea smooth?" said Bob. "It's just like oil. Now then, firstfish. Put us on a good big bait, Bigley, old chap. "

The hooks were all ready with the weights and spreaders, and Bigleybegan calmly enough to hook and twist on a couple of the wet and messyraw mussels for Bob, and then did the same for mine, when we two beganto fish on opposite sides of the boat, letting the leads go rapidly downwhat appeared to be a tremendous distance before they touched the ooze. 

It seemed quite a matter of course that we two were to fish, and Bigleywait upon us, opening mussels, rebaiting when necessary, and holdinghimself ready to take off the fish, should any be caught. 

I never used to think anything about Bigley Uggleston in these days, only that he was overgrown and good-tempered, and never ready toquarrel; and it did not seem to strike either of us that he was aboutthe most unselfish, self-denying slave that ever lived. I know now thatwe were perfect tyrants to him, while he, amiable giant that he was, bore it all with the greatest of equanimity, and the more unreasonablewe were, the more patient he seemed to grow. 

We fished for some few minutes without a sign, and then Bob grew weary. 

"It's no good here, Big, they won't bite. Let's go on farther. "

"Bait's off, perhaps, " suggested Bigley. 

"No, it isn't. I haven't had a touch. "

"Perhaps not, but the flat-fish suck it off gently sometimes. Pull up. "

Bob drew in the wet line hand over hand, till the lead sinker hit theside of the boat; and Bigley proved to be right, both baits were off hishooks, and as they were being rebaited I hauled in my line to find thatit was in the same condition. 

By the time Bob's lead was at the bottom, my hooks were being coveredwith mussel, and I threw in again. 

As mine reached the sandy ooze, and I held the line in one hand, therewas a slight vibration of the lead, but it passed away again, and Ifished, to pull up again at the end of a few minutes and find both baitsgone. 

Bob's were the same, and so we fished on till he declared that it was ofno use, that it was the tide washed the bait off, and that there wasn'ta fish within a hundred yards. "But I'm sure there are lots, " saidBigley. "Why, how can you tell?" cried Bob. "You can't see two feetdown through the water, it's so muddy. "

"I know by the baits being taken off, " replied Bigley decidedly. "Thereare fish here I'm sure, and--"

"I've got him, " I shouted, beginning to haul in, for I could feelsomething heavy at the end of the line which had given several sharpsnatches as I hauled. 

"Oh, what a shame!" cried Bob. "I don't see why they should come firstto old Sep. Here, I know what it is. Only an old bow-wow. "

"No, it isn't, " I exclaimed as I caught a glimpse of something white, looking like a slice of the moon far down below the boat. "It's aflat-fish, and a big one. "

I proved to be right, as I hauled it flapping over the side, and Bigleyseized what proved to be a nice plaice, and took the hook from its jaws. 

As the line, being rebaited, was thrown in again, there was a seriousexamination of the prize, which was about to be transferred to thebasket brought to hold our captures, when Bob shouted, "I've got him!"and began to haul in with all his might. 

We both adjured him to be careful, but in his excitement he paid noheed, only dragged as hard as he could, and hoisted in a long grey fish, at which he gazed with a comical aspect full of disgust. 

I laughed, and as I laughed he grew more angry, for his prize was whathe had previously called a "bow-wow" and attributed to me. For it was agood-sized dog-fish, one which had to be held at head and tail lest inits twining and lashing about it should strike with its spine and dosome mischief. 

"Here, let me take him off, " cried Bob. 

"No, no; you mind the line isn't tangled, " cried Bigley; but Bob gavehim a push, the dog-fish, which was nearly a yard long, was set free, and began to journey about amongst Bob's line, while, when he placed hisfoot upon its head, the fierce creature bent half round, and then letitself go like a spring, with the effect that it struck Bob's shoe sosmart a blow with one of its spines that the shoe was pierced by thetoe, and it required a tug to withdraw the spine. 

"Are you hurt, Bob?" we both cried earnestly. 

"No, not a bit. My toes don't go down as far as that. Ah, would you?"

This was to the fish, which was lashing about fiercely. 

"Let me do it, Bob. I'll kill it in no time, and I know how to managehim. "

"So do I, " said Bob independently, as he made another attack upon thedog-fish, which resented it by a fresh stroke with its spine, this timeso near to Bob's leg that he jumped back and fell over the thwart. 

"I say, that was near, " he cried. "You have a try, Big. "

Our school-fellow wanted no second bidding, and taking hold of the line, he drew the fish's head under his right foot, pressed down its tail withhis left, took out the hook, and then with his knife inflicted soserious a cut upon the creature that, when he threw it over, it onlystruggled feebly, as it sank slowly and was carried away. 

"There's a cruel wretch!" cried Bob. "Did you see how vicious he waswith his knife?"

"It isn't cruel to kill fishes like that, " retorted Bigley. "See whatmischief they do hunting the other fish and eating everything. See howthey bite the herrings and mackerel out of the nets, only leaving theirheads. "

"He wouldn't have said anything if the dog had spiked him, " I said. 

"Why, so he did spike me, " cried Bob; "and--"

"I've got another, " I cried, beginning to haul up, and as I hauled Bobsent his freshly-baited and disentangled hook down to the bottom. 

I had caught another flat-fish about the size of the first, and directlyafter Bob caught one. Then there was a pause, and I took anotherdog-fish, and after that we fished, and fished, and fished for abouthalf an hour and caught nothing. 

It was December, but the air was still, and we did not feel it in theslightest degree cold. I suppose it was the excitement kept us warm, for there was always the expectation of taking something big, even ifthe great fish never came. 

Just as we were thinking that it was of no use to stay longer the fishbegan to bite again, and we caught several, but all small, and then allat once, as I was lowering my lead, I cried out:

"Look here! I can't touch bottom. "

"Nonsense!" said Bob, lowering his line, but only to become a convert, and exclaim accordingly. 

"Why, we're drifting, " cried Bigley, going to the line that held theanchor, to find that it had been dragged out of the muddy sand, and thatwe had slowly gone with the tide into deeper water, whose bottom therewas not length enough of rope for the grapnel to touch. 

"I'll soon put that right, " cried Bigley, unfastening the line andletting about three fathoms more run out, but even then the anchor didnot reach bottom, and without we were stationary it was of no use tofish. 

"Haul in your lines, lads, " cried Bigley, setting us an example bydragging away at the cord which held the anchor. "We must row back abit. We've drifted into the deep channel. I didn't know we were out sofar. "

"Oh, I say, look!" cried Bob. "It's beginning to rain, and we've nogreatcoats. "

"Never mind, " said Big, getting hold of the anchor as we drew in ourleads, and laid them with the hooks carefully placed aside, ready forbeginning again. 

"Now, then, who's going to pull along with me!"

"You pull, Sep, " said Bob. "I want to count the fish. "

I took an oar, and just as I was about to pull the boat's head round Ilooked towards the mouth of the Gap, which was nearly three-quarters ofa mile away, and though at present the smooth sea was just specked hereand there by the falling drops, over shoreward there was what seemed tobe a thick mist coming as it were out of the mouth of the Gap, and acurious dull roar towards where we were. 

"Going to be a squall, " said Bigley. "Pull away, Sep, and let's getashore. "

Easy enough to say--difficult enough to do, as we very soon found, inspite of trying our very best. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

THE FOLLOWING NIGHT. 

I have told you who did not know what our coast was like--one high wallof cliffs and hills from six hundred to a thousand feet high, withbreaks where the little rivers ran down into the sea, and these breaks, after the fashion of our Gap, narrow valleys that run into the land withoften extremely precipitous walls, and a course such as a lightningflash is seen to make in a storm, zigzagging across the sky. 

If you do not know I may as well at once tell you what is often theeffect of rowing or sailing along such a coast as ours: You may be goingalong in an almost calm sea for hours, perhaps, till, as you row acrossone of these valleys or combes, the wind suddenly comes rushing out likean enormous blast from some vast pipe. All the time, perhaps, there hasbeen a sharp breeze blowing high up in the air, the great wall of rockpreventing its striking where you are, but no sooner are you in front ofthe opening than you feel its power. 

Beside this, all may be calm elsewhere, while down the steep-sidedvalley a keen blast rushes, coming from far inland, high up on the moor, where it has perhaps behaved like a whirlwind, and having finished itswild career there, has plunged down into the combe to make its escapeout to sea. 

It was just such a gust as this last which suddenly came upon us, raising the sea into short rough waves, and bearing upon its wings sucha tremendous storm of sharp cutting rain and hail, that, after fightingagainst it for some time and feeling all the while that we were driftingout to sea, we ceased rowing and allowed the boat to go, in the hopethat the squall would end in a few minutes as quickly as it had come on. 

The rush of the wind and the beating and hissing of the rain wasterribly confusing. The waves, too, lapped loudly against the sides andthreatened to leap in; and while we glanced to right and left in thehope of being blown in under shelter of the land, we found that the boatwas rushing through the water, our bodies answering the purpose ofsails. 

We crouched down together, not to diminish the power of the wind, but inthat way to afford each other a little shelter from the drenching rain. 

"It can't last long, " shouted Bigley, for he was obliged to cry aloud tomake himself heard above the shrieking of the storm. 

But it did last long and kept increasing in violence. The heavens, inplace of being of the soft bluish-grey that had been so pleasant when wecame out, had grown black, the rain all about us was like a thick mistthat shut out the sight of the cliffs, and with it the power of seeingthe hissing water descend into the sea for a few yards round, we formingwhat seemed to be the centre of the mist. 

And there we were, drive, drive before the wind at what we felt wasquite a rapid rate, till all at once the rain passed on, leaving us wet, and cold, and wretched, and ready to huddle more closely still for thesake of warmth. 

But though the rain had passed on, and it was clear behind us as it wasdark ahead, while we could see the mouth of the Gap and the loweringcliffs, the wind did not cease, but seemed to be blowing more angrilythan ever--with such force, indeed, that we could hardly make each otherhear. 

There was an unpleasant symptom of danger, too, ready to trouble us, inthe shape of the waves, which made the boat dance up and down and thenpitch, as it still went rapidly on farther out to sea. 

"Ready?" shouted Bigley, as I sat with my teeth chattering in thepiercing wind. 

I nodded, for I did not care to open my mouth to speak; and, inobedience to a sign, I held the water while he began to pull round asfast as he could and get the boat's head to the wind. 

For a minute or so we were in very great danger, for as soon as we werebroadside to the wind the waves seemed to leap up and the wind to striveto blow us over; but by sheer hard work Bigley got her head round, andthen we pulled together, with the boat rising up one wave and plungingdown another in a way that was quite startling. 

Bob Chowne did not speak, only crouched down in the bottom of the boatand watched us as we tugged hard at the oars, under the impression thatwe were rowing in. But we soon knew to the contrary. We were onlyboys, the boat was a heavy one and stood well out of the water, and aswe pulled the wind had tremendous power over our oars. In fact all wedid was to keep the boat's head straight to the wind, and so diminishedthe violence of its power over us, while of course this was the best wayto meet the waves that seemed to come directly off the shore. 

"Come and pull now, Bob, " I shouted after tugging at the oar for a longtime. My feeling of chilliness had passed away, and I was weary andbreathless with my exertions. 

I kept on pulling while Bob came to my side, and as he took the oar Igradually edged away and crept under it to go and take the place wherehe had crouched. 

It was a black look-out for us; for it was already growing dim, and weknew that in half an hour it would be quite dark. The wind was stillrising and the sea flecked with little patches of foam; while, as Ilooked towards the Gap, I could not help seeing with sinking heart thatnot only were the high rocks growing dim with the shades of the wintrynight, but with the distance too. 

You know how quickly the change comes on from day to night at the end ofDecember. You can imagine, then, in the midst of that sudden storm, howanxiously I watched the shore, and tried to persuade myself that we weregetting nearer when I knew that we were not. 

If I had had any doubt about it, Bigley, who had been used to sea-goingfrom a little child, put an end to it by suddenly shouting:

"It's of no good; we are only drifting out. I'm going to try and getunder shelter of the cliff. "

Then, shouting to Bob to ease a little, he pulled hard at the boat'shead to get her a little to the west instead of due south, and thenshouted to our companion again to pull with all his might. 

Bob did pull--I could see that he did; but we did not get under theshelter of the cliff, for the change in the position of the boatpresented more surface to the wind, and we could feel that we weredrifting faster still. 

We tried not to lose heart; but it was impossible to keep away a certainamount of despondency as we realised that all our pulling was in vain, and as we grew wearied out Bigley said that it was of no use to row. All we were to do was to keep the boat's head well to the wind. 

I crept after a time to Bigley's place in answer to a sign from him, forwe had grown very silent; and as he resigned his oar to me and I went onpulling, while he crept aft to sit in the stern, it seemed as if it hadall at once grown dark above us. The shore died away, all but one spotof light--a tiny spot that shone out like a star, one that we knew to bein the cottage where Mother Bonnet had no doubt a good hot cup of teawaiting for us, who were perishing with the cold and gradually driftingfarther and farther away. 

We could not talk for the wind. Besides, too, it was very hard work totalk and row in such a sea; so I sat and thought of how hard it was tobe situated as we were, and to have again got into trouble in what wasmeant for a pleasant recreation. 

I thought all this, and I believe my companions had very similarthoughts as we danced up and down on the short cockling sea. 

Then all at once, as the darkness overhead seemed to have grown moreintense, and the sea with its foam to give the little light we enjoyed, we were aware of a fresh danger. 

The wind and the hissing and beating of the sea made a great deal ofnoise, but that loud washing splash sounded louder to us, and so did therattle of a tin pot which Bigley seized, and lifted the board from overthe bit of a well and began to bale. 

For one of the waves had struck the bows, risen up, and poured three orfour gallons of water into the boat. 

Bigley was ready for the emergency, though, directly, and we saw therise and fall of the tin pan as he swept it up and down and sent thewater flying on the wings of the wind. 

Before he had baled the boat out the first time another wave swept in, and he had to work hard to clear that out; but he soon had that doneafter correcting our rowing, for I was pulling harder than Bob, and theconsequence was that the boat was not quite head to wind and did notride so easily as she should. 

Darker and darker, with the faint star in the Gap quite gone now, andall around us the hissing waste of waters upon which our frail shell ofa boat was tossed! It was so black now that we could hardly see eachother's faces, and in a doleful silence we toiled on till all at oncethere was a sobbing cry from Bob Chowne, who fell forward over his oar. Then the boat fell off and a wave came with a hissing rush over thebows. 

"Back water, Sep!" yelled Bigley as he dragged Bob Chowne away, seizedhis oar, and began pulling, when the boat seemed to be eased again androse and fell regularly; but a quantity of water kept rushing to and froabout poor Bob Chowne, who kept receiving it alternately in his back andface. 

"Sit up and bale, Bob!" shouted Bigley. "Do you hear? Take thepannikin and bale. "

Bob did not move, and Bigley shouted to him again. 

"Take the pannikin and bale. Do you hear me? Take the pannikin andbale. "

"I can't, " moaned Bob. "I can't. Let me lie here and die. "

Dark as it was I could just make out Bigley's actions, for I was in thefore part of the boat, and he before me. 

"Bale, I say! Do you hear? Bale!" he shouted in his deep gruff voice. 

"I can't, " moaned Bob piteously. 

"Then we shall sink--we shall go to the bottom. "

"Yes; we're going to die, " groaned Bob. 

"No, we're not, " cried Bigley in a fierce angry way that seemeddifferent to anything I had before heard from him. "Get up and bale!"

"No, no, " groaned Bob again. 

"Get up and bale!" thundered Bigley, and I felt hot and angry againsthim, as I heard a dull thud, and it did not need Bob Chowne's cry ofpain to tell me that Bigley had given him a kick on the ribs. 

"Oh, Big!" I cried. 

"Row!" he roared at me; and then to Bob: "Now, will you bale?"

"Yes, " groaned Bob, struggling to his knees, and, holding on with onehand, he began to dip the baler in regularly and slowly, throwing outabout a pint of water every time. 

"Faster!" shouted Bigley; "faster, I say. "

"Oh!" moaned poor Bob; but he obeyed, and it seemed a puzzle to me thatour big companion, whom we bantered and teased, and led a sorry life atschool, should somehow in this time of peril take the lead over us, andforce us to behave in a way that could only have been expected of a crewobeying the captain of a boat. 

I bent forward to Bigley as we kept on with the regular chop chop of theoars, making no effort to get nearer to the shore, only to keep theboat's head level, and I whispered in his ear:

"Shall we get to shore again!"

"Yes, " he said confidently; "only you two must do what I tell you. Imust be skipper now. Go on, you, Bob Chowne!" he roared. "Heave outthat water. Do you want me to kick you again?"

Bob whimpered, but he worked faster, scooping the water clumsily out andthrowing it over, the side, and, after he had done, and been sittingcrouched at the bottom, Bigley seemed to attack him again unkindly, asif he were going to take advantage of his helplessness, and serve himout for many an old piece of tyranny. 

"Now, then, " he shouted--and it seemed to be his father speaking, notour quiet easy-going school-fellow, but the rough seafaring man who hadthe credit of being a smuggler--"Now then, you, Bob Chowne, " he roared, "get up, and come and take Sep Duncan's oar. "

"I can't, " he groaned piteously, and he let himself fall against theside of the boat. "I'm so cold, I'm half dead. "

"Oh, are you?" shouted Bigley. "No you ar'n't, so get up and creep overhere. "

"I can't, " cried Bob again. 

"Then I'll make you, " cried Bigley fiercely, and lifting his oar out ofthe rowlocks he sent it along the gunwale, till he made it tap heavilyagainst the back of Bob Chowne's head. 

"Oh!" shrieked Bob, and I felt my cheeks burn, cold as I was. 

"Now, will you come and work, you sneak?"

"I--I can't. "

"Get up, or I'll come and heave you overboard, " roared Bigley. "I won'thave it. "

"Oh--oh!" sobbed poor Bob. 

"Let him be, Big, " I cried. "I'm not very tired. "

"You hold your tongue, " was the response I had in an angry tone. "Yoube ready to give up your oar when he comes. Now, then, up with you, orI'll do it again. "

Bob Chowne groaned piteously and crawled forward. 

"Why can't you let a fellow die quietly?" he sobbed out, and then hecrept over the seat where Bigley was rowing, so as to get to where Istill tugged at my oar in hot indignation. 

"Die, eh?" shouted Bigley with a forced laugh. "Yes, you'd better. Leave us to do all the pulling, would you? Oh, no, you don't. I'mbiggest and I'll make you pull. "

"Oh--oh--oh!" whimpered Bob. "Why can't you let a poor fellow be?"

"Be! What for?" shouted Bigley to my astonishment, for I could not havebelieved him guilty of such brutality. "Yes, I'll let you be. I'llmake you work, that's what I'll do. I wish I'd a rope's end here. "

"It's too bad, it's too cruel, Big, " I cried passionately. "How can youbehave so brutally to the poor fellow!"

"Here, you stick to your own work, " cried Bigley fiercely. "Look, you're letting me do all the work. Keep her head to the wind, willyou?"

His orders were so sharp and fierce that I found myself obeying themdirectly, and went on baling while Bob whimpered, and Bigley kept onhectoring over us, as I ladled out a little water now and then. 

The wind blew as fiercely as ever, and we knew that we were rapidlybeing carried out farther and farther, right away to a certain extenttowards the Welsh coast, but of course being also in the set of thetide, and going out to sea. The cold was terrible whenever we ceasedpulling from utter weariness, but we managed among us to keep the boat'shead to wind hour after hour, and danced over and over the waves till bydegrees the fury of the wind died out, though we could not believe it atfirst. Soon, though, it become very evident that it was sinking, and Iheard Bigley utter a sigh of relief. 

It was quite time that the little gale did pass over, for during thelast half hour the water had been coming into the boat more and more, sothat it had become necessary for one of us to keep on baling, for thewaves seemed to be getting more angry; a sharp rain of spray was dashedfrom their tops into our necks, and soaking our hair, and every now andagain there was a blow, a splash, and a rush of water through the boat. 

It was quite true, though we at first thought that we must be undershelter of the land; the wind was sinking fast, and the waves lost theirfierce foaminess. They rose and fell, and leaped against the boat, butit was with less splash and fury, and then, as the danger died away, sodid our remaining strength. Bigley and I, who were now rowing, orrather dipping our oars from time to time, slowly threw them in, and theboat lay tossing up and down at the mercy of the waves; but no waterdashed in over the gunwale, and Bob Chowne's hand with the baler restedhelplessly by his side. 

No one spoke out there in the darkness, but we sat in the terriblesilence, utterly exhausted, and rapidly growing chilled through andthrough in our saturated clothes. I remember looking out, and awaythrough the darkness towards the shore as I thought, but I could seenothing till I raised my eyes toward the sky, and then I saw that theclouds had been driven away by the wind, and the stars were out, whilestraight before me there was the only constellation I knew--the GreatBear. 

I was too weary for it to trouble me, but I learned then that the boatmust have turned almost completely round since we had left off rowing, for where I had thought the land lay was out to sea, and the Welshcoast--in fact I had been looking due north instead of due south. 

It did not trouble me much, for I was hungry and thirsty, and then Ifelt sleepy, and then shivering with cold, while a few minutes later Ifelt as if nothing mattered at all, for I was utterly wearied out. 

Bigley was the first to speak, but it was not in the fierce tone of ashort time before. He seemed to have changed back into our big mildschool-fellow as he said:

"Come on over here, Sep, and let's all creep together. It won't be socold then. "

I noted the change in his tone, but I could not say anything, only obeyhim. 

"Come, Bob, " I said, as I climbed over the thwart, and tried to standsteadily in the dancing boat. 

But Bob did not move or speak, and we others crept close to his side, beginning by edging up and leaning against each other, shivering thewhile, but the improvement was so great at the end of a few minutes, that we thrust our arms under each other's soaked jackets, and held onas closely as we could, to feel bitterly cold outside but comfortablywarm on the inner. 

The stars came out more and more, the wind died away, and the shortdancing motion by very slow degrees subsided into a regular cradle-likerock, that, in spite of the cold, had a lulling effect upon us; and atlast I seemed to be thinking of the miserable-looking mine in the Gap, and my father scolding me for going away without asking leave, and theneverything seemed to be nothing, and nothing else. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

A FRIEND IN NEED. 

I suppose it was an uneasy movement made by Bob Chowne that awoke me, and as I started away, and looked round at the darkness, and felt themotion of the boat, I trembled, and could not for the time make outwhere I was, or what all this peculiar sensation of cramped stiffnessmeant. 

The stars were shining, and twinkling reflections flashed from thewater; the boat rocked to and fro, and the cold was horrible. Thisfeeling of bitter cold or else the stupefied sensation brought on byexhaustion seemed to keep me from thinking, and it was a long timebefore I quite realised the truth. 

Then I wanted to wake up Bigley and Bob Chowne, to get them to startrowing again, for the sea had gone down, there was hardly a breath ofwind; and, though I could see nothing, I felt that the land could not bevery far away. 

I raised my hand to shake Bigley; but I did not, for the inclination wasstronger to creep close up to him, and try to warm myself; and this Idid, clinging closely to him and Bob Chowne; and then, as I crouchedshivering and cramped in the bottom of the boat, I felt as if all thecold and darkness had suddenly sunk away and I was in oblivion. 

I don't know how long I slept, but I remember starting up again andwondering why the boat was moving so curiously, and then I found that Iwas being shaken, and a hoarse voice said:

"Sep! Sep! Wake up. "

"What's matter?" I said drowsily. 

"It's dark and cold, and we'd better begin to row again. The sea hasgone down. "

"Has it?" I said sleepily. "Never mind. It don't matter. "

"Yes, it does. Wake up. I want to talk to you. "

"No, no. Let me go--sleep, " I said. 

"I sha'n't. Wake up. Let you and me row for a bit, and then we'll makeBob. Come along. "

Bigley half pushed me over the thwart to that in front, and placed theoar in my hands; then, taking the other, he thrust it in the rowlocks, and asked me if I was ready. 

"Ready? No, " I said angrily. "I want to lie down and sleep. I'm socold. Let me lie down. "

"But you can't, " he said. "Now, then, let's row. It will warm you. "

"But where are we to row?" I said dolefully, and with a curious senseof not caring what happened now. 

"I'll show you. Look!" he cried, "you can see the north star. "

"Bother the north star!" I grumbled. "I don't want to see the northstar. "

"But if we keep staring straight up at that as we go, we are sure toreach our shore--somewhere. "

I yawned and shivered. 

"Must we row, Bigley, old fellow?" I said dolefully. 

"Yes. Now, then. Both together. "

I let my oar fall in the water with a splash, and then began to pull, feeling dreadfully stiff and cold, and aching so that I could hardly usemy arms. 

"Pull away!" cried Bigley; and I did pull away, making an angry snatchat the water each time, for I was in pain and misery; but in a shorttime the stiffness wore off, the aching was not so bad, and, to my greatdelight, a curious sensation of glow began to run through me, and I wasbeginning to feel comfortable, when Bigley exclaimed:

"In oars! I'm going to wake up Bob. "

He leaned forward and shook Bob, who resented it by kicking, and thenthrowing out a fist which struck the side of the boat a sharp rap. 

"Bob! Bob Chowne! Wake up!" cried Bigley taking him by both shouldersand shaking him. 

Bob hit out again, striking Bigley this time viciously in the chest, andthe result was another sharp shake, for Bigley seemed disposed to takeup his father's tone again. 

"What is it?" whimpered Bob. "I am so precious cold. Let me alone, will you?"

"Just you get on that thwart and row, will you?" cried Bigley in a deepfierce growl; and Bob slowly, and with many a groan and sigh, took hisplace, and began to row straight away into the darkness. 

It was a wise thing to do, for it made us warmer, tired as we grew, andso we kept on change and change about for quite an hour, when I sawsomething which made me shout. 

"We're close home; there's the light. "

Bigley looked out in the direction I pointed, and watched for a minutebefore he spoke. 

"No, " he said; "it's moving. It's a light on board a ship. " It was outof our course, but it seemed the wisest thing to do; and with visions ofdry warm blankets, and something hot to drink, we tugged away at ouroars, but never seemed to get a bit nearer to the light, which keptdisappearing and then coming into sight again, looking if anythingsmaller than before. 

How long the time seemed, and how bitterly cold it was! By degrees ourclothes seemed to be not quite so heavy and wet; but, though I could getmy arms and hands warmed, my legs and feet seemed to have lost all theirfeeling, no matter what I did to bring it back. 

It was still dark all around, though overhead the sky now sparkled withpoints of light, one of which that we kept seeing in the distance mightvery well have been on the shore, only that we felt sure that we saw itmove. 

And so hour after hour we tugged away at the oars, changing about, andthe one who was off lying down to go to sleep directly in spite of thewet and cold, for sheer exhaustion was stronger than either. 

At last the whole affair seemed to grow misty and dreamlike, and I wasonly in a half-conscious state, when all at once I noted that the skylooked pale and grey behind us, and this showed that we were rowing tothe west. 

But for a long time there was nothing but that pale grey look in the skyto indicate that morning was coming; indeed, once, or twice as it becamecloudy, it seemed to be darker. 

By degrees, though, out of the dull drowsy, weary confusion of thatbitter night the day did begin to dawn; and in a hopeless way we triedto make out how far we were from the shore. But for a long time wecould distinguish nothing but what seemed to be high hills, having longmissed the stars now on account of the clouds. 

Then we thought these must be clouds too, for it seemed impossible thatit could be land, and both Bigley and I said so to Bob. 

But he was sulky and dejected, and would not take any notice of us, treating us both as if it was all our fault that we had been driven outto sea, though we were quite as miserable as he; and at any moment Ifelt ready to throw myself down in the bottom of the boat and give up. 

At last, though, as there comes an end to all dismal nights, this alsohad its finish, and we made out, as we lay on the cold grey sea of thatfine winter morning, that we were about five miles from the Welsh coast, and home lay as near as we could tell right beyond the range of ourvision, far away to the south-east. 

"What's to be done?" Bob said dolefully. "Hadn't we better row ashorehere, and ask for something to eat?"

Big said _No_, decidedly, for he had caught sight of a good-sized vesselsome miles away to the south-east. 

"If we get ashore here we shall be farther away from home, " he argued;"and I've heard my father say there's sharp currents about this coast, which would be too much for us, and besides, father is sure to come outto look for us this morning, so let's try and get back. "

"And some ship is sure to see us, and give us something to eat, " I saidhopefully. "Come, Bob, rouse up. We shall get across all right. "

Setting the boat's head as nearly as we could guess toward the oppositeshore, we began to row; and, though it was winter time, we were not longbefore we were pretty warm, and Bob Chowne unwillingly took his turn. 

But we made poor progress. Miles take a great deal of getting over witha small boat in the open sea at the best of times. So rowed as ours wasby three weary hungry boys, as may be supposed, we did not make the bestof way. 

We saw several vessels and tried to signal them, but no one took anynotice of us till about midday, when a very large lugger that wasbeating across from the Devon shore began to bear down upon us, andbefore long, to our great joy, we were able to make out the figureslooking over her bulwarks, one of whom waved something in answer to ourfrantic tossing up of our caps and holding a jacket on the blade of anoar. 

Then we set to work and rowed as hard as we could, making very littleprogress though, for wind and tide were against us. But the big luggercame rushing on, and we could see now that there were darkforeign-looking men on her deck. 

It did not matter to us, though, what they were, so long as they wouldtake us on board, for we were starving and faint, and had long ago cometo the conclusion that we should not be able to row across before dark, half the day being gone, and the night would come down very early seeingthe time of year. 

Bigley and I were in ecstasies, and even Bob began to look a little morecheerful as the lugger came closer, and then rounded up with her head tothe wind, and lay with her dark red sails flapping. 

We rowed up to her side, and a man threw us a rope. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

THE CAPTAIN OF THE LUGGER. 

"Eh ben!" he shouted. "Eh ben! Eh ben!" while half a dozenyellow-faced little fellows with rings in their ears looked down upon usand grinned. 

All at once they made way for a quick dark-looking body, with tiny halfgrey corkscrew ringlets hanging round under his fur cap, not only at thesides but all over his forehead. It was a man evidently, but he lookedlike an elderly sharp-eyed wrinkled-faced woman, as he pushed a big ladaside, and putting his arms on the bulwark, stared down at us. 

"Vell, lad, vot you vant?" he said. 

"Hungry, sir. Blown off the shore, sir, " I cried. "We can't row back. Can you understand? No parly vous. "

"Bah, stupe, thick, headblock, who ask you parlez-vous? I am Englandmuch, and speak him abondomment. How you do thank you, quite vell?"

"No, sir; we're starving, and cold and--and--and--tell him Big, Ican't. "

I was done for. I could not keep it back, though I had said to myselfBob Chowne was a weak coward, and, dropping on the thwart, I let my facego down in my hands, and tried to keep back my emotion. 

"Ah, you bigs boys, you speak me, " I heard the French skipper say. "Howyou come from? Come, call yourself. "

"Uggleston, of the Gap, " said Bigley, as boldly as he could. "Blown offshore, sir, in the squall. "

"Aha! Hey, hey? Ugglees-tone. Ma foi, you Monsieur JonasUgglees-tone?"

"No, sir; I am his son, " said Bigley. 

"What say, sare, you Monsieur Jonas Ugglees-tone, you b'long?"

"Yes, sir; I belong to him. Will you give us something to eat?"

"Aha! You Engleesh boys, big garcon, always hungries. Vais; comeaboard my sheeps. Not like your papa--oh, no. I know him mosh, verymosh. Know you papa, votr' pere, mon garcon. Come-you-up-you-come. "

He said it all as if it were one word, so curiously that it seemed tohelp me to get rid of my weakness, and I was about to stand up in theboat when the French skipper said to Bigley:

"Look you! Aha. Boy ahoy you. What sheep you fader?"

"Do you mean what's the name of my father's lugger, sir?"

"Yes; you fater luggair--chasse maree. I say so. Vat you call. Heecenem?"

"The _Saucy Lass_, sir. "

He leaned over and looked at the stern of the boat and nodded his head. 

"Yais, him's olright. Ze _Saucilass_. Come you up--you come, boys. All you. Faites. "

This last was to one of the men, who, as we climbed over the side of theFrench lugger, descended into our boat, and made her fast by the painterto the stern. 

The skipper shook hands with us all, and smiled at us and patted ourshoulders. 

"Pauvres garcons!" he said. "You been much blow away ce mornings, eh?"

"No, sir, last night, " said Bigley. 

"How you say? You lass night dites, mon garcon. "

"We were fishing, sir, and the squall came, and we've been out allnight. "

"Brrrr!" ejaculated the French skipper, shrugging his shoulders andmaking a face, then seizing me he dragged me to a hole away in the sterndeck, and pushed me down into quite a snug little cabin with a glowingstove. 

"Come--venez. All you come, " he cried, and he thrust the others downand followed quickly. 

"Pauvres garcons! Warm you my fire. Chauffez vous. Good you eatbread? Good you drink bran-dee vis vater? Not good for boy sometime, mais good now. "

He kept on chattering to us, half in English, half in French; and as hespoke he cut for us great pieces of bread and Devon butter, evidentlyfreshly taken on board that day. Next he took a large brown bottle froma locker, and mixed in a heavy, clumsy glass a stiff jorum of brandywith water from a kettle on the stove. Into this glass he put plenty ofBristol brown sugar, and made us all drink heartily in turn, so as toempty the glass, when he filled it again. 

"It is--c'est bon--good phee-seek--make you no enrhumee--you no havecolds. No. Eat, boys. Aha! You warm yourselves. Hey?"

We thanked him, for the glowing stove, the sheltered cabin, the hotbrandy and water, and the soft new bread and butter, seemed to give usall new life. The warm blood ran through our veins, and our clothessoon ceased to steam. The French skipper, who had, as we rowed to theside of the lugger, looked about as unpleasant and villainous a being asit was possible to meet, now seemed quite a good genius, and whateverhis failings or the nature of his business, he certainly appeared to bederiving real pleasure from his task of restoring the threehalf-perished lads who had appealed to him for help, and the more weate, the more he rubbed his hands together and laughed. 

"How zey feroce like ze volf, eh? How zey are very mosh hunger. Eatyou, my young vrens. Eat you, my young son of ze Jonas Ugglee-stone. Iknow you fader. He is mon ami. Aha! I drink your helse all of youvarey. "

He poured himself out a little dram of the spirit and tossed it off. 

For a good half hour he devoted himself to us, making us eat, stokingthe little stove, and giving us blankets and rough coats to wear to getus warm again. After that he turned to Bigley and laid his arms uponhis shoulders, drooping his hands behind, and throwing back his head ashe looked him in the face. 

"You like me make my sheep to you hous, yais?"

"Take us home, sir. Oh, if you please, " cried Bigley. 

"Good--c'est bon--my frien. I make my sheep take you. Lay off, yousay, and you land in your leettle boats. My faith, yes! And you tellyou fader the Capitaine Apollo Gualtiere--he pronounced his surname asif it was Goo-awl-tee-yairrrre--make him present of hees sone, and heesyoung friens. Brave boys. Ha, ha!"

He nodded to us all in turn, and smiled as he gave us each a friendlyrap on the chest with the back of his hand. 

"Now you warm mosh more my stove, and I go on le pont to make my sheep. "

"But do you know the Gap, sir?" said Bigley eagerly. 

"Do I know ze Gahp? Aha! Ho, ho! Do I not know ze Gahp vis him eyeshut? Peep! Eh? Aha! And every ozer place chez ze cote. Do I evairemake my sheep off ze Gahp to de leettl business--des affaires vismonsieur votre pere? Aha! Oh, no, nod-a-dalls. "

He gave his nose a great many little taps with his right forefinger ashe spoke, and ended by winking both his eyes a great many times, withthe effect that the gold rings in his ears danced, and then he went upthe little ladder through the hatchway, to stand half out for a fewminutes giving orders, while we had a good look at the lower part of hisperson, which was clothed in what would have been a stiff canvaspetticoat, had it not been sewn up between his legs, so as to turn itinto the fashion of a pair of trousers, worn over a pair of heavyfishermen's boots. 

Then he went up the rest of the way, and let in more light and air, while the motion of the vessel plainly told us that her course had beenaltered. 

"Well, " said Bob Chowne, speaking now for the first time, "he's therummest looking beggar I ever saw. Looks as if you might cut him up andmake monkeys out of the stuff. "

"Well, of all the ungrateful--"

I began a sentence, but Bob cut me short. 

"I'm not ungrateful, " he said sharply; "and I'm getting nice and warmnow; but what does a man want to wear ear-rings for like a girl, andcurl up his hair in little greasy ringlets, that look as if they'd beentwisted round pipes, and--I say, boys, did you see his breeches?"

I nodded rather grimly. 

"And his boots, old Big; did you see his boots?"

"Yes, they looked good water-tighters, " said Bigley quietly, and heseemed now to have settled down into his regular old fashion, while BobChowne was getting saucy. 

"And then his hands! Did you see his hands?" continued Bob. "I thoughtat first I could not eat the bread and butter he had touched. I don'tbelieve he ever washes them. "

"Why, he had quite small brown hands, " said Bigley. "Mine are ever somuch larger. "

"Yes, but how dirty they were!"

"It was only tar, " said Bigley. "He has been hauling new ropes. Look, some came off on my hand when he had hold of it. "

"I don't care, I say it was dirt, " said Bob obstinately. "He's aFrenchman, and Frenchmen are all alike--nasty, dirty-looking beggars. "

"Well, I thought as he brought us down in the cabin here, and gave usthat warm drink and the bread and butter, what a pity it was that Frenchand English should ever fight and kill one another. "

"Yah! Hark at him, Sep Duncan, " cried Bob. "There's a sentimental, unnatural chap. What do you say?"

"Oh, I only say what a difference there is between Bob Chowne now andBob Chowne when he lay down in the bottom of the boat last night, andhowled when old Big made him get up and row. "

"You want me to hit you, Sep Duncan?"

"No, " I said. 

"Because I shall if you talk to me like that. Old Big didn't make me. I was cold and--"

"Frightened, " I said. 

"No, I wasn't frightened, sneak. "

"Well, I was, horribly, " I said. "I thought we should never get toshore again. Weren't you frightened, Big?"

"Never felt so frightened before since I got wedged in the rocks, " saidBigley coolly. 

"Then you are a pair of cowards, " cried Bob sharply. "I was so cold andwet and stiff I could hardly move, but I never felt frightened in theleast. "

I looked at Bigley, and found that he was looking at me; and then helaid his head against the bulkhead, and shut his eyes and laughed tillthe tears rolled down his cheeks, and I laughed too, as the picture ofourselves in the open boat came before me again, with Bigley orderingBob to get up and row, and him shivering and sobbing and protesting likea child. 

"What are you laughing at?" he cried. "You've got out of your troublenow and you want to quarrel, I suppose. But I sha'n't; I don't want tofight. Only wait till we get across, you won't laugh when old JonyUggleston comes down on you both for taking the boat. I shall say Ididn't want you to, but you would. And then you've got my father andyour father to talk to you after that. "

But in spite of these unpleasant visions of trouble, which he conjuredup, Bigley and I still laughed, for, boy-like, the danger passed, itsmemory did not trouble us much. We had escaped: we were safe; Bob wasmaking himself ridiculously comic by his hectoring brag, and all wewanted to do was to laugh. 

In the midst of our mirth, and while Bob Chowne was growing more andmore absurd by putting on indignant airs, the hatchway was darkenedagain by the French skipper's petticoats and boots, and directly afterhe stood before us smiling and rubbing his hands. 

"Aha, you!" he said. "You better well, mosh better. I make you jollyboys, eh?"

"Yes, sir, we are much better now, " I exclaimed, holding out my hand. "We are so much obliged to you for helping us as you have. "

"Mon garcon, mon ami, " he exclaimed; and instead of shaking hands, hefolded me in his arms and kissed me on both cheeks. I stepped back assoon as I was free, and stood watching as he served Bigley the same, andthen took hold of Bob, whose face wore such an absurdly comical aspectof horror and disgust, that I stood holding my breath, and not daring tolook at Bigley for fear I should roar with laughter. 

"Dat is well, " exclaimed the skipper. "It is done, my braves. Good--good--good. You tink I speak Engleish magnificentment, is it not?"

He looked round at us all, and nodded a great many times. "Now you arewarm dry, come on ze pont and see my sheep. Ze belle chasse maree. Shesail like de bird. Is it not? Now come see. "

We went on deck, and found as he took us about amongst the crew of sevenmen, all wearing petticoat canvas trousers, that the big lugger was verydirty and untidy, wanting in paint, and with the deck, or pont as theskipper called it, one litter of baskets, packages, and uncoiled ropes. On the other hand she seemed to be very long and well shaped, and hermasts, which were thick and short, had large yards and tremendous sails, which in a favourable wind sent her through the water at a very rapidrate. 

"Aha! You lofe my sheep, " said the skipper, as he watched our faces. "You tink she run herselfs very fas, eh?"

We expressed our pleasure, which was the greater that we could see nowthat the two bold masses which formed the entrance to the Gap were rightbefore us; but even now, as far as we could judge, six or seven milesaway. 

We took a good deal of notice of this, for it showed us how far we hadbeen driven out by the fierce little gale of the previous night; and asI looked over the stern at where our boat was being towed along in thefoam, and was thinking that we must have had a narrow escape, the Frenchskipper clapped me on the shoulder, laughed, and said:

"You wonder you not go to feed ze fishes at ze bottom? Yes, much; etmoi aussi. Ah, mon brave, you nearly go, and--no boat--no boy--nonoting. Hah!"

I shivered as I realised the truth of what he said, and was musing overwhat was to come, when Bigley came to me, for the skipper had gone tohis men. 

"Don't tease Bob, " he said. "Don't say anything to him about beingqueer last night, nor about me bullying him. He couldn't help it. "

"Oh, I sha'n't say anything, " I said. 

"He couldn't help it, " whispered Bigley again. "No more could I. "

We all grew very serious then, for as we neared the shore, there was thequestion to think over about meeting our fathers, and what they wouldsay. Would they be exceedingly angry with us, or talk quietly about ournarrow escape?

I found that my companions were thinking as I was, for Bigley saidquietly:

"I'm afraid my father will be very cross. "

"So am I, " was my reply, when Bob came to where we were gazing over thebulwark shoreward, and said sulkily:

"I say, I don't want to be bad friends with you two. My father's sureto give me a big wigging for letting you persuade me to go. Well, Idon't mean that, " he added with a droll twinkle of the eye, as he saw usstare, "what I mean is, hadn't we all better stick together, and sharethe blame?"

"Yes, of course, Bob, " I said; and I felt quite pleased with hisfrankness, when if he didn't go and spoil it all again by saying:

"I thought it would be best, because it would be nicer for you. "

Our conversation was stopped by Captain Gualtiere coming up, andpointing westward. 

"Look you!" he exclaimed, "see, mes amis, la _Saucy Lass_. "

"So it is, " cried Bigley eagerly, as he shaded his eyes, and gazed atthe lugger in full sail about a couple of miles away, and making for thesame point as we--"so it is: it's father's lugger. "

"Oui, my young frien, " said the French skipper; "and he has been tosweep ze sea to try and find you boys. "

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

THE KNIFE BOB WANTED. 

In half an hour the luggers were close together off the Gap with theirsails flapping, and the French skipper jumped into the boat with us, androwed to the _Saucy Lass_, on board of which we had long before descriedmy father and the doctor along with old Jonas Uggleston. 

We leaped up the side eagerly, and yet with fear and trembling, notknowing what our reception might be, and a few words explained all. 

"Humph!" said old Jonas, "nice chase we've had after you. Well, Isuppose I mustn't after all. "

He picked up a capstan-bar, and balanced it in his hands before throwingit down under the little bulwark with a loud clatter. 

"Mustn't what, father?" said Bigley. 

"Knock you down with that, as you've had such a rough time of it. I wasin hopes that you were all three drowned. "

"And he went himself to see and find ze bodies, and sheat ze sharks!"cried the French skipper laughing, and clapping us on the shoulders. 

"Perhaps Captain Duncan, my landlord, would like to use that bar on hisboy!" growled old Jonas sourly. 

"No!" said my father bluffly, "I can preserve discipline, Mr Uggleston, without treating my boy like a dog. Come, Sep, my lad, let's getashore. "

"The doctor, then?" said old Jonas, with his eyes twinkling maliciously. 

"What, to knock my boy down, Uggleston? No, thank you, sir. I'velittle things at home that will put him to bed for a fortnight and keephim quiet without giving myself a job to mend his broken bones. "

He looked at Bob, and I saw my school-fellow turn yellow and shudder asif he were about to take a dose of some horribly nauseous medicine. Just then Bob caught my eye, and I suppose he saw that I was amused, forhe doubled his fist, and showed his teeth in a snarl just like adisagreeable dog who had been threatened by a stranger with a stick. 

"My faith, gentlemen, " said the French skipper, "ze boys is brave boysand make fine sailor. Zey fight zis bad storm. Zey vin ze storm, andbehold me here ve are!"

"Captain Gualtiere, " said my father, holding out his hand, "as an oldsailor, sir, to one of the same noble profession, I thank you for yourkindness to my son. "

"Mon capitaine, I you embrace with my heart whole!" cried the Frenchskipper. "It is vell, Capitaine Ugglees-stone. Ve vill land ourselves. Mon vieux brave--to your home, and trink von 'tit verre of ze bonspee-reete vis ze friens. Come. " Jonas Uggleston nodded his head andexchanged a peculiar look with the Frenchman. 

"Let's get ashore, " he said. "You, Bill, I'll come out again by and by. Get her fast to the buoy. "

Binnacle Bill growled and crept behind us boys to watch his opportunity, and give us each a nod, a wink, and a furtive shake of the hand. 

Then the boat was hauled alongside, we descended, and Bigley pulled usashore, where, almost in silence, and evidently a very uncomfortableparty, we walked up to the cottage where Mother Bonnet was in waiting, and her first act was to rush at Bigley, hug him, kiss him soundly onboth cheeks, and burst into tears. 

I was afraid it was coming my way, and drew back; but it was of no use, for the old woman seized me, and I had to be kissed in the same way, while Bob Chowne submitted to the same operation with a worse grace thanmine. 

"Not a wink of sleep--not a wink of sleep--not a wink of sleep allnight!" the old woman kept on sobbing over and over again. "MasterBigley--Master Bigley, I was afraid I should never see you any more!"

"Brave vomans? Ha, ha! Brave vomans!" cried the Frenchman. 

"Look here, Duncan!" said the doctor. "I don't think we'll trouble MrUggleston any more. We want to get back home. "

"Yes, " said my father; "but--"

He made a movement with his head towards the French skipper. 

"Oh, come along, Captain Duncan, " growled old Jonas surlily. "You mustdrink a glass with him. I won't poison you this time. "

"Thanks, Uggleston, " said my father quietly; and, intimate as I was withBigley, school-fellows and companions as we were, I could not helpnoticing the difference, and how thoroughly my father was the gentlemanand Jonas Uggleston the commonplace seafaring man. 

"Here, Mother Bonnet!" cried old Jonas, "the boys want something. Yousee to them. "

The old woman took us into her kitchen, as she called it, and attendedto our wants; but I could hear what went on in the other room, and theFrench skipper's words as they all partook of something together. 

Ten minutes after, my father called me by name, and I found him waitingwith the doctor outside, the Frenchman beaming on all in turn. 

"Ve are ze old amis, le vieux--ze old Jonas and myselfs. Sare, I ambeen glad I receive ze boys on my sheep. "

"And I thank you, captain, " replied my father. "You have saved my boy'slife. Will you accept this in remembrance? It is old but good. "

My father drew out his plain gold watch, and I saw the Frenchman's eyesglisten as he stretched out a not very clean hand. 

But he snatched it back directly. 

"Mais non--but no!" he exclaimed. "I not have hims. We are sailorsall. Some day I am in open boat, and you take me in your sheep, and say`Ma foi! Pauvre fellow, you cold--you hoongrai--you starve youselfs. 'And you give me hot grogs, and varm fires, and someting to eats. I nogive you ze gold vatch. Mais non--mais non--mais non. Voila. I takezat hankshife, blue as ze skies of France, and I wear him roun' mynecks. Give me hims. "

My father smiled and then unknotted the bright blue silk neckerchief hewore, and accompanied it with a hearty shake of the hand. 

"Thank you, captain, " he said warmly. 

"And you--merci. We go to war some day. Who know I may be prisonaire. I may come to fight against you, and then. Eh bien, ve fight, but youtake me prisonaire, ma foi. I am vis ze shentleman, and it is good. "

"And now it's my turn, " said the doctor. "Will you keep this, captain, from me?"

"Ma foi. Yais, oui, " cried the French skipper, whose eyes sparkled withpleasure as the doctor handed him a very bright peculiarly-formed knife. "I keep hims. Vat is ze mattaire vis ze young shipwrecked openboatman?"

"Nothing--nothing at all, " said Bob Chowne hastily; but he had certainlyuttered a groan. 

"As for you, Uggleston, " cried the doctor, "I sha'n't offer you apresent, for you'll want me some day to mend your head, or cut off a legor a wing. Only, recollect I'm in your debt. "

"As for me, Mr Uggleston, " said my father. 

"There--there, that will do, " cried old Jonas surlily. "We ar'n't suchvery bad friends, are we?"

"I hope not, " said my father, and we took our leave, being embraced bythe French skipper, who said that we should meet again, shaking handswith old Jonas, and giving Binnacle Bill a crown piece, which my fatherslipped into my hand for him, making the old red-faced fellow's eyestwinkle as he exclaimed:

"Ba-c-co!"

Then we started homeward in the lowest of spirits, we two boys expectingthe most severe of lectures; but to our intense surprise and delight wewere allowed to drop behind, for our elders were deep in conversationabout the mine. 

Then it was that, after hanging more and more behind, Bob Chownerelieved his feelings. 

"It was a shame--it was too bad!" he kept on grumbling. 

"What was too bad--what was a shame?" I cried. 

"Why, for father to give old Parley Vous that knife!"

"Why?" I said wonderingly. 

"Why? Because it was such a good un. I've tried to coax him out of itlots o' times. It was as sharp as sharp, and he used to use it to cutoff fingers and toes, and that sort of thing. He never would give it tome, because he said it was good for operating, and now that old FrencheeFrenchee will use it for toasting frogs over his nasty little stove. "

"Here, you boys, come up here, " said the doctor just then. 

We crept up very unwillingly, for the lecture was evidently going tobegin. 

"I thought we'd tell you, " said the doctor in his grimmest fashion, "we're going to find out a school where there are no holidays, and sendyou there. "

But they did not, for in due time we went back to Barnstaple, and I hadthe last of my education there. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

"HOW YOU HAVE GROWED, LADS; HOW YOU HAVE GROWED!"

It seems a long time to look forward to, but when it has gone howeveryone finds out what a scrap of our lives three years appear to be. 

I am going to jump over three years now, and come to an exciting timewhen we lads were leaving school at midsummer for good. 

Those were exciting times, and we all were as much infected as the restof English folk, for we were at war with France, and there was drumming, and fifing, and enlisting, and men marching off to join their regiments, and we boys were fully determined to arrange with our respected fathersas soon as we got home to get us all commissions in cavalry regiments, and failing commissions, we meant to petition for leave to enlist tofight for our country. 

Bob Chowne and I of course knew better, but in spite of this knowledgewe were constantly feeling that there was something wrong with ourcompanion Bigley. 

He was just the same easy-going fellow as of old; ready to submit to anyamount of bullying and impertinence from us, except in times ofemergency, when he would quietly step to the front in the place Bob andI shirked, and do what there was to be done, and as soon as it was overgo back patiently into the second rank, leaving us in the front. 

But as I say, though we knew better, it always seemed to us as ifsomething particular had taken place in Bigley, he who used to towerabove us, a big fellow with whiskers, a deep voice, and broad shoulders, had now shrunk, so that he was no longer like a man and we both likesmall boys, for he seemed to have come down so that he was only a trifletaller than we were, and very little broader across the chest. It wasthe whiskers and the thick down upon his chin which made nearly all thedifference. 

We used to laugh about it together, and Bigley would say that it wasrum, and only because he had started two years sooner than we did--thatwas all. 

Of course the fact was that Bigley had not shrunk in the least. He hadnot come down, but Bob Chowne and I had levelled matters by growing up, so that at seventeen we were as big as Devon lads of that age know howto be. 

While we had changed, old Teggley Grey had not. He always seemed tohave been the same ever since we could remember, and his horse too, buthe shook his head at us. 

"Mortal hard work for a horse to carry such big chaps as you. How youhave growed, lads; how you have growed!"

I looked at him as he spoke, and it seemed to me that it was he who hadchanged. But it did not matter; we were full of plans for the future. Big as we were, we could take plenty of interest in fishing and suchother sport as came in our way, and we were talking eagerly about whatwas to be done first, and how we were to contrive it without having somemishap, when old Teggley summoned us to get down and walk. 

"Wouldn't be acting like a Christian to ask a horse to drag you threebig lads up a hill like this. I did think, " he grumbled, "that with allthis talk about making good roads, something would have been done tolevel ourn. Mortal bad they be for a horse sewer_ly_. "

"Why, what could you do to the roads?" I said, as I stood on the steplooking at the quaint old fellow. "Do, lad? Why, there's plenty ofstuff ar'n't there? Cutoff all the tops of the hills, and lay in thebottoms, and there you are, level road all the way. "

We seemed to have only been away a few days, as, after parting fromBigley, Bob and I reached the cottage, where, just as of old, were myfather and the doctor. 

I remember thinking that they both looked a little older and greyer, butthat was all. But that was soon forgotten in the interest andexcitement of what was going on around me, for I had, I found, graduallybeen growing older, and ready to take an interest in matters moreimportant than hunting prawns and groping for crabs down on the rockyshore. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

OLD SAM IS UNHAPPY. 

Seventeen, and grown as big as Bigley, with the consequence that I couldnot help thinking a good deal of what people said to me when I went into Ripplemouth or down to the Gap. 

The salute I generally met was:

"Why, Master Sep Duncan, you are growing quite a man. "

I suppose I was in appearance, but, thank goodness, I was still only aboy at heart. 

Plenty to see, plenty to hear. 

The fishermen and people at the tiny port were always looking out tosea, and shutting their eyes and shaking their heads. 

"Ay, and we need look out, master, " they would say. "Strange doingsnow. Who knows how soon they Frenchies will come down upon us and tryto take the town. But we're going to fight 'em to a man. "

I remember even then laughing to myself as I went home one morning afterbeing disappointed in finding Bob Chowne, who had gone on a round withhis father, for I asked myself what the French, whom the Ripplemouthpeople saw in every passing vessel, would gain by making a descent uponour rock-strewn shore. 

But when I ventured to hint at their being more likely to attackPlymouth or Portsmouth, old Teggley Grey, who was down on the pierloading up with coal that had come over in a sloop from Monmouth, shookhis head. 

"Ay, it be well for you, lad, with all they big cannon guns in front o'your house ready to sink the Frenchy ships; but we ar'n't no guns here, on'y the one in the look-out, and she be rusted through. "

Oddly enough, when I reached home there was no one in the house. Myfather had gone down to the mine, and I was thinking about going afterhim, but being hot with my walk, I strolled down first into the gardenon the cliff, but only to stop short, for there was a curious hissingsound in the air. 

"What, a snake!" I said to myself. And then, "No, it's too loud. "

I stood listening, and I learned directly what caused the hissing, whichgave place directly to a peculiar humming, and then after more hissing afamiliar raspy voice roared out, its owner imagining he was singing:

 "For we be sturdy English lads, And this here be our land; And ne'er a furren furreneer Shall ever in it stand. "

Then came a great deal of hissing before the strain was taken up again, and accompanied by a good deal of scuffling on the beach-strewn path. 

 "They say they'll have the English soil, These overbearing French; So if they come they'll find it here In six-foot two o' trench. "

"Why, Sam, " I said, "what are you doing?"

"Ah, Mas' Sep: can't you see? Washing out the bull-dogs' throats tomake 'em bite the Peccavis when they come. "

I laughed as I looked at the old man, who was busy at work with a mopand pail cleaning out the old cannons on my father's sham fort. 

"Why, Sam, what's the good of that?"

"Good, my lad?" he cried, ramming the wet mop down one of the guns andmaking the water spurt out of the touch-hole like a little fountain, "Good! Why, we'll blow the Frenchy ships out of the water if they comeanigh us. "

"Why, there's no powder, " I said. 

"Powder! Eh, but there is: lots, my lad. "

"But there are no cannon-balls. "

Old Sam stopped short with the mop right in the gun, and loosening onehand, he tilted his old sou'-wester hat that he wore summer and winterwith no difference, only that he kept cabbage-leaves in it in summer, and stood scratching his head. 

"No cannon-balls!" he said. "No cannon-balls!"

"Not one, " I said; "only the big one indoors we use for a door-weight, and that would not go in. "

"Well, now, that be a rum un, Master Sep, that be a rum un. I neverthought o' that. Never mind, it don't matter. They Frenchies 'll hearthe guns go off and see the smoke, and that's enough for them. They'llgo back again. "

"Go back again, " I said laughing. "Why, they'll never come. "

"Get out, lad! You're too young to understand they things. You wait abit, and you'll see that they will come and find us ready for them too. "

"With six-foot two of trench, eh, Sam?" I said. 

"Eh? What? What do you mean?"

"Why, weren't you singing something about burying them all. Here, singus the rest. "

"Nay, nay, nay, my lad; I can't sing. "

"Why, I heard you, Sam. "

"Ay, but that's all I know; and I must get on with my job afore theycome. "

"Before they come, Sam! Why, they'll never come. Go and hoe up yourcabbages and potatoes and you'll be doing some good. "

"Nay, lad, this be no time for hoeing up cabbage and 'tater. Why, whatfor?--ready for the French?"

"French!" I said with a laugh as I leaned over the low wall and lookeddown the perpendicular cliff at the piled-up masses of fallen fragments. "No French will ever trouble us. "

For it looked ridiculous to imagine that a foreign enemy would everattempt to make a landing anywhere beneath the grand wall of piled-uprock that protected our coast from a far more dangerous enemy than anyFrench fleet, for the sea was ready to attack and sweep away even theland, and this a foreign fleet could never do. 

I sat on the edge looking down at the ivy, and toad-flax, and saxifrage, and ferns that climbed and clustered all over the steep cliff-face; andas I sat looking and enjoying the sea-breeze and the rest from allschool labours, old Sam went on cleaning out the guns and expressing inhis way the feelings of nearly everybody round the coast. 

"Is my father over at the mine?" I said. 

"Ay, my lad; he's always there. Going over?"

"Yes, Sam, when I'm rested. They're very busy now, I suppose. "

"Wonderful, Master Sep, wonderful. Who'd ha' thought it?" he exclaimed, sticking the mop handle on the path and resting his bare brown arms uponthe wet woollen rags that formed the top. 

"Who'd have thought what, Sam?"

"Why, as there'd be lead and silver under they slates down at the Gap. Always looked to be nothin' but clatter, and old massy rock and nosoil. "

"Ah, it was a discovery, Sam, " I said. 

"Discovery, my lad! Why, when they said as the Captain had bought theold place I went into my tool-shed and sat down on a 'tater heap and'most cried. "

"'Most cried, Sam--you?"

"Ay, my lad, for I thought the Captain had gone off his head andeverything would be in rack and ruin. "

"Instead of which my father is making quite a fortune out of it, Sam. "

"Ay, I s'pose so, my lad, but fortuns aren't everything. It makes himlook worried, it do, and he've give up his garden, as is a bad sign. Idon't like to see a man give up his garden. It means weeds. "

"Well, then, why don't you hoe them up, Sam?" I said sharply. 

"Hoe 'em up, lad? I can't put a hoe in his mind, can I? That's wherethe weeds grows, my dear lad. Why, he never takes no interest in hisguns now, and if I hadn't set to this morning to scour 'em out and give'em a regular good cleaning, where would they have been when the Frenchcome?"

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

DOWN THE SILVER MINE. 

I left Sam picking out the touch-holes with a piece of wire, walkedacross the high ground of the wind-swept moor and descended into theGap, a well-beaten track now marking the way. 

It was too rough for wheels, but filled with the heavy hoof-marks ofdonkeys, which were used largely for carrying wood, charcoal, andsea-coal to the mine; and as I stood up by the spot where years beforeBob Chowne, Bigley, and I had blown up the big stone and set it rollingdown into the valley, it was wonderful what a change had taken place. 

Where we had swept the side of the ravine clear with an avalanche ofrock, there had now sprung up quite a tiny village built of the roughstones dug from the mine. There was a large water-wheel slowly turningand sending down the water led to it from above, in company with thatwhich it pumped out of the mine, all thick and discoloured, in quite atorrent to the beautiful little stream below, which now ran turbid andin which the trout were all dead. 

There was a row of stoutly-built sheds, and a big place with a highchimney where the ore was smelted. Then there were offices, and abuilding where the purified metal was passed through another furnace, and in addition a place where the metal was kept. 

There seemed a total alteration in the place till I directed my eyestowards the sea, where all appeared to be unchanged. There were the twocottages--Binnacle Bill's, with some newly washed white garments hangingover the rocks; and Jonas Uggleston's, with its stone sheds andoutbuildings bristling with spars and wreck-wood that had been thrownup, and with nets and sails spread out to dry. 

Beyond lay his lugger; and the boat drawn up on the beach, suggesting tomy mind the horrors of that night when we were blown off the shore. 

I stood looking at the scene, with the bare sea beyond and the vastcliff towering up a thousand feet on my left, and then began to descendthe rugged slope, making straight for the building which my father usedas his counting-house and office. 

"Well, Sep, " he said, smiling, "I'm glad to see you. "

I noticed that he looked care-worn and anxious, and his aspectreproached me, for I felt as if it was too bad of me to be makingholiday while he was working so hard. 

"Can I help you, father?" I said. 

"Help me! Yes, my boy, I hope so--a good deal; but I don't want to betoo hard upon you. Take a good look round for a few days, so as to resta little while, and then you shall come and help me here; for, Sep, anaffair like this is not without plenty of anxiety. "

"Oh, father!" I said, "I shall have plenty of time for amusement; let'ssee if I can't help you now. "

He looked more and more pleased as he heard my words. 

"No, " he said, "not yet. You shall have a look round first for a fewdays, and perhaps you may be able quietly to pick up the cause ofsomething that is troubling me a great deal. "

"Troubling you, father!" I said. 

"Yes, my lad, troubling me, for things are not going as I could wish. 'Tis just as if, as fast as I get a few steps forward, someone pulls meback. "

"But I thought the mine was very prosperous, father?" I said. 

"So it is, my boy, and I am getting it better and better; but there isalways mischief being done, or else some accident occurs, and I can'ttell how. "

"Do you suspect anybody?"

"Well, er--no!" he said emphatically. "But, there--never mind now. I'mbusy with some calculations; go and have a look round. "

I left his office and had "a look round, " the place seeming to have farmore interest for me than it had before. Men were busy wheeling brokenore and taking it from one heap to another; the great pump was hard atwork sucking out water; and the wheel was winding up buckets of producefrom out of the deep shaft. 

I went and had a look there and shrank back, it seemed so repulsive anddark; but as I did so I saw one of the men smiling, and this made meturn red. 

"Look here, " I said sharply, "can I go down there?"

"Oh, yes, if you like, master, " he replied, staring at me wonderinglynow. 

"Then I will, " I said. "I'll have a look at the furnace first, and thenI'll go down. "

"Ay, do, " he said; "and you're just in time. They're going to run offthe metal in a few minutes. "

I recalled our experiment at home with the little built-up furnace, whenthe ore was first tried, as I walked to the stone-built house, wherefrom out of the centre came a low dull roar; from cracks and chinks andcrannies blindingly bright rays of light shot out and seemed to cut thedarkness, which, after the sunshine of out of doors, seemed to be blackand terrible. Now and then there came a peculiar crackling, as ifsomething were snapping and flying to pieces under the great heat, andit was some time before I could see anything but the brilliant pencilsof light that cut the gloom. 

By degrees, though, I made out that a couple of men were moving here andthere, and that each of them carried a long black rod of iron. 

The flames seemed to flutter and burn and to be rushing upward withtremendous force, while I could fancy that I heard the metal bubbling inits bed, where it was seething and throwing off wonderful flames, as Icould judge by the gleams I saw. 

"Stand back, young master, " said one of the men roughly--"there, rightup in the corner here. You won't hurt now. Just going to run her off. "

I backed into the corner he pressed me to, where there was a broadshutter or screen, and I was getting so accustomed to the darkness nowthat I could see just below, and in front of a place where golden tearsseemed to be dropping from a chink at the bottom of the furnace, severallong square trenches in the black charcoal floor, and the next minute Imade out that these trenches were all connected together by a littlechannel. 

"The moulds, " I thought to myself, and I looked eagerly now at one ofthe men, who shouted something by way of warning to his fellow-worker;and then, as the man stepped behind a similar screen of wood-work tothat which sheltered me, the one who uttered his words of warning thrustand hammered with his long iron rod at the foot of the furnace. 

I did not quite see what he did afterwards, but he seemed to dart out ofthe way, and then a stream of what looked like liquid gold came gushingout, sputtering, snapping, and sending into the air myriads of gloriousfirework-like sparks of blue and orange and scarlet and gold, and sobrilliant that they lit up the whole building and made my eyes ache andmy cheeks tingle. Where a minute before there were so many blacktrenches were now so many dazzling ingots, over which played andfluttered many-tinted flames that kept on waving and undulating as ifthey were liquid, and swayed from side to side, giving forth with themolten metal a glow that scorched my face. 

For the first few seconds the molten metal had run off quickly andfilled the moulds; now what came was sluggish and not half so brilliant;and I noticed that by a quick movement of a long iron rake one of themen drew some of the earth and charcoal which formed the floor on oneside, so as to alter the course of the running molten contents of thefurnace, and instead of its passing into moulds it seemed to settle downin a patch. 

This, too, was most brilliant to the eye; and from it endless dazzlingcoruscations darted up and played about, but for a much shorter period;and in place of the ruddy glow of the metal, which rapidly cooled downto look like silver, this last melting grew sombre and stony, ending bylooking of a blackish-grey. 

I was still watching the fading away of the brilliant display, whenthere was a familiar voice at the door of the building, and my fatherstepped in to make inquiries about the running off of the molten ore, and as he examined the result, he expressed his satisfaction. 

"Mind!" he cried to me, as I was about to touch one of the ingots oflead with my toes. "My good boy, these will not be cool enough to touchyet. They retain the heat for a long while. "

He stopped talking to me for some time, and explained how the men wereclosing the bottom of the furnace again with fire-clay, and that theywould now go on pouring in at the top barrows full of charcoal andbroken-up ore. How that dark grey stuff was the molten stones andrefuse which remained after the metal had been cleared, and then helaughed at what he called my innocence, as I asked him if the ingots, ashe called the square masses which now looked quite white, were silver. 

"No, my boy, " he said; "we are not so rich as that. If those pieces ofcoarse metal, when melted down again, and submitted to a fresh process, give us three pounds' weight of silver out of every hundred pounds oflead we shall do well. Now then, would you like to go down the mine?"

He spoke as if he expected to hear me decline; but I had made up my mindto go, and he looked quite pleased when he heard me say that I wasready. 

"Well, " he said, as we reached the top of the shaft, "I'll go downfirst, and you can follow. We can get candles at the bottom. "

If I had had any ideas of a silver mine being a cavern full of beautifulsights, I was very soon deceived, for as I stood there at the top, I sawmy father step on to the top rounds of a rough-looking ladder, and beginto descend slowly till he reached a platform, when he called to me tofollow. 

"Hold tight, " he said. "But there, I needn't tell you after your cliffclimbing. "

I was just about to descend when a voice behind me made me turn. 

"Going down, Sep?"

I turned to confront Bigley Uggleston, who looked at me imploringly. 

"Ask him if I may come down too?"

"Who's that?" said my father sharply. "Oh, I see. Yes, he can come. "

Bigley flushed up with pleasure, and I let him go down next, and thenfollowed, to find that a gallery went off on a level with the platform;but my father had already descended to the next platform below, and whenwe followed him there, it was to find he had reached another. 

To get to this we passed another gallery, and then stood by where myfather was lighting a couple of candles, as he rested upon somewood-work, beneath which we could hear the trickle and splash of fallingwater, while away from our right, down a long passage propped here andthere with pieces of timber, came the dull echoing sound of blows. 

"Well, my lads, what do you think of the enchanted cave?"

I looked about me by the light of the dim candles and saw that the shaftwas divided by a wood partition, one side being reserved for theladders, the other for the pump to work and the stout rope to go up anddown and draw the buckets, there being openings in the wood-workopposite each of the galleries. 

"Well, you don't say anything, " said my father. 

"It's very dark, sir, " replied Bigley. 

"Yes, " said my father; "and it's darker still farther in. What do yousay, will you go on?"

"If Sep does. "

"Oh, yes, " I said, "I shall go;" not that I wanted to go any farther, but I felt that I could not draw back; though I would very gladly havebeen up in the bright sunshine instead of in the damp gloomy hole, shutin by ladders and wood-work, and with, the falling water seeming as ifit was gathering force, and ready to rise as it does in a well. 

But there was no time for thinking. My father was leading the way alongthe large square-shaped gallery, the candles casting curious shadowswhich glided along the walls, as if our company had been joined by someof the spirits of the mine. 

As we went on, my father stopped from time to time to hold his lightagainst the wall, for us to see where the lead ore glistened, andpromised to be thick when he was disposed to work in another direction. 

We could hear the water trickling still along a channel which had beencut on one side of the gallery, and every here and there great dropsgathered on the wood-work that propped the roof, and fell with a plashmaking Bigley whisper to me:

"Suppose the sea was to break in. "

He spoke as I say in a whisper, but it was heard by my father, whoanswered quietly:

"We should have to go down much lower before we were on a level with thesea at high-water mark, my lads. If anything were likely to do us anyharm, it would be the brook. "

He stopped soon after, for we had reached the end of the gallery, givingway while a workman wheeled by us a barrowful of ore, similar to a heapwhich two others were hewing and picking out of the wall. 

"Well, my lads, what's it like?" said my father. 

"Cleaner and richer and better, I should say, master, " said one of themen. "It's a wonder, but I'm thinking you'll have to put more power onthere to pump. Farther we goes, the worse the water gets. "

"I've been thinking so myself, " said my father quietly. "It sha'n'tstop you, my lads, I'll see to that. "

My father picked up a specimen of the ore, and placed it in his pocket;the men resumed their picking and hewing, and we two lads inspected thelode and the walls of the mine, and then, after looking at it up, down, and in every direction, to try and find something more interesting thanthe square passage with its dripping walls and patches of black mineralthat glistened in a dull manner when the light was moved, we ended bystaring at my father. 

"Well, " he said smiling; "had enough?"

"Is there no more to see than this?" I said in a disappointed tone. 

"There is another gallery below here, and two above, but they are justthe same. Shall we go and see them?"

"If Bigley likes, " I said rather gruffly. 

"No, I don't think I want to see any more, " he replied. 

My father laughed, and went on in front with one candle while I followedwith the other, till we reached the foot of the shaft. 

"Silver mine sounds better than it looks, eh, my lads!" he said. 

We neither of us answered, for it seemed like damping his enterprise. But he did not heed our silence, for he began to climb slowly up theladders, and as he reached the first platform, we followed, and then onand on with the water splashing and the pump going, and now and then thecreaking sound of the windlass coming down to us as the men over thebucket shaft wound up each heavy load of ore. 

"There, I'm going back into my office, " said my father. "You, lads, have had enough mining for to-day. I shall not want you, Sep. "

"Don't the open air look clear and fresh?" I said as soon as we werealone, and I gazed round at the patches of green upon the hills, and thebright sea out at the end of the Gap. 

"Yes, " said Bigley, with a shiver. "I shouldn't like to work in a mine. I say, I suppose your father's getting very rich now, isn't he?"

"I suppose so, " I said. 

"That's what the people say. Binnacle Bill says he has got heaps ofsilver locked up in the strong place below the office under iron doors. Have you seen it?"

"No, " I said; "and I shouldn't think it's true. Hallo! Look yonder. Why, there's Bob Chowne!"

Bob it was, and the mine, the coming of the French, and everything elsewas forgotten, as we went down to the beach, ready enough for a ramblebeneath the rocks, after six months' absence from home. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

FRIENDS AND ENEMIES. 

At seventeen one's ideas are very different to what they are atfourteen, and matters that seemed of no account in the earlier periodlooked important at the more mature. For it used to seem to us quite amatter of course that Bigley's father should have a lugger, and if thepeople said he went over to France or the Low Countries with the men whocame over from Dodcombe, and engaged in smuggling, why, he did. It wasnothing to us. 

We never troubled about it, for Bigley was our school-fellow, and oldJonas was very civil, though he never would let us have the boat again. But now that we were getting of an age to think and take notice of whatwas said about us, Bob Chowne began to suggest that he and I ought tomake a change. 

"You see it don't seem respectable for me, the son of the doctor, andyou of the captain, who is our mine owner, to be such friends with onewhose father is a regular smuggler. "

"How do you know he is?" I said. 

"How do I know? Oh, everybody says so. Let's drop him. "

"I sha'n't, " I said, "unless father tells me to Bigley can't help it. "

"Then you'll have to drop--I mean I shall drop you, " said Bob haughtily. 

"Very well, " I said, feeling very much amused at the pompous tone inwhich he spoke. Not that I wanted to be bad friends with Bob Chowne;but I knew that he was only in one of his "stickly" fits, as we used tocall them, and that it would soon be over. 

"Very well, eh?" exclaimed Bob. "Oh, if you choose to prefer hissociety to mine, Good morning. "

He walked off with his nose in the air, and, half annoyed, half amused, I went over the hill to the mine, where my father was busily examiningsome specimens of the lead that had been cut off the corners of somenewly-cast ingots. 

"Well, Sep, " he said. "Coming to help?"

I replied that I was, somewhat unwillingly, for I had caught sight ofBigley coming up the valley, and I wanted to join him, and try and showthat I did not intend to give up an old school friend because hisfather's name was often on people's lips. 

"Who's that you are looking for?" said my father. 

"Only young Uggleston, father, " I said. 

I looked at him intently and felt troubled, for he frowned a little, and, before I knew what I was saying, the words slipped:

"You don't mind Bigley Uggleston coming here, do you, father?"

"Yes--no, " he said, sitting up up very stiffly. "I don't like yourgiving up old companions, Sep, or seeming to be proud; but there arebeginning to be reasons why you should not be quite so intimate withyoung Uggleston. "

"Oh, father!" I exclaimed dolefully. "Why, I thought that you and oldUggleston were good friends now. "

"Oh, yes; the best of friends, " said my father sarcastically. "He payshis rent regularly, and we always speak civilly to each other when wemeet. "

As he spoke there was a look in his face which seemed to say, "We don'tlike each other all the same. "

"Look here, Sep, " continued my father. "You are getting a big fellownow, and I am going to speak very plainly to you; of course, youunderstand that this is in confidence; it is quite private. "

"Yes, father, " I said sadly. 

"Then you must understand that, though Jonas Uggleston is my tenanthere, he is not a very satisfactory one, for there can be no doubt thathe carries on rather a risky trade; but, so long as the authorities donot interfere with him, and he behaves himself, I am not going to takeupon myself the task of being his judge. "

"No, father. "

"At the same time I cannot be intimate with him. I don't like him, andI don't like the companions who come over from Stinchcombe to man hislugger, and I'll tell you why. Do you know that, now this little mineis developing itself, I very often have blocks of silver here to aconsiderable amount. "

"I have often thought you must have, father. "

"You were quite right, and they are stored below this floor in a strongcellar cut and blasted out of the solid rock. I have good doors andkeys, and take every precaution; but at the same time I often feel thatit is very unsafe, and of course I send it into town as often as I can. "

"But you don't think, father--"

"That Jonas Uggleston would steal it? I hope not, my boy; but at thesame time I feel as if I ought not to expose myself to risks, and Iprefer to keep Jonas Uggleston at the same distance as he has beforestood. We can be civil. "

"I'm sorry, " I said. 

"Sorry?"

"Yes, father, " I replied, "because I like Bigley Uggleston. "

"So do I, my boy. I like his quiet modesty under ordinarycircumstances, and the sterling manner in which you have told me that hehas come to the front in emergencies. But stop: I don't ask you tobreak with him, for he may be useful to us after all. There, let mefinish these figures I am setting down, and I'll talk to you again. "

I sat down and watched him, and then looked round the bare office, withits high up window close to the ceiling, and ladder leading to the tworooms above. Spread over the floor was a large foreign rug that myfather had brought from the Mediterranean many years before, and thisrug was stretched over the middle of the large office as if it had beenbrought from the cottage to make the place more homelike andcomfortable. But it struck me all at once that the rug had been placedthere to hide a trap-door. Then, as I sat looking about, I noticed thatthe door was very thick and strong, and that there were bars at thewindow in which the glass was set. 

I might have noticed all this before, but it did not seem of anyconsequence till my father talked of the bars of silver and their value, and as I sat thinking, the place began to look quite romantic, and Ithought what a strange affair it would be, and how exciting if robbersor smugglers were to come and attack it, and my father, and Sam, and themen from the mine to have to defend it, and there were to be a regularfight. 

Once started thinking in that vein my mind grew busy, and I felt that ifI were at the head of affairs I should arrange to have plenty of swordsand pistols, and that made me think of old Sam and the cannon down thecliff garden. 

I laughed at that, though, as being absurd, and began to think directlyafter that my father's sword and pistols that always used to hang overthe chimney-piece in the little parlour were not there now. 

"Why, I daresay he has brought them down here, " I said to myself; and Ilooked round, half expecting to see them, but they were not visible, andI came to the conclusion that they must be in the cupboard in thecorner. 

My heart began to beat, and a curious feeling of excitement tookpossession of me, as my imagination had a big flight. I began to seemyself armed with a sword helping my father, who, being a captain, wouldbe a splendid leader. 

"But we ought to have plenty of swords and guns, " I thought, and Idetermined when my father began to speak to me again, to propose that heshould have a little armoury in the cupboard. 

Then I began to think about old Jonas, and the possibility of hisgetting a lot of men and coming and making an attack. There had been arumour that he and his people had once, many years ago, had a fight withthe king's men; but when Bob Chowne and I talked to him about it, Bigleyfired up and said it was all nonsense. But it occurred before he wasborn. 

It had never occurred to me before that this was a strange declaration. For how could it be all nonsense and yet have occurred before he wasborn?

It seemed now as if it was not all nonsense. 

One thought brought up another, and I found myself thinking that, if Iwas helping my father defend the treasure of silver here in the store, and fighting bravely, as I felt sure I should, Bigley would be helpinghis father to make the attack, and I saw myself having a terrificcutlass combat with him somewhere out on the slope. Then I should havehad a great deal of training from my father, who was an accomplishedswordsman, and I should disarm old Big and take him prisoner, and thenwhen night came, for the sake of old school-days, I should unfasten hishands and let him escape. 

My thoughts ran very freely, and I was fully determined to grind thesword that I had not seen, and which perhaps had not yet been made, assharp as a razor. It would be very easy, I thought, when I got it, tomake old Sam turn the grindstone at home, while I put on a tremendousedge and tried it on the thin branches of some of the trees. 

"What an exciting time it would be!" I thought, and I could not helpwishing that I should have to wear some kind of uniform, for a bit ofgold lace would go so well with a sword. Then I stopped short, for inall my planning there was no place for Bob Chowne, who was regularlyleft out of the business. 

"Oh, how stupid!" I thought directly after. "He would be thesurgeon's--his father's--assistant, and bind up everybody's wounds. "

I'm afraid I was, like a great many more boys, ready to have myimagination take fire at the idea of a fight, and never for a momentrealising what the horrors of bloodshed really were. 

"Poor Bob!" I thought to myself. "He wouldn't like that, having to donothing but tie and sew up wounds. " He was so fond of a fight that hewould want to be in it; and I concluded that we would let him fightwhile the fight was going on, and have a sword and pistols, andafterwards I could help him bandage the wounds. 

Then I came back to Bigley, and began to think that, after all, it wouldbe very queer for him to be fighting on one side and me on the other, and it did not seem natural, for we two had never had a serious quarrel, though I had had many a set-to with other lads, and had twice over givenBob Chowne black eyes, the last time when he gave me that terrible punchon the nose, when it bled so long that we all grew frightened, anddetermined to go to the doctor's, and it suddenly stopped. 

I don't know how much more nonsense I should have thought if my fatherhad not made a movement as if to get up, and that changed the current ofmy thoughts. 

But he went on writing again, and this time I began watching a largechest that stood in one corner of the room, bound with clamps of iron, and it looked so heavy and strong that I concluded that it must be fullof ingots of silver ready to send away. 

I grew tired of looking at that box, and as my fancy did not seemdisposed to run again upon fighting and defence, I sat listening to thescratching of my father's pen and the ticking of the clock, and then tothe dull roar of the furnace, while mingled with it came the clatteringof hammers, the creaking of the great windlass, and the rushing andplashing of falling water. 

Just then there was a tap as of some one's knuckles at the door, and inobedience to a look from my father I got up and opened it, to turn quitered in the face, for there stood my old school-fellow about whom so muchhad been said--Bigley Uggleston. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

FOREARMED AS WELL AS FOREWARNED. 

"Who is it?" said my father. 

"Bigley Uggleston, " I replied, feeling very awkward. 

"Oh, come in, my lad, " said my father quietly; and as I held the doorback for him to enter, it suddenly struck me what a frank, handsome-looking fellow he had grown. 

I felt more awkward still, for it seemed to me that I was going tolisten to some very unpleasant remarks about our companionship beingbroken off; but to my surprise my father said quietly:

"Come after Sep?"

"Yes, sir. I thought if he was not busy--"

"Well, but he is, " said my father smiling. "He was about to unpack thatbox for me--I was just going to set him the task. "

Bigley drew back, but my father said good-humouredly:

"Why don't you stop and help him?"

"May I, sir? I should like to. "

"Go on, then, my lads. Take the lid off carefully, Sep. There is ascrew-driver in that cupboard. "

I went eagerly to the cupboard and opened it, to give quite a start, forthere, hanging upon nails at the back, were the pistols and sword I hadremembered were absent from home. 

I found the screw-driver in a sort of tool-chest, and as Bigley and Itook it in turns to draw the screws, my father cleared the table. 

"Be careful, " he said. "You can lay the things out here. I shall soonbe back. "

He left us together, and, all eagerness now, I worked away at thescrews, which were very tight, and there were four on each side of thelid, and others in the clamps, which had to be removed before the lidcould be raised. 

"I am glad I came, Sep, " said Bigley. "I was wondering why you hadn'tbeen down to me. "

"Were you?" I said, feeling very uncomfortable. 

"Yes. What's in the box?"

"I don't know, " I said. "I thought it was blocks of metal, packed tosend away. "

I hesitated before I said metal. I was going to say silver; but I felt, after my father's words, as if I ought to be cautious. 

"I believe I know what's inside, " said my companion. 

"Well, what?" I cried, as I tugged at another screw which refused to goround. 

"New tools for the mine. "

"Why, of course!" I exclaimed. "Here: you go on. I can't manage thisscrew. How stupid of me not to think of it!"

"There he goes!" said Bigley, giving the screw a good wrench. "How manymore are there? I see: these two. "

He attacked them one after the other, talking the while. 

"I wonder you don't know what's in the box, " he said. "I thought yourfather told you everything--so different to mine, who never saysanything to me. "

"He does say a great deal to me, but he didn't tell me about the box. "

"There, then!" cried Bigley, taking out the last screw and seatinghimself suddenly upon the chest. "We've only got to lift the lid andthere we are. Who has first peep?"

"Oh, I don't care, " I said laughing. "You can. "

"Here goes, then!" cried Bigley. "Take care of the screws. "

I swept them into a heap and placed them on the table as Bigley threwopen the lid, which worked upon two great hinges, and then removing somecoarse paper he drew back. 

"You'd better unpack, " he said. "Don't make a litter with theshavings. "

For as the paper was removed the box seemed to be full of very finebrown shavings mixed with fine saw-dust. 

I swept the shavings away and felt my hands touch a row of long parcels, carefully wrapped in a peculiar-looking paper; and as I took them out, and shook them free of the saw-dust, handing them one by one to Bigleyto place upon the table, my heart began to beat, and the blood flushedinto my cheeks. 

"Why, they're not mining tools!" cried Bigley excitedly. "Whatever areyou going to do? They're swords. "

"Yes, " I said huskily; "they're swords--cutlasses. "

"Why, you knew all the time!" cried Bigley. 

"No; I did not, " I said. "I had no idea. "

"But how comical!" he cried. "What are you going to do with them?"

I did not answer, for all my thoughts of half an hour before seemed tohave rushed back, and I felt that I had been wondering why my father hadnot done that which he really had; and, though Bigley evidently couldnot realise the object of the weapons being there, it certainly seemedto me that my father felt that there was danger in the air, and that hemeant to be prepared. 

"What are you thinking about?" cried my companion. "Why don't youspeak?"

"I was thinking about the cutlasses, " I said. 

"Well, it is a surprise!" cried Bigley. "Oh, I know. Your father's anold sea captain, and they say the French are coming. He's going to armsome men as volunteers. "

All this time I was handing out the wrapped-up weapons, as we supposedthem to be--as we felt they must be--and Bigley was arranging them uponthe table side by side. 

"That's the end of those, " I said, and Bigley counted them. Twelve. 

"Twelve swords, " he said. "I say, Sep, let's ask him to make usvolunteers too. "

But I was unpacking the next things, and felt in no wise surprised bytheir weight and shape, to which the brown paper lent itself prettyclearly. 

"Pistols!" cried Bigley, as I handed the first. "Oh, I say, Sep, do youthink there'll be any uniforms too?"

"No, " I said, "not in a box like this. Here, catch hold!"

I handed the first pistol to him, and he laid it beneath the swords. 

"I know how many there ought to be!" he cried--"twenty-four. A brace ofpistols and a cutlass for every man. Here, pitch them and I'll catch. "

There was nothing to prevent my handing them to him; but, boy-like, itseemed pleasant thus to turn work into play, and I began to pitch one byone the little heavy packages as I drew them out of the chest. 

Bigley nearly let one fall, but he saved it, and laughingly placed it inthe row he was making, till, counting the while, he exclaimed--

"Twenty-three! Is that next one the last?"

"Yes, " I said, as I pitched it to him and it was placed in the rangeupon the table. "You were right. "

"Is there anything else?"

"Oh, yes, " I said; "the box isn't half empty. "

I dived down and brought out next a long sword, more carefully wrapped, and in superior paper to those which had been previously taken out. Then followed a squarish case or box in paper, and for a few moments wewere undecided as to what it might be, concluding that it must be apistol-case with a brace of superior weapons inside. 

Still the chest was far from empty, and on continuing the unpacking Ifound that I was handing out short carbines, such as artillerymen orhorse-soldiers would use. 

"Twelve!" cried Bigley, who was growing more and more excited. "Whatnext?"

The next thing was a small square box wrapped in something soft, andoccupying the bottom corner of the chest, while the rest of the spacewas occupied by small boxes that were not wrapped in paper, but fasteneddown with copper nails, and on each was painted the big figures--250. 

I handed out eight of these little boxes, and they, being pretty heavy, were placed close beside the wall of the office. 

"That's all, " I said, and, concluding that it was the proper thing todo, we replaced the shavings and saw-dust in the chest, shut down thelid, put the loose screws in a piece of paper, and tied them to one ofthe clamps before pushing the chest aside and making all tidy. 

This done, we hovered, as it were, about the table with longing eyes anditching fingers, ending by looking at each other. 

"I say, " said Bigley; "didn't your father say that we were to unpack thebox?"

"Yes, and we've done it, " I replied rather sulkily. 

"Well, oughtn't we to take the things out of the paper, and lay thepaper all neatly and save the string?"

"Think so?" I said longingly. 

Bigley hesitated, took up a packet, turned it over, balanced it in hishand, laid it down again, and rearranged several of the others withoutspeaking, but he heaved a deep sigh. 

"Think we ought to unpack them further?" I said. 

"No, " said Bigley unwillingly. "I don't think it would be right. Doyou?"

"No, " I said with a sigh; "but I should like to have a look. "

We two lads went on hovering about the table, peering at first onepacket and then at another, feeling them up and down, and quiteconvincing ourselves that certain ones were a little more ornamentalthan others. There was no doubt about it, we felt. They were swords, pistols, and carbines. 

"Here, I know, " I exclaimed. 

"Know what, Sep?"

"The boxes, 250. "

"Well, what about 'em?"

"Cartridges, " I said. "Two hundred and fifty in each. "

"So they are, " cried Bigley with his eyes dilating; and, however much wemay have been disappointed over the silver mine, the counting-house nowseemed to be a perfect treasure cave, such an armoury had it become. 

"I say, they won't go off, will they?" cried Bigley. 

"Pshaw! Not they. I say, wouldn't old Bob like to be here now?"

"Ah, wouldn't he?" said Bigley. "Why, it's like being in a realrobbers' cave. "

"No, " I said; "not robbers', " and I recalled the thoughts I had indulgedin earlier in the day. 

"No; of course not, " said Bigley thoughtfully; "it isn't like a robbers'cave. I say, don't it look as if there were going to be a fight?"

I nodded, and wondered whether there would be. 

"Should you like to be in it if there was?" I said in a curiousdoubting manner. 

Bigley rubbed one ear, and picked up a sword. 

"I don't know, " he said. "Sometimes I think I should; but sometimes Ifeel as if it would be very horrid to give a fellow a chop with a thinglike this, just as if he was so much meat. I would, though, if he wasgoing to hurt my father, " he cried with his eyes flashing. "I'd cut hisarm right off. Wouldn't you?"

"Dunno, " I said, and I began wondering whether there would ever be anyoccasion to use these weapons, and I could not help a shrinkingsensation of dread coming over me, for I seemed to see the horror aswell as the glory of shooting down human beings, and more than ever itoccurred to me that if trouble did come, my old school-fellow might beon one side and I on the other. 

"I say, " said Bigley suddenly; "we've only undone one box, oughtn't weto undo the other?"

"What, that?" I said, looking at a shorter smaller box on end in thecorner behind the door. 

"Yes. "

"Father didn't say I was to. "

"But that looks as if it came from the same place. "

"Why, Big, " I cried eagerly, "that must have the uniforms in it. "

"Hurray! Yes, " he cried. "Wonder whether they're scarlet?"

"No, " I said. "They're sure to be blue, like the sailors'. "

"Oh! I don't know about that, " he cried. "Marines wear scarlet. Idaresay they're red. "

"Should you open the box if you were me?"

"Well, no, " said Bigley; "perhaps not. He didn't tell us to. But oh, how I should like to take the paper off one of these pistols!"

"So should I, " was my reply, with a longing look at the array ofquaint-looking parcels; "but we mustn't do that, though I do feel as ifI could do it up again just as neatly. "

"No; don't try, " cried Bigley. "Let 'em be. We can think what'sinside. I shouldn't wonder if some of them are mounted with brass, andhave lions' heads on the butts. "

"Yes, and the swords too--brass lions' heads, holding the guards intheir mouths. "

"Why, we haven't seen any belts. "

"No; they would be with the uniforms. I say, I wonder whether thecutlasses are very sharp?"

"And whether they are bright blue half-way up the blade; you said yourfather's sword was. "

"Yes, " I replied; "and inlaid with gold. It was given to him when heleft his ship. "

"Here, come out!" cried Bigley, laying hold of my hand. 

"Come out? What for?" I said. 

"Because it's the best way. I always run off when I see anything verytempting that I want to touch, and ought not to. "

"Get out!" I cried. 

"I do, Sep, honour bright, and I feel now as if I should be obliged toundo some of those papers, and try the pistols, and pull the swords outof the sheaths. Let's go out. "

I laughed, for I felt very much in the same way, only it seemed to be socowardly to go, and Bigley came to the same way of thinking, the resultbeing that we kept on picking up the different packages and feasting ourimaginations by means of touch, till suddenly the door opened, and myfather came in. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

READY FOR THE FRENCH. 

"Well, boys, " said my father, "unpacked? That's right, but you might aswell have undone them. " We each dashed at a package, whipped out ourknives, cut the string, and rapidly unrolled the contents, till Bigleyheld a pistol, and I a cutlass, of the regular navy pattern both. 

My father took the sword from my hand, drew its short broad blade, andmade it whiz through the air as he gave a cut, guarding directly, andthen giving point. 

"Hah!" he said, as we watched him breathlessly, "I used to have twohundred and fifty stout Jack-tars under me, boys, every one of whomhandled a cutlass like that. "

"Two hundred and fifty, " I said; "just as many as there are cartridgesin those boxes. "

"How did you know that they were cartridges?" he said smiling. 

"Well, we guessed that they were, father, " I replied colouring. "Itseemed as if there must be cartridges for the pistols. "

"Right, my boy, " he replied. 

"And of course cartridges are not wanted for cutlasses, " I continued. 

"No, " he said laughing; "you load your cutlasses with muscles. "

"But they want belts, " I ventured to observe. 

"To be sure, " said my father. "There they are in that box. You shallunpack them when we've undone these. Let me look at that pistol, Uggleston. "

Bigley handed him the pistol, and my father drew the ramrod, thrust itdown the barrel, and gave it two or three taps to make sure that it wasnot loaded. Then replacing the ramrod he cocked it, held it at arm'slength, and drew the trigger. 

There was a little scintillation as the flint struck the cover of thepan, and he cocked and drew the trigger again, we two watching him withintense interest, and longing to try the pistol ourselves, but notliking to ask permission. 

"There, work away!" he said, "save the string, and lay the brown paperin heaps; it may come in useful. "

We set to work, while my father took a hammer and some large nails froma drawer, and, standing on a stool, drove the nails in a row along aboard at one side of the office, and as we unpacked he took the weaponsfrom us and hung them up, a cutlass between two pistols, arranging thenails so that the arms looked ornamental, while at the same time theywere quite ready to hand in case they should be wanted. 

It took us some little time, but at last the task was done, and thecartridge chests stowed away in a cupboard, but not till each one hadbeen carefully wrenched open, the copper nails taken out, and the lidsreplaced loose on the top. 

"There, Master Bigley, " said my father dryly. "That's what I call beingready for action. " Bigley nodded. 

"If those boxes were put away unopened, the chances are a hundred to onethat on the occasion of their being wanted the chisel and hammer wouldnot be in their places. Now, then, we'll undo that other box. "

I could not help seeing, or thinking I saw, a peculiar meaning in myfather's way of saying all this, but Bigley did not understand it Ifelt, and we set to at once over the other chest, dragging it into themiddle of the room and prising off the lid, for this one was onlynailed. 

It was not so heavy either, but as we had made up our minds that itcontained the uniforms, we were not surprised. 

The lid was more tightly nailed down than seemed to be necessary; but wehad it off at last, and then drew out a dozen parcels, which, on beingopened, proved to be white buckskin belts for the waist, with a frog orpouch to hold and support the cutlasses, and a cross belt of a broaderkind, to which was attached a cartouche-box, ready to hold theball-cartridge when required. 

Another row of nails was driven in for the belts, which were hung inpairs, and then we drew out a couple more boxes of cartridges, and thatwas all. 

"Why, what's the matter, Sep?" said my father, smiling at mydisappointed countenance. 

"I was wondering where the uniforms were, " I said. 

"Uniforms, boy?" said my father. "When my two hundred and fifty ladsattacked the Spanish frigate and took her, they wore no uniforms. Everyman stripped to his shirt and trousers, put a handkerchief round hiswaist, threw away his hat, rolled up his sleeves, and tucked up histrousers. They fought the Spaniard bare-armed, bare-headed, bare-footed; and if we have to fight, we can do the same, and drive offour enemies too. "

"The French, father?" I said, feeling quite abashed. 

"Ay, my boy, or anyone else. These uniforms look very attractive, butthere's a great deal of vanity in them, and we are too busy to give wayto that. "

"Yes, father, " I said meekly, and as I said it I thought about somethingelse. 

"There, you lads can go now. Thank you for helping to arrange my littlearmoury. "

We should both have liked to examine those arms a little more. Weshould even have liked to try one of the pistols, and shoot at a mark, but this was a regular dismissal, and we went out, going quietly down tothe stream, all stained now with the dirty water from the mine, and forsome time we preserved silence. 

"What are you thinking about, Sep?" said Bigley at last. 

"I was thinking how nicely those belts would go with a uniform, " I said. 

"Were you? How funny!" said Bigley. "That's just what I was thinking. "

"What, about a uniform?"

"Yes. "

"Blue?"

"No, scarlet. "

I went down to the shore with Bigley, and we had a good ramble, afterwhich he fetched the glass, and we climbed up to the place on the rockswhere his father used to station himself to look out--for fish, Bigleysaid; but my father often said they were very rum fish--and there weswept the horizon to see if we could make out the lugger, but she wasnot in sight, and after a time we grew tired of this and lay down in thewarm sunshine upon the cliff, where Bigley dropped off to sleep. 

I did not feel sleepy, though, but full of thought. Above all, I couldnot help thinking over my father's behaviour that day. It was evidentthat he feared attack by making such preparations, and no doubt I shouldsoon see him drilling the work-people he had gathered around him, and Idwelt a good deal, being tolerably observant, upon the fact of hisletting Bigley see all his preparations. I was asking myself why he haddone this, and what reason he had for it, when Bigley woke up and saidthat it was time to go and get something to eat. 

I did not answer and say it was, but a silent monitor gave me a hintthat he was quite correct, and so we went to the cottage, and MotherBonnet gave us quite a feast of bread and butter and fried fish, whichform no bad refreshment for two hungry boys. 

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

DRILLING OUR MEN. 

My father's armoury was a good deal talked about, but when regulardrilling was commenced at the Gap it excited no surprise. Thegrey-beards of Ripplemouth talked it over, and said they were glad thatCaptain Duncan had woke up and was ready to defend the Gap when theFrench came to our part of the coast, and they said they expected greatthings of him. 

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Bob Chowne one day, as he came over; "heard thenews?"

"No, " I said; "have the French come?"

"No, not yet; but the Ripplemouth people are going to ask your father tohelp them make a fort on the cliff over the harbour, and they're goingto get some guns from Bristol. "

"What nonsense!" I said. "Here, I'm going over to the Gap; will youcome?"

"No, I don't want to come to the old lead pump and see your father'speople make the water muddy. What are you going to do?"

"Sword drill. "

"Oh! I don't care for sword drill. "

"Bigley's coming too, " I said; "and we're going through it all. "

"It's stupid work standing all in a row swinging your arms about likewindmills, chopping nothing, and poking at the air, and pretending thatsomeone's trying to stab you. I wouldn't mind if it was real fighting, but yours is all sham. "

"Then we're going to do some pistol-shooting at a mark withball-cartridge. "

"Pooh! It's all fudge!" said Bob yawning. "I wouldn't mind coming ifyou were going to do something with real guns. "

"Why, they're real pistols. "

"Pistols! Yes--pop-guns. I mean big cannons. "

"Ah, well, " I said, "I'm sorry you will not come, but I must go. "

"That's always the way when a fellow comes away from our old physic-shopand takes the trouble to walk all these miles. You're always either outor going out. "

"I can't help it, Bob, " I replied, feeling rather ill-used. "My fatherexpects me. I have to help him now. You know I like a game as well asever I did. "

"Ah, well, it don't matter. Be off. "

"I'm very sorry, " I said, glancing at the old eight-day clock; "but Imust go now. "

"Well, didn't I say, Be off?" cried Bob. 

"Good-bye, then!"

I offered him my hand, but he did not take it. 

"If you'll walk round by the cliff I'll come part of the way with you, "he said ill-humouredly. 

"Will you?" I cried. "Come along, then. "

I did not let him see it, but I had felt all the time that Master Bobmeant to come. He had played that game so many times that I knew him byheart. I knew, too, that he was wonderfully fond of the sword practice, in which he had taken part whenever he could, and to get a shot with apistol or a gun gave him the greatest pleasure. 

"He won't come away till it's all over, " I said to myself; and we walkedon round by the high track watching the ships going up to Bristol, tillall at once, as we rounded the corner leading into the Gap, Bobexclaimed:

"Why, there's old Jonas's boat coming in!"

"Where?" I said dubiously. 

"Why, out there, stupid!" cried Bob, pointing north-west. 

"What! That lugger?" I said. "No, that's not his. He went out fourdays ago, and isn't expected back yet. That's more like the Frenchlugger we rode in--Captain Gualtiere's. "

"Yah! Nonsense!"

"Well, but it is, " I said. "That has three masts; it's a chasse maree. Jonas's boat has only two masts--a regular lugger. "

"You've got sand in your left eye and an old limpet-shell over theother, " grumbled Bob. "French boat, indeed! Why, no French boat likethat would dare to come near England now. I s'pose that's a French boattoo!"

He pointed to another about a mile behind. 

"No, " I said; "that looks like a big yacht or a cutter. I shouldn'twonder if it's a revenue cutter. "

"Well, you are a clever chap, " said Bob mockingly--"setting up for asailor, and don't know any more about it than an old cuckoo. "

"I know what our old Sam and my father and Binnacle Bill have taughtme, " I said quietly. 

"No, you don't--you don't know anything only how to be surly anddisagreeable to your visitors. "

"I say, Bob, " I said, "is it true what people say?"

"I don't care what people say. "

"Why, that your father gives you so much physic that it makes you sour?"

I repented saying it directly, for Bob stopped short. "Want me to chuckyou off the cliff?" he said fiercely. 

"No, that I don't, " I said, pretending to be horribly frightened. 

"Because, just you look here--"

"Ahoy--oy!"

"Ahoy--oy! Ahoy--oy!" I shouted back in answer to the faint cry thatcame from below, where we could see Bigley waving his hat. 

It was easier work for us to go down the precipitous slope than for himto climb up; but he did not seem to study that for he came eagerlytowards us, while we slipped and scrambled down, ignoring the path, which was a quarter of a mile away. 

Bob did not speak as we were scrambling down, and the exertion made himforget his ill-temper, so that he was a little more amiable when we camewithin speaking distance of Bigley. 

"Going to the drill?" he shouted; and then without waiting for ananswer, "So am I. Has your father come back, Sep?"

"Come back!" I said. "What do you mean? He came on here. "

"Yes, " said Bigley; "and then he got our boat and went off in her--soMother Bonnet said. I was not here. "

"Why, where has he gone?" I asked. 

"I don't know. I thought he had rowed round to the Bay. "

I shook my head and began to wonder what it meant. 

"Father has been round to Penzance or Plymouth, I think, " said Bigley. "He'll be back soon, I expect. "

"What's he gone after?" said Bob shortly. 

"I don't know, " said Bigley, colouring a little. "Fishing or trading orcarrying something, I expect. "

"I don't!" sneered Bob. "I know. "

"That you don't, " said Bigley quietly; "even I don't. "

"No!" sneered Bob; "you never know anything. People at Ripplemouth do. He has gone on a jolly good smuggling trip, I know. "

I saw Bigley's eyes flash, and for a moment I thought that he was goingto say something harsh, and that we were going to have a quarrel throughBob Chowne's propensity for saying disagreeable things; but just then Ihappened to turn my head and saw a boat coming round the western cornerof the entrance to the Gap. 

"Why, there's father!" I cried. "Where can he have been!"

That exclamation changed the conversation from what was a terriblytouchy point with Bigley, who always felt it acutely if anyone hintedthat his father indulged in smuggling. 

"I know, " said Bob Chowne, changing his attack so that it was directedupon me. "Well, if my father was so precious selfish as to get a boatand go out fishing without me, I should kick up a row. "

"Why, you are always making rows without, " I said testily. "My fatherhas not been fishing, I'm sure. "

"There he goes again, " cried Bob in an ill-used tone. "That's SepDuncan all over. I say, Big, he was trying to pick a quarrel with me upon the cliff when you came, and I wouldn't. Now he's at it again. "

"Well, I sha'n't stop to quarrel now, " I replied. "Come on down andmeet father. "

We were a good three hundred feet above the shore when I spoke, andstarting off the others joined me, and we went down over the crumblingslates and then past the pebble ridge to where the little river bubbledup again through the stones before it reached the sea, and then in andout among the rocks, to stand and wait till my father rowed in. 

"Ah, boys, " he cried, as the boat grounded, and we dragged it up over asmooth patch of sand, "you are just in time to help. "

"Been fishing, father?" I said. 

"No; only on a little bit of investigation along the coast; but I foundI had not time as it was drill day. There, make the boat fast to thebuoy line, and let's get up to the mine, and we'll all go this afternoonwhen the drill's over. "

"This afternoon?" I said eagerly. 

"Yes; the weather's lovely and warm, and you fellows can row me. "

I felt ready to toss up my hat and cheer, and I saw that Bigley wasready to do the same; but we both felt that we were getting too old, sowe refrained. 

"I'm afraid I can't go, Captain Duncan, " said Bob in an ill-used way. "My father will be at home expecting me. "

"No, he will not, Bob, " said my father smiling; "he will not be backfrom Barnstaple till quite late. Come along, my lad, and we'll havesome lunch, and then begin drill. Had Sam started with the basket, Sep?"

"No, father, " I replied; "but I saw Kicksey packing it when I cameaway. "

"Sure to be there, " said my father; and he led the way up the Gap withBigley, to whom he always made a great point of being kind, partlybecause he was my old companion, and partly, as I thought, because hewanted to smooth away any ill feeling, and to make up for the breakbetween us that kept threatening to come. 

This upset Bob, who hung back and began to growl about not being sure hecould stop to drill, and thought that, as we reached the end of thecliff path, he ought to go now, and altogether he required a great dealof coaxing to get him along, or rather he professed to want a greatdeal, till we reached the mine, where all was going on just as of old, the wheel turning, the water splashing, furnace roaring, and the pumpkeeping on its regular thump. 

Old Sam was standing at the counting-house door with a big basket, theone he always brought over, filled with provisions for our use, as somuch time was spent at the mine; and as my father pulled out a big key, Sam took in the basket, cleared the table, and threw over it a whitecloth, upon which he spread the provisions. 

For a few minutes after we had sat down--Bob Chowne having to be fetchedin, after sliding off so that he might be fetched back--we could not eatmuch for feasting our eyes on the bright swords and pistols; but youngappetites would have their way, and we were soon eating heartily tillthe meat pasty and custard and cream were completely destroyed. 

"A very bold attack, " said my father smiling. "Now that ought to makemuscle. Off with your coats, my lads, and roll up your sleeves. "

As he spoke he went to the door, and blew an old silver boatswain'swhistle, when work was dropped, and the men came running up quickly fromfurnace, and out of the pit and stone-breaking sheds, till ten stoutwork-stained fellows stood in a row, showing the effect of the drill anddiscipline already brought to bear. 

"Like the old days on the quarter-deck, " said my father to Bob Chowne. "Now, Sep, serve out the arms. "

I had done this several times before, and rapidly handed to each man hiscutlass and belt, which was as quickly buckled on. Then one each wasgiven to Bob Chowne and Bigley, and I was left without. 

"Humph, twelve, " said my father counting, as he saw me unarmed. "Youcan take that new sword, Sep. "

I could not help feeling pleased, for this was the officer's sword whichhad come down with the others; and as I buckled on the lion-headed beltI had hard work to keep from glancing at Bob Chowne, who, I knew, wouldfeel disgusted. 

There was no time wasted, for my father at these drills kept up his oldsea-going officer ways; and in a few minutes we were formed into twolines before him, opened out, proved distance with our swords, so as tohave plenty of room, and not be likely to cut each other; and there fora good hour the sun flashed on the blades, as the sword exercise wasgone through, with its cuts, points, and guards, the men taking to iteagerly as a pleasant change from the drudgery of the mine, and showingno little proficiency already. 

"There, " said my father at last, after the final order to sheathe swordshad been given. "Break off. No pistol practice to-day. Your handswill be unsteady. "

"Always the way!" I heard Bob Chowne grumble. "I stopped on purpose tohave a bit of pistol-shooting, and now there's none. See if I'd havestayed if I had known. "

I had to run to the door of the great stone-built counting-house andreceive the swords as the men filed up, and for the next ten minutes Iwas busy hanging all in their places. 

When I had finished the men had all gone back to their work, and after alook round, my father said a few words to a big black-lookingCornishman, who had lately been selected as foreman from his experienceabout mines, locked up the counting-house, and turned to us. 

"Now, boys, " he said, "we'll go back to the boat. "

Bob Chowne's lips parted to say that he could not stop; but he had notthe heart to speak the words, and we went back to the beach, to enterupon an adventure that proved rather startling to us all, and had asequel that was more startling, and perhaps more unpleasant still. 

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

WE LOSE OUR BOAT. 

"We're going to take the boat again, Mrs Bonnet, " said my father, as wepassed Uggleston's cottage. 

"Oh, I'm sure master would say you're welcome, sir, " said the rosy-facedold lady. "It's a beautiful afternoon for a row. "

Ten minutes after we were well afloat, and Bigley and I were pulling, making the water patter under the prow of the boat, as it rose and fellon the beautiful clear sea. Below us were the rocks, which could beseen far enough down, all draped with the brown and golden-looking weed;and we felt as if it was a shame not to have a line over the side forpollack or mackerel on such a lovely afternoon. But there was to be nofishing, for my father evidently had some serious object in hand, telling us how to pull so as to keep regularly along at a certaindistance from the mighty wall of rock that was on our left till, about amile from the Gap, where there were a great deal of piled-up stone inhuge fragments that had fallen from the cliff, he suddenly told Bigleyto easy, and me to row. Then both together, with the result that wepulled right into a little bay where the cliff not only seemed to go upperpendicularly, but to overhang, while in one place at the bottom adark patch or two showed where caves ran right in. 

As we neared the shore he bade us cease rowing, and taking one of theoars he threw it over the stern, and sculled the boat in and out amongthe rocks that were half covered by the sea, threading his waycarefully, and finally beaching her on a soft patch of sand. 

We all leaped out, and the little anchor was thrown ashore to keep theboat safe while we went away. 

"For neither of you will care to be boat-keeper, " said my fathersmiling. 

"What are you going to do?" I asked as we walked up together. 

"Don't ask questions, my boy, " he replied quietly. "If I tell you, ofcourse you cannot, without seeming mysterious, refuse to tell yourcompanions, and I do not care to say much at present. It does notmatter, but I prefer not to talk. "

We walked up straight to the caves, which were very beautiful, coveredas their mouths were with ivy and ferns, while over each a perfect sheetof dripping rain fell like a screen and threatened to soak anyone whoattempted to enter. 

We did not attempt it, for my father led us away to the west, and soonafter, hammer in hand, he was examining the cliff-face and the variousblocks of stone that had fallen down in days gone by. 

We walked on for a time, but it soon became too monotonous, and we tookto something to amuse ourselves, to my father's great satisfaction, forhe evidently now preferred to be alone. 

We did not watch him, but to me it seemed evident enough that he wassearching for minerals, of which he believed that he had seen sometrace. 

As for us, we rather enjoyed our ramble, for this was a part of theshore that we had not explored for some time, and the number of poolsand hollows among the stones were almost countless, while at every turnwe had to lament the absence of our baskets and nets. 

Sometimes we climbed on to some difficult-looking pile, at other timeswe crept in under the cavernous-looking places, where, at high tide, thesea rushed and roared. Wearying of this, we explored the edge wherehigh-water left its marks, to examine the curious shells washed up, andthe varieties of sea-weed driven right under the perpendicular wall ofrock, that towered up above us fully two hundred feet before it began toslope upwards as a hill. 

Then after laughingly saying that if the French came, they would have tobring very long ladders and use them at low tide if they wanted to getinto England, we sauntered back towards where we had left my father, butchose our path as nearly as we could close down by the edge of thewater. 

The tide was coming up fast, but this was all the better, as it waslikely to bring in objects worthy of notice; but we found nothing, andat last the time had so rapidly glided away that evening was coming inas it were on the tide. 

We looked about us, and found that we were well inside the little baywhere we had first landed, its two arms stretching well out as jaggedpoints on either side, among whose rocks the sea was foaming andplashing, although it was quite calm a little way out. 

"No getting back, boys, now, " said Bigley, "if it wasn't for the boat. "

"Yah! Nonsense!" cried Bob. "If the tide was to catch me in a bay likethis, I should make a run and a jump at the cliff, catch hold of thefirst piece of ivy I could see, and then go up like a squirrel. "

"Without a tail, " I added laughing. 

"Hark at clever old Sep Duncan, " sneered Bob. "He'd walk up the cliffwithout touching. It's a strange thing that we can't come out withoutyour saying something disagreeable, Sep. "

"I'm very sorry, " I said with mock humility, for I had just caught sightof Bigley's face, and he was grinning. 

"Well, don't do it again, then, " said Bob pompously, and then welistened, for a voice hailed us from somewhere among the wilderness ofpiled-up rocks. 

"Ahoy, there! Ahoy!"

"Here we are, father!" I shouted, and trudging on we met him comingdown from a place where he had evidently been sitting smoking his pipe. 

"Didn't you hear me hail before?" he said as we met. 

"No, father. "

"Why, I've been shouting at intervals for this last hour, and I shouldhave been uncomfortable if I had not thought you had common sense enoughto take care of yourselves. "

"Oh! We minded that, sir, " said Bob importantly. "We are older nowthan we used to be. "

"Yes, " said my father dryly, "so I supposed. Well, let's be off; we'vea long row, and then a walk, and it's time to feed the animals, eh, BobChowne?"

"Yes, sir, " said Bob; "but I've got ever so much farther to go before Ican get anything to eat. "

"No, you have not, " said my father in his driest way. "I should thinkthere will be enough for us all at the Bay. "

"I--I didn't mean, " said Bob in a stammering way; but he had turned veryred in the face, and then he quite broke down and could get no further, being evidently thoroughly ashamed of the way in which he had spoken. 

My father noticed it, and changed the conversation directly. "Foundanything very interesting?" he said; "anything good among the rocks?"

"No, father, " I said; "nothing much. "

"Why, you blind puppy!" cried my father; "nothing? Don't you know thatevery pool and rock hole teems with wonders that you go by withoutnoticing. Ah! I shall have to go with you, boys, some day, and showyou a few of the grand sights you pass over because they are so small, and which you call nothing. Why, how high the tide has risen!"

"Didn't we leave the boat just beyond those rocks, sir?" said Bigley. 

"Yes, " said my father. "One of you will be obliged to strip and wadeout to it. No, it couldn't have been those rocks. "

"No, sir, " said Bob Chowne; "it was round on the other side of thisheap. "

He pointed to a mass of rock lying right in the centre of the embayment, a heap which cut off our view on one side. 

"I suppose you must be right, Chowne, " said my father; "come along. "

"I feel sure it was here, father, " I said; "just out here. "

"No it wasn't, " cried Bob pettishly. "I remember coming round hereafter we left the boat. "

Bigley and I looked at each other, but we said nothing, only followed myfather and Bob Chowne as they went round to the other side of the pileof rock, and there lay the sea before us with the tide racing in, andsweeping over the rocks, but no boat. 

"It's very strange, " said my father; "we must have left it in one ofthese places. "

"Perhaps it was behind the other heap, sir, " said Bob eagerly. 

"What heap?" said my father. 

"That one, sir, " said Bob, pointing towards the west. 

"Impossible!" cried my father, and then he stopped and waited, whileBigley, who had, by getting on my back and shoulders, managed to climbup the highest part of the mass which stood like an island out of thestones and sand, shaded his eyes with his hand, and looked all round. 

It was so still that the lapping of the evening tide sounded quite loud, and the querulous call of a gull that swept by was quite startling. 

"Well, " said my father, "can you see the boat? No no, don't look outthere, my lad, look in here close. "

"She isn't in here close, " said Bigley quietly. 

"She must be, Big, " cried Bob. "Here, let me come. "

"I see her!" cried Bigley just then. "No. Yes. There she is, sir!" hesaid, pointing to the east. "She's broke adrift, and is floating yonderhalf a mile away towards the Gap. "

"Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated my father. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir, " said Bigley, "I'm quite sure. I was quite sure before thatwe left her where we looked first, but I didn't like to say so. "

"Here, give me your hand, " said my father. "You, Sep, let me try andget up over you. Bob Chowne, you had better stand by him to strengthenhim. I'm heavy. Reach down, Bigley, and give me your hand. "

My father was active enough, and with our help scrambled up on to thetop of the rock, where he gave one glance at the speck Bigley pointedout, and then uttered an impatient ejaculation. 

"Come down, " he said. "You're quite right, my lad. But how can thatboat have got away? The grapnel was good. "

"I'm afraid I know, " said Bigley sadly. "I don't think anyone looked tosee if the painter was made fast to the ring. I didn't. "

"And as I'm an old sailor, who ought to have known better, I confessthat I did not, " said my father. "Well, boys, it's of no use to cryover spilt milk. If the boat is not recovered unhurt, Mr JonasUggleston will have a new one, and I must apologise for my carelessness. Now, then, we must walk home. "

Bigley looked at him in rather a curious way; and as I divined what hemeant I glanced at the two points which projected and formed the bay, and saw that they were being swept by the waves to such an extent thatit would have been madness to attempt to get round either wading orswimming. 

"Yes, " said my father, speaking as if someone had made this remark tohim, "it would be impossible to get round there. Come along, boys, helpme down; I can't jump. Let's see for a place to climb the cliff. "

We helped him down by standing with our heads bent upon our arms, as ifwe were playing at "_Saddle my nag_, " then he lowered himself till hecould rest his feet upon our shoulders, and the rest was easy. 

"We mustn't lose time, " he said, as he stood on the rough shingle; "thetide is running in very fast. "

It was quite true, and before long it would certainly completely fillthe bay. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

A NIGHT ON THE ROCKS. 

It was very satisfying in a case of emergency to have with us some oneso old and staid and full of authority as my father, who set the exampleto us lads of hurrying close up to the cliff right at the head where thecaverns ran in, and the rain-like water streamed down from the ferns andsaxifrages to form a veil that now looked golden in the glow from thewest. 

"Hah!" said my father decisively, "no standing here; and it would not besafe to go into the cave, the water rises six or seven feet here rightup the cliff. "

It was so all round, as we plainly saw by the sea-weed that clung in thecrevices, and the limpets and barnacles on the smooth places right abovethe heads of us boys, while every here and there at our feet we couldsee the common red sea creatures, which look like red jelly when thetide is down, and like daisyfied flowers when it is up. 

"No stopping down here, boys, " cried my father. "Now, then, where's thebest place to climb the cliff? You two try one way, Chowne and I willgo the other. "

We separated, and Bigley and I ran right round the steep wall, lookingeagerly for a spot where foothold could be obtained, but it wasgenerally overhanging, while elsewhere it rose up perfectly straight, sothat a cat could not have run up it. Only in one place where there wasa great crack did it seem possible to climb up any distance, and thatcrack seemed to afford the means of getting to a shelf of rock justbeneath a tremendous overhanging mass, some fifty feet above where westood. 

This was very near the eastern arm of the little bay, where the tide wasfretting and splashing and gurgling among the rocks, and threateningevery minute to come right up amongst the stones that filled the foot ofthe crack. 

"Let's look more carefully as we go back, " said Bigley; and we did, butour only discovery was the entrance to another cave, which seemed to bequite a narrow doorway or slit behind some tall stones piled right aboveit, and shutting it from the sight of anyone walking by. In fact, wehad missed it as we came. 

"That might be a good place, " said Bigley; "but it wouldn't be safe totry, for perhaps the sea fills it right up every tide. "

We went on back, looking eagerly upwards, and stumbling over the stonesthat strewed our path, till we met my father and Bob Chowne. 

"Well, " said my father, in his short stern way, as if he were addressinghis sailors on board ship. "Report!"

"No way up to the top, sir, " said Bigley. 

"No, father, none, " I said. 

"No way?" said my father, and he frowned severely; "and there is no wayup whatever at our end. Boys, we shall have to venture out, and swimround the point. "

Bob Chowne shuddered, and I felt a curious sensation of dread creepingover me which I tried to shake off. 

"But there seems to be a way up to a shelf of rock, father, " I said;"close there by the point. "

"Ah!" he cried. 

"But no higher. "

"Never mind, " he said sharply. "Go on first. Quick!"

It was quite necessary to be quick, for the water was already lappingamong the stones at the foot of the chink and mounting fast. 

"Yes, I see, " said my father. "There! Lose no time. Up with you, Uggleston. You next, Chowne. Climb your best, boys, and help oneanother. "

The climb was awkward and steep, but possible, and by one giving anothera back and then crouching on some ledge and holding down his hand to theothers, we got on up and up, till the big ledge was reached, and provedto be some twenty feet long by about nine broad in the middle, but goingoff to nothing at either end, while it went in right under a tremendousprojecting portion of the cliff, that looked as if it would crumble downand crush us at any moment. 

"Hah!" ejaculated my father breathlessly, as he partly dragged himselfup, and was partly dragged by us on to the shelf. "What a place! Why, we must be at least eighty feet above the shingle. "

"As much as that, father?"

"Yes, my boy; so mind all of you. No rolling off. Now, then, is thereany other way of getting higher, and so on to the slope?"

A very few minutes' examination satisfied him that there was none. 

"No; only a fly could get up there, boys, " he said merrily. "Well, weare safe and quite comfortable. This will be another adventure for you. Why, my lads, I shall never have the heart to scold you for gettinginto scrapes after leading you into this one. It is easier to get intotrouble than out. "

"Shall we have to stay here very long, father?" I said. 

"Only all night, my boys, so we must make ourselves as comfortable as wecan. We shall have to divide ourselves into two watches and make thebest of it. Certainly we shall not be able to climb down till daylightto-morrow morning. "

"What! Do you mean for us to go to sleep in turns?"

"Or sit up, which you like, my boys, " he said quietly. "And no verygreat hardship either. You have not touched upon our greatestdifficulty. "

"What's that, sir?" said Bob. 

"Nothing to eat, my boy, and we are all very hungry. "

"Oh!" groaned Bob; and if ever the face of boy suggested that he hadjust taken medicine, it was Bob Chowne's then. 

"Worse disasters at sea, my lads; we shall not hurt. The worst is thatpeople at our homes will not know what we know, and be very muchtroubled about us. If the boat is picked up they will fear the worst. For my part, I hope it will not be found. "

"But are we safe, sir?" said Bob, with tribulation in his voice. 

"Perfectly, my lad, so long as you don't roll off the ledge, which, ofcourse, you will not do. There, boys, let's look on the bright side ofit all, and be very thankful that we have reached so comfortable ahaven. Make the best of it, and think you are on an uninhabited islandwaiting for rescue to come, with the pleasant knowledge that it won't belong. "

"Oh, I don't mind, " I said. 

"Nor I, " cried Bigley. 

"I rather like it, " said Bob, with a very physicky face. 

"Then, choose your places, boys, " said my father, "and we'll sit andsing and tell stories, after we have grown tired of watching theglorious sunset; for, my lads, while we are talking see what amagnificent sea and sky are spread before you. "

We looked out from our niche under the stony canopy, to see that the skywas one blaze of orange, and gold, and fiery red, which in turn seemedto stain the sea, as if it was all liquid topaz, and sapphire, andamethyst, like the old jewels that had belonged to my mother, and whichI had sometimes seen in my father's desk. Nothing, I suppose, couldhave been more lovely, nothing more grand. If we looked to the left, the rocky cliff was all glow hero, all dark purple shadow there, and theclustering oaks that ran right up to the top were as if they were goldengreen. If we looked to the right, the cliffs seemed as if on fire wherethe rock was bare, and as our eyes fell to where the tide was coming in, the waves, as they curled over, were burnished, and flashed and glowedlike liquid fire. 

It was all grand in the extreme, but somehow I felt, as did Bob andBigley, that a well-spread tea-table with some hot fried ham and someeggs, with new bread, would have been worth it all. 

I am almost ashamed to put this down, but my companions confided theirfeelings to me afterwards, and it is perfectly true. 

By degrees the bright colours on the sea and overspreading the sky fadedout, and all grew dark, save where there was a glow in the north. Thestars had come out bright and clear, and covered the sky like so manypoints of light looking down at themselves in the mirror-like sea. Thetide came up fast, and as the waves heaved and swayed and ran in, itseemed as if they were sweeping before them myriads and myriads ofstars, for the water was covered with light, some being the reflectionsfrom the sky, others the curious little specks that we used to see inthe water in warm weather. 

We sat and talked and lay close to the edge to watch the waves comesweeping in more and more, till the little bay was covered and the tiderose over the outlying rock, the water sounding wild and strange as itwashed, and splashed, and sighed, and sucked in amongst the stones. Then, by slow degrees, as we gazed down we found how necessary it hadbeen for us to climb up to our perch, for the tide rose and rose, higherand higher, till it must have been seven or eight feet up the rocksbelow us; and now it was that we listened with a peculiar creepingsensation to the swell, as it rolled in and evidently right up into thecaves which we had seen. 

"Why, those places must go a long way into the cliffs, " said my fatheras we listened. "Hark at that. "

It was a curious creepy sound of hissing and roaring, as if there werestrange wild beasts right in amongst the windings of the cave, and theyhad become angry with the sea for intruding in their domain. 

"Seals!" said Bob Chowne decisively. 

"No, " said my father, "it is only the imprisoned air escaping from someof the cracks and crevices into which it is driven by the sea. Why, boys, those caves must be very large, or at all events they go in a longway. You ought to explore them some day at low water. Warm enough?"

We all declared that we were, and sat gazing out at the soft transparentdarkness overhanging the sea, which was wonderfully smooth now, in spiteof the soft western breeze that was blowing; and at last the silenceseemed to have become perfectly profound. So silent were we that everyone started as my father said suddenly:

"Look here, boys, suppose I tell you a story. "

The proposal was received with acclamation, and he lay back against thecliff and related to us one of his old sea-going experiences, to thevery great delight of all. 

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

THE SMUGGLERS' LANDING. 

After my father had finished his story it was arranged that watch shouldbe set, and the arrangement made was that Bob Chowne and I should takethe first spell, and it was to last as long as we liked--that is to say, we were to watch until we were tired, and then call my father andBigley, who would watch for the rest of the night. 

Bigley said he should not sleep, but he followed my father's example andlay down, while in a few minutes his regular breathing told that he hadgone off; and before long, as Bob Chowne and I sat talking in a lowtone, we knew that my father was asleep as well. 

And there we two lads sat on the shelf of rock listening to the sobbingand sighing of the tide, and staring out to sea. Sometimes we talked ina low voice about how uncomfortable some people would be about us, andBob said it was like my luck--that I had my father with me, while hisand Bigley Uggleston's would be in a terrible way. 

"And a nice row there'll be about it, " he said dolefully. "There neverwas such an unlucky chap as I am. "

"And Big?"

"Oh, Big! Pooh! His father never takes any notice about him. "

Then we talked about the drilling, and the silver mine and my father'ssuccess, and what a fine thing it was for me; and about school-days, andwhat it would cost to get a new boat for old Jonas, and about Bob goingup to London to be a doctor; and we were prosing on, but this gave him achance to become a little animated. 

"I don't want to be a doctor, " he said fiercely; "but I'll serve some of'em out if I'm obliged to be. I'll let them know!"

"What stuff!" I said. "Why, I should like to be a doctor, and if I wasI'd go in for being surgeon on board a ship. "

"Why?" said Bob. 

"So as to go all round the world, and see what there is to see. "

"Ah!" said Bob, "I hadn't thought about that; but it isn't half so goodas having a mine of your own, as you'll have some day. I wish we couldchange fathers, but I suppose we couldn't do that. "

We did not argue out that question, but went on talking in a low prosytone, as we sat there with our backs supported against the cliff; and Isuppose it must have been Bob's low muttering voice, mingled with thedarkness, the natural hour for sleep, and the murmuring of the waves, that had so curious and lulling an effect upon me, for all at once itseemed that the water was running down from the mine shaft where it wasbeing pumped up, the big pump giving its peculiar beats as it worked, and the splash and rush of the water sounding very soft and clear. 

Then I seemed to be down in the mine, and it was very dark and cold, andI climbed up again and sat down on the ground to listen to the washingof the water, the hurrying of the stream, and the regular beat of thepump; and then I was awake again, staring out into the darkness thathung over the sea. For a few minutes I was so confused that I could notmake out where I was. It was cold and I was shivering, and the rushingof the water and the beat of the pump was going on still. 

No, it was not; for I was up there on the shelf of rock miles away fromour mine, and I had been set to keep watch with Bob Chowne; and here washe, close by me, breathing heavily, fast asleep. 

I felt miserable and disgraced to think that I should have been sowanting in my sense of duty as to have slept, and Bob was no better. 

"Bob! Bob!" I whispered, shaking him. 

"Yes, " he said with a start; "I know--I wasn't asleep. "

"Hush! Listen!" I said. "What's that noise?"

We both listened, and my heart throbbed as I heard a regular plash andthud from off the sea. 

"Boat, " said Bob decidedly. "Shall I hail it?"

"No, " I replied quickly. 

"Why not? It's a boat coming to fetch us. "

I could not think that it was, and creeping to where my father lay Ishook him. 

"Yes. Time to watch?" he said quietly. 

"Hush! Listen!" I said. 

He sat up:

"Boat, " he said, "close in. "

"Is it coming to fetch us, father?" I whispered. 

"No, boy; if it were, those on board would hail. "

"What shall we do--shout?" I asked him. 

"Certainly not. Here, Bigley, sit up, my lad! All keep perfectly stilland wait. We do not know whose boat it may be. "

He was our leader, and we neither of us thought of saying a word, butsat and listened to the low plash and roll of the oars of some big boatthat seemed to be very close in; and so it proved, for at the end of afew minutes we could distinctly see something large and black looming upout of the darkness, and before long make out that it was quite a largevessel that was being worked with sweeps or large oars till it was closein; and then there was the noise of the oars being laid inboard, and thesound of orders being given in a low firm voice. 

"Keep perfectly still, " my father whispered to us; but it wasunnecessary, and we sat together there on the rock shelf, the projectingportion making our resting-place quite black, as we watched and listenedto what was going on. 

Then for about three hours there was a busy scene below us. Men seemedto have dropped down into the water from both sides of the vessel. Somewent up to the cliff-face away to our left where the caverns lay, and atthe end of a minute the light of a couple of lanthorns gleamed out andthen disappeared in the cave. 

Hardly a word was spoken save on board the vessel, where those upon deckseemed from time to time to be doing something with poles to keep herfrom getting aground as the tide fell. 

It must, I say, have been for nearly three hours that the busy scenelasted, and a large body of men kept on plashing to and fro with loadsfrom the vessel to the cavern and back empty-handed. Everything seemedto be done as quietly as if the men were well accustomed to the task. Not a word was spoken, except by one who seemed to be leader, and theonly sounds we heard were the tramping upon the slate-sprinkled sand andthe splashing as they waded in to reach the vessel's side. 

It was evident enough that they were landing quite a store of somethingof another from the vessel, and I knew enough of such matters to be surethat it was a smuggler running a cargo. For the first few minutes Ifelt that it must be the French coming to take us unawares; but theFrench would have landed men, not packages and little barrels. 

It was a smuggler sure enough, and hence my father's strict order to besilent, for the smugglers had not a very good character in our parts, and ugly tales were told of how they had not scrupled to kill people whohad interfered with them when busy over their dangerous work. 

I was watching them eagerly, when, all at once, I turned cold andshivered, for it had suddenly struck me that old Jonas was away with hislugger, and that this must be it landing its cargo, while all the time, so close to me that I could have stretched out my hand and touched him, there lay my school-fellow--the old smuggler's son. 

"He must suspect him, " I said to myself; and then, "What must he feel?"

And all the while there below us was the busy scene--the men coming andgoing and the cargo being landed, till all at once there was acessation. Those who returned from the cave stayed about the vessel, and seemed, as far as we could make out, to be climbing on board, and asI suddenly seemed to be making out their figures a little more clearly, my father whispered, "Lie down, boys, or you will be seen. The day isbeginning to dawn. "

We obeyed him silently, and lay watching, seeing every minute moreclearly that the dark-looking vessel, which loomed up very big, wasbeing thrust out with long oars, and beginning to glide slowly away in athick mist which hung over the sea a hundred yards or so from shore. Then as it reached and began to fade, as it were, into the mist, firstone then another dark patch rose from the deck. 

"Hoisting sail, " I said to myself. "Two big lug-sails. It is the_Saucy Lass_--old Jonas's lugger, and it looks big through the fog. "

Just then in the coming grey dawn I saw another patch rise up, followinga creaking noise, and I could make out that it was a third sail, when Iknew that it could not be the _Saucy Lass_, but must be a stranger. 

I was so glad, for Bigley's sake, that my heart gave quite a heavythrob; and, unless I was very much deceived, I heard my father draw along breath like a sigh of relief. 

As we gazed at the sails and the dark hull in the increasing light, everything looked so strange and indistinct that it seemed impossiblefor it all to be real. The sails began to fill, and the vessel glidedsilently away without a voice on board being heard, till it was sofar-off that my father said:

"I think we may begin to talk, my lads, now. "

"I say, sir, " cried Bob excitedly, "weren't those smugglers?"

"I cannot say, " replied my father coldly. 

"Let's get down now and look, " said Bob. 

"I think, " said my father, "that we had better leave everything alone, and, as soon as the tide will allow us, get home to breakfast. You, BobChowne, if I were you, I should keep my own counsel about this, and youtoo, Sep. "

I noticed that he did not say anything to Bigley, who was kneeling downgazing after the vessel in the mist which was dying away about the land, and appeared to be going off with the vessel, surrounding it and tryingto hide it from those on shore, as with the faint breeze and the swifttide it glided rapidly away. 

Soon after there was a warm glow high up in the east. Then hundreds oftiny clouds began to fleck the sky with orange, the sea became gloriouswith gold and blue, the sun peeped above the edge, and it was day oncemore, with the vessel a couple of miles away going due west. 

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

DOING ONE'S DUTY. 

We did not have to stay very long before we descended. My father saidit would be better to stop, and while we were waiting Bob Chowne askedwhether we were going to search the cave and see what was there. 

"No!" said my father in very decisive tones. 

"But you said something about us lads exploring it, sir, yesterday--Imean last night. "

"Yes, my lad, I did, " replied my father so sternly that Bob Chowne wasquite silenced; "but I have changed my mind. "

I noticed that he still did not say anything to Bigley, and that my oldschool-fellow was very silent, in fact we were none of us in aconversational frame of mind, but every now and then the idea keptcreeping in that old Jonas must know about that cave, and the purposefor which it was used; and then I seemed to understand my father'sthoughtful manner, for it was as though this discovery was likely towiden the breach between them. 

In about an hour's time my father proposed that we should climb down, and feeling very stiff and cold we began to descend. 

I went first, lowering myself from ledge to ledge, with my father lyingdown and holding my hands, and then following me, though really it wasnot very difficult, for we boys had been up and down far more dangerousplaces after gulls' eggs in our earlier days. 

But, though we could go down in the bay, we could not get out of it asyet, for the tide was some distance up the point we wanted to pass. Theeastern one was clear, and we could have gone that way, and, after twomiles' walk and scramble along the beach, have found a place where wecould climb up, but that was not our object, and we waited about lookingat the falling tide, and watching the rapidly disappearing three mastsof the lugger. Then, too, we noted the tracks on the beach, some ofwhich were quite plain, but they did not show higher up by the cavern, and we knew that they would all disappear with, the next tide. 

The temptation was very strong to go in and explore the place, butneither Bob nor I hinted at it, and Bigley was exceedingly quiet anddull. In fact he went away from us after a time and sat down on the topof a rock close to the eastern point, a rock to which he had to leap, for it was still in the water, and there he sat waiting till he couldget to another and another, and at last waved his hand to us, when wefollowed him and got round on to the shore on the other side. 

It was no easy task even there, for the beach was terribly encumberedwith rocks, but by creeping in and out, and by dint of some climbing, wemanaged to get along, and at last reached the Gap just as Doctor Chownewas about setting off back to get a boat at Ripplemouth and come insearch of us, after having been up all night waiting for Bob's return, and then riding over to the Bay to hear from Kicksey that we had notbeen back, and then on to the Gap, to find that we had all gone out inJonas Uggleston's boat, and not been heard of since. 

"Well, " said the doctor, after hearing a part of our adventure, "Isuppose I must not thank Bob for this job, eh, Duncan? It was yourfault, you see. My word, sir, you did give me a fright. "

"I'll take all the blame, Chowne, " said my father; "but let me tell MrsBonnet that we're all right, poor woman, and then let's walk across tomy place to breakfast. "

There was no need to go and tell Mother Bonnet, for she had caught sightof us, and came at a heavy trot over the pebbles to display a face andeyes red with weeping, and to burst forth into quite a wail as she flungher arms about Bigley, and hugged and kissed him. 

"Oh, my dear child! My dear child!" she cried, "I've been up and downhere all night afraid that you was drowned. "

Just then I noticed that Bob Chowne was backing behind his father, andfeeling moved by the same impulse, I backed behind mine, for we wereboth in a state of alarm for fear that the good-hearted old woman shouldwant to hug and kiss us too. Fortunately, however, she did not, for allher attention was taken up by Bigley, and we soon after parted, Bigleygoing with Mother Bonnet towards old Jonas's cottage, and we boysfollowing our fathers to reach the cliff path and get home. 

"You will not come along here on the pony, " said my father as the doctormounted his sturdy little Exmoor-bred animal. 

"Indeed but I shall, " replied the doctor. "Why not?"

"It will be so dangerous for a mounted man. "

"Tchah!" exclaimed the doctor, "my pony's too fond of himself to tumbleus down the cliff; but there, as you are so nervous about me I will notride. Here, Bob, you ride the pony home, and I'll walk. "

"Ride him home along the cliff path, father?" said Bob, looking ratherwhite. 

"Yes, of course. Captain Duncan is afraid of losing his doctor, and youare not so much consequence as I. Here, jump up, and ride on first. Then we shall see where you fall. "

Bob looked at me wildly. 

"Not afraid, are you?"

"N-no, father, " cried Bob desperately; and setting his teeth, he put hisfoot in the stirrup, mounted, and rode on along the high path with therock on one side and the steep slope on the other, which ran down towhere the perpendicular cliff edge began, with the sea a couple ofhundred feet below. 

"I don't think I'd do that, Chowne, " I heard my father say inremonstrance. 

"Bah, sir! Give the boy self-reliance. See how bravely he got over hisscare. Haven't liked him so well for a week. Do you think I shouldhave let him get up if there had been any danger?"

"But there is danger, " said my father. 

"Not a bit, sir. The pony's as sure-footed as a mule. He won't slip. "

No more was said, and in this fashion we walked home, with Bob in fronton the pony and me by his side, for I ran on to join him, my father andDoctor Chowne coming behind. 

Old Sam was outside as we came in sight of the cottage, and the oldfellow threw his hat in the air as he caught sight of us, and then cameto meet us at a trot, after disappearing for a moment in the house. 

"I said you'd come back all right. I know'd it when they telled meabout the boat, " he cried to me as he came up. 

"Boat! What about the boat?" I said. 

"One o' the fishermen picked her up, and as soon as I heered as her oarsand hitcher were all right, I said there was no accident. The rope hadloosed and she'd drifted away. "

"But how did you know we had gone off in the boat, Sam?" I saideagerly. 

"How did I know?" he said. "Think when you didn't come back a man wasgoing to bed and forget you all?"

"Well, I hardly thought that, Sam, " I said. 

"Because I didn't, and I went right over to the mine and asked, and youweren't there, and then I went to Uggleston's and heerd you'd gone outin the boat, and that's how I know'd, Mast' Sep, sir. "

"Here, Sam, run back and tell Kicksey to hurry on the breakfast, " saidmy father. 

"Hurry on the braxfass, captain, " said Sam grinning, "why, I toldKicksey to put the ham in the pan as soon as I see you a-coming. "

The result was that we were soon all seated at a capital breakfast andready to forget the troubles of the night, only that every now and thenthe recollection of the smuggling scene came in like a cloud, and Icould not help seeing that my father was a good deal troubled in hismind. 

Nothing, however, was said, and soon after breakfast the doctor went offwith Bob Chowne. 

As soon as we were alone my father began to walk up and down the room ina very anxious manner, and once or twice he turned towards me as ifabout to speak, but he checked himself and went on with his walk. 

At last the silence became so irksome that I took upon myself to speakfirst. 

"Are you going over to the mine, father?" I said. 

"Yes, my boy, " he replied. "But you had better go and lie down for anhour or two. "

"Oh, no, father, " I said. "I'm not tired. Let me go with you. "

He nodded, and then stood thoughtful, and tapping the ground with hisfoot. 

All at once he seemed to have made up his mind. 

"Look here, Sep, " he said; "you are growing a great fellow now. I'vebeen helping you all these years; now you must help me. "

"Tell me how, father, and I will, " I said eagerly. 

"I know you will, my boy, " he replied, "and I'm going to treat you nowas I would a counsellor. This is a very unfortunate business, my boy. "

"What, our seeing the smugglers last night?"

He nodded. 

"Did you think, then, like I did, that it was Jonas Uggleston's boat?"

"I did, my boy. "

"But it was not, father. "

"No, my boy; but--"

"You think Jonas Uggleston knew the boat was coming, and he knows allabout that hiding-place, father?"

"Is that what you have been thinking, Sep?"

"Yes, father. "

"And so have I, my lad. Now, though I am, as I may say, still in theking's service, and I feel it my duty to go and inform the officers ofwhat I have seen, on the other hand there is a horrible feeling ofself-interest keeps tugging at me, and saying, `mind your own business. You are bad friends enough with Jonas Uggleston as it is, so let mattersrest for your own sake and for your son's. '"

"Oh, father!" I exclaimed. 

"Then this feeling hints to me that I am not sure of anything, and thatI have no business to interfere, and so on. Among other things it seemsto whisper to me that old Jonas will not know, when all the time hemust. Now come, Sep, as a thoughtful boy, what should you recommend meto do?"

"It's very queer, father, " I said rather dolefully; "but how often oneis obliged to do and say things one way, when it would be so easy andcomfortable to do and say things the other way. "

"Yes, Sep, " he replied, turning away his face; "it is so all throughlife, and one is always finding that there is an easy way out of adifficulty. What should you do here?"

"What's right, father, " I said boldly. "What's right. "

He turned upon me in an instant, and grasped my hand with his eyesflashing, and he gripped me so hard that he hurt me. 

As we stood looking in each other's eyes, a strange feeling of miserycame over me. 

"What shall you do, father?" I said. 

"I don't quite know, Sep, " he replied thoughtfully. "I think I shallwait till Jonas Uggleston gets home, and then tell him all I have seen. "

"But it seems so hard on poor Bigley, " I said dolefully. 

"Ah!" shouted my father. "Stamp on it, Sep; stamp it down, boy. Crushout that feeling, for it is like a temptation. Duty, honesty, first;friends later on. It is hard, my boy, but recollect you are anofficer's son, and _officer_ and _gentleman_ are two words that mustalways be bracketed together in the king's service. There's that oneword, boy, for you to always keep in your heart, where it must shinelike a jewel--duty--duty. It is the compass, my lad, that pointsalways--not to the north, but to the end of a just man's life--duty, Sep, duty. "

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

OLD UGGLESTON IS TOO SHARP FOR THE REVENUE. 

We did not go over that afternoon till it was growing late, for myfather had a number of letters to write, and when we did go along thecliff, and reached the descent to the Gap, to our surprise there layJonas Uggleston's lugger, and we knew he had come home. 

"Hah!" ejaculated my father after drawing a long breath. "I shall haveto speak at once. He does not seem to have landed yet. "

For the lugger was swinging to the buoy that lay about a hundred yardsout, and we could see figures on board. 

There was a brisk breeze blowing down the Gap, and the lugger was end-ontowards us, rising and falling on the swell, while the sea was allrippled by the wind. 

"Look, father, " I said, as we went on down, seeing each moment more andmore of the opening to the sea; "there's a boat coming ashore. "

"Man-o'-war's, " cried my father excitedly. "Look at the way the oarsdip, Sep. Hah, it's a treat to see the lads handle them again. Thereshe is!" he cried. "Look! Why, it's the revenue cutter. "

She had just rounded a bend as he spoke, and there, sure enough, was alarge cutter with snow-white sails lying off the point that formed theeast side of the Gap, head to wind, and waiting evidently for the returnof the boat that had come ashore. 

My father walked rapidly on, and we reached the shore nearly at the sametime as the boat, from which sprang an officer, and to our surpriseJonas Uggleston stepped out more slowly. 

Just then Bigley appeared, I never knew where from; but I think he musthave been watching from among the rocks, and in a quick husky voice hesaid to my father:

"Captain Duncan, please, pray don't say that you saw that cargo landedlast night. "

"My poor lad!" said my father kindly. "But tell me; have the cutter'smen been aboard the lugger?"

"Yes, sir, searching her, I think; and you see they chased her in, andnow they're bringing father ashore a prisoner. "

He could say no more, for the cutter's officer came up. 

"You are Captain Duncan, I think?" he said. 

"Yes, " said my father, returning his salute. "Whom have I the pleasureof addressing?"

"Lieutenant Melton, His Majesty's cutter _Flying Fish_. "

They both saluted again, and old Jonas, who looked curiously yellow, andwith his eyes seeming to search the officer's, drew nearer. 

"Look here, Captain Duncan, I have been for some time on the look-outfor this man. "

"Well, sir, you have caught him, " said my father coldly. 

"Yes, sir, I have, and I have overhauled the lugger, but withoutsuccess. "

Old Jonas glanced at me and then at my father, who did not speak, onlybowed, and the officer went on. 

"Now, then, Captain Duncan; you know this man to be a notorioussmuggler, do you not?"

"I have heard him called so. "

"And you know it, sir. "

"I never detected Mr Uggleston in any act of smuggling, " replied myfather more coldly, for the officer's hectoring manner offended him, andI felt that if he told what he knew, it would be to someone more inauthority. 

I glanced at old Jonas, and his eyes twinkled with satisfaction. 

"This is prevarication, sir, " cried the lieutenant; "but I am not to beput off like this. Come, sir, I received information about a veryvaluable contraband cargo that has been run from Dunquerque. It hasbeen landed here successfully during the past night or the night before. Now, sir, if you please, where was that cargo landed?"

My father was silent, but his face was flushed, and I saw JonasUggleston dart a curious look at him as he screwed up his face, and atthe same moment Bigley grasped my hand. 

"I see, " said the officer, "I shall have to question the boys. Oncemore, sir, I ask you as an officer and a gentleman, do you not knowwhere that cargo was landed?"

"Sir, " said my father, "your manner is dictatorial and offensive to aman of higher rank than yourself; but you ask me this question as one ofhis majesty's servants, and I am bound to reply. I do know where acargo was landed, but it was not from this man's boat. "

"But he was in the business, captain, " said the lieutenant with a laugh. "Now, sir, if you please, where was it?"

"In the second bay to the westward, sir, " said my father coldly; andJonas Uggleston gave his foot a stamp, and uttered a fierce oath. 

"You see, he is in the business, " said the lieutenant laughing. "There, Uggleston, you have betrayed yourself. "

I heard Bigley utter a piteous sigh, and I looked round at him to seethe great drops standing on his forehead. 

"I am so sorry, Big, " I whispered; but he did not reply. He went andtook hold of his father's arm. 

Old Jonas turned round fiercely, but he smiled directly, and whisperedsomething to Bigley, who fell back with his head drooping, and in adejected way. 

"Now, Captain Duncan, if you please, you will come with us on board thelugger, and we'll run along to the second bay, " said the lieutenant; "itwill not take long. "

"Sir, " said my father, "I have replied to your questions as I was bound, but I am not bound to act as your pilot. "

"Sir, " said the lieutenant, "I demand this service of you as hismajesty's servant. Kindly step on board the boat. Now, Uggleston. "

I shall never forget old Jonas's fierce scowl as he walked down to theboat, into which he stepped, and remained in the bows, while my fatherwent into the stern-sheets, and was followed by the lieutenant. Thebare-legged sailors ran the light gig out, and sprang over the side, seized their oars and backed water, turned her, and began to row with alight springy stroke for the lugger. 

"Big, old mate, " I said, "I am so, so sorry. "

"Don't talk to me, " he groaned. "I never said anything: but I wasalways afraid of this. "

"Don't be angry with father, " I said appealingly. "He was obliged tospeak. "

"I can't talk to you now--I can't talk to you now, " the poor lad groanedmore than spoke, as we stood there close to where the waves came runningin. 

The lugger had a good many men on board as she lay out there, quitethree hundred yards away, though it had seemed only one from high up inthe Gap, and the cutter was quite half a mile from where we stood, andmore to the east. 

All at once Bigley lifted up both his arms, and stood with themoutstretched for quite a minute. 

"What are you doing that for?" I said. 

He made no answer but remained in the same position, and kept so while Iwatched the boat rising and falling on the heaving tide, with every onedistinctly visible in the evening sun. 

As I have said the lugger lay with her bows straight towards the Gap;but all of a sudden she began to change her position, the bows swingingslowly round, and I realised that the rope by which she had swung hadbeen cast off, for the buoy was plainly to be seen now several fathomsaway. 

Just then I saw old Jonas start up in the bows of the boat and clap hishands to his mouth, his voice coming clearly to us over the wave. 

"You, Bill! You're adrift! Lower down that foresail, you swab, lowerdown that foresail! Throw her up in the wind!"

This sail had begun to fill, but a man ran to the tiller, and thelugger's position changed slowly, the sails flapping and the bowspointing gradually in our direction again. 

All this while the men in the cutter's gig were pulling with all theirmight, and rapidly shortened the distance, till the bow man picked up aboat-hook, and stood ready to hold on. 

It was all so clear against the black side of the lugger, that we missednothing, and to my surprise, I saw old Jonas draw back as if to let thebow man pass him, and then there was a tremendous splash, the bow manwas overboard, and old Jonas had made a leap driving the light gig awaywith his feet, catching the side of the lugger, and swinging himselfaboard. 

It was so quickly and deftly done that the cutter's gig was driven yardsaway, and Jonas was aboard before the lieutenant had recovered from hissurprise. 

Then the men pulled their hardest, and the distance between lugger andboat diminished fast, but as it did the sails began to fill, and theposition altered, for a man had run to the tiller, while half a dozenmore stood at the side, one of whom was old Jonas. 

Bigley uttered a curious hissing noise as he caught my hand, while westood straining our eyes, and as we stared wildly there was a cheer, andwe saw the boat touch the lugger's side, the sailors and the lieutenantspring up, and they made a dash to leap on board. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

I SEEM TO BE AN ENEMY TO AN OLD FRIEND. 

I don't know which of us lads gripped his companion's hand the harder aswe saw the struggle begin. 

"They'll half kill him, " groaned Bigley; and then he remained pantingthere with his eyes starting as we saw the men on the lugger, headed byold Jonas, make a brave defence of their deck, being armed withcapstan-bars and cudgels, while the revenue cutter's men had cutlasseswhich flashed in the evening sunshine as if they had been made of gold. 

We could hear the sound of the blows, some sounding sharp, which we knewto be when the bars struck on the sides of the lugger; some dull, whenthey struck upon the men; while others made a peculiarly strangechopping noise, which was of course when sword encountered cudgel. 

"It's all over, " groaned Bigley at last, as the sailors seemed for themoment to have mastered the lugger; but just then I saw old Jonas tumbleone man over the side into the boat, and another over the bulwark intothe water with a great splash, and all the while the sails of the luggerwere full, and the little vessel was beginning to move faster and fasterthrough the water. 

One of the men in the gig was still holding on by the bulwark as thestruggle went on, but I suddenly saw old Jonas bring down a cudgelsmartly upon his head, the blow sounding like a sharp rap, when the manfell back, and my father caught and saved him from going overboard. 

The next moment there seemed to be a gap between the lugger and the gig, and we could see the heads of three men in the water swimming, and thenext minute or two were occupied in dragging them in, two being sailors, and the other the lieutenant, who stood up in the stern-sheets and shookhimself. 

"Heave to!" he roared after the lugger; "heave to, or we'll sink you!"

"Ha, ha, ha, ha!" came in a mocking laugh, that from its hoarseharshness was evidently old Jonas's, and the lugger heeled over now andbegan to skim through the water. 

"Why, they're going to run for it, " I cried excitedly. 

"But the cutter will sink them, " panted Bigley. "Oh, father, father, why didn't you take me too?"

"Never mind that, Big, " I cried. "Look, they're going to row to thecutter. "

For the oars were dipping regularly now as the gig was turned towardsthe cutter, aboard which there was an evident change. Her main-sail, which had been shaking in the breeze, gradually filled; we saw thestay-sail run up, and the beautiful boat came gliding towards the gig soas to pick her up with her crew before going in pursuit. 

"How quickly she sails!" cried Bigley. "Once they've got their men onboard they'll go like the wind. "

"But they haven't got them on board yet, " I said, unable in spite ofmyself to help feeling a little sympathy for the man who was making sucha bold effort to escape. "Why, they're taking my father prisonerinstead of yours, Bigley. I hope they'll bring him back. "

"Look!" cried Bigley; "father's getting up a topsail, and that'll helpthem along wonderfully. "

"Look!" I cried; "the cutter's close up to the gig now. "

"Hurrah!" cried Bigley; "there goes the topsail. Look how tight they'vehauled the sheets, and how the lugger heels over. "

"The cutter has the gig alongside, " I cried as excitedly, for, though Idid not want old Jonas caught, my father was there. 

"Why, they're running out another spar, " cried Bigley, "so as to hoistmore sail. Look at the lugger, how she is spinning along!"

"Yes, " I said; "but look at the cutter now!"

Bigley drew a long breath as he saw with me that the gig's crew were onboard the cutter, and that the boat was being hoisted up, while, at thesame time, with the speed to be seen on a man-of-war, even if it be soinsignificant a vessel as a revenue cutter, sail was being hoisted, andshe was off full chase. 

First we saw the jib-sail run up and fill. Then up went the gafftopsail, and as it filled the cutter seemed to lie over, so that wecould not see her deck, while the white water foamed away from her bows, and she left a long streak behind. 

She was now well opposite to the Gap, down which the breeze blewstraight. In fact the cutter seemed to have too much sail up, andrushed through the water at a tremendous rate. 

"She'll soon catch the lugger going like that, Big, " I said. "Look!Your father's not going straight away; he's going more off the land. "

"Yes, because he knows what he's doing. He wants to get more out so asto catch the wind. You'll see in a few minutes the cutter won't go halfso fast. Hah! I was afraid of that. "

For just then there was a puff of smoke from the cutter, and we couldjust make out, by the way it dipped, the round shot that wentricochetting over the sea. 

"That will stop him, " I said gloomily. 

"No, it will not, " said Bigley angrily. "You don't know my father. He'll keep on as long as the lugger will swim. "

I shook my head as I strained my eyes at the exciting chase going onbefore me. 

Bigley was right, for in place of lowering sails in token of submission, the lugger ran out another from her bows, and kept on her rapid flight, altering her course though, so as not to offer so fair a mark to thecutter, and the cutter seemed to spit out viciously another puff ofwhite smoke, and then there was a dull thud and an echo among the rocks. 

We could not trace the course of the shot, but it evidently did not hitits mark, the first having probably been aimed ahead. 

"They can't hit her, " cried Bigley, clapping his hands. "Oh, I wish Iwas aboard. "

"What, to be shot at?" I said. 

"Let them shoot!" he cried. "I should like to be there. Now, then, what did I tell you? The cutter is not going half so fast now. "

He was quite right, for, as the white-sailed vessel got beyond theentrance to the Gap, she was more and more under the shelter of the hugeheadland and the mighty cliffs that ran on for miles, and instead oflying over so that we half expected to see her keel, she rode moresteadily and upright in the water, and her speed was evidently far less. 

Another white puff of smoke, and another shot sent skipping after thelugger, but with what result we could not see. The firing made nodifference, though, to the lugger, which continued its course towardsthe west, and Bigley gave me a triumphant look from time to time. 

The firing had now become regular, and had brought down all the minersfrom the pit, and Mother Bonnet, to see the exciting chase. One climbedup the side of the Gap here, another there, and then higher and higher, and seeing the advantageous position they occupied I turned quickly toBigley. 

"Run and get the glass, Big, " I said, "and then we'll climb right up tothe top of the head. "

Big shook his head. 

"Father has it in the lugger, " he said; "but let's climb up all thesame. "

We knew the ways of the great headland better than the people, and wereabout to start upon our climb when Mother Bonnet came up and caughtBigley's arm. 

"Think they'll get away, Master Big?" she whispered with her facemottled with white blotches. 

"I'm sure of it, " he cried triumphantly. "It will soon be dark, too, and father will run in and out among the rocks where the cutter daren'tfollow. "

"To be sure he will, " said the old woman with a nod and a smile. "Theywill get away if--if--Oh! There goes that horrible gun again!"

The poor creature turned white and hurried away from us to get a betterview of the chase, while Bigley and I climbed right up by degrees to thevery highest point of the headland and sat upon the rocks watching thelong chase, with the cutter, in spite of her superior rig and sailingpowers, seeming to get no nearer to her prey, while the evening shadowswere descending, and the two vessels kept growing more distant from theGap. 

The cutter continued firing at regular intervals, and once we thoughtthat the lugger was hit. But if she was the shot made no difference toher attempts at escape; and though we stayed up there in our windylook-out, fully expecting to see her lying like a wounded bird upon thewater with broken wing, no spar came down, and at last the fugitive andthe pursuer had become specks in the distance, fading completely fromour sight. 

"It's no use to stay any longer, " I said. "Let's go down now. "

Bigley strained his eyes westward and seemed unwilling to stir. 

"It will be so dark directly we shall have a job to get down, " I said. "Your father's sure to get away. "

"Yes, " said Bigley; "they'll never catch him now. He'll get right awayin the darkness. "

Just then there was a familiar hail from below. 

"Chowne, ahoy!" I responded; and as we reached to about half-way downwe encountered Bob coming up panting and excited. 

"You are a nice couple!" he began to grumble. "I do call it mean. "

"What is mean?" I said. 

"Why, to have all the fun to yourselves and never send for a fellow. Ifit hadn't been for the firing I shouldn't have known anything about it. I wouldn't have been so shabby to you. "

"Why, I didn't think about you, Bob, " I said. 

"That's just like you, Sep Duncan. But I say, what a game!"

"I don't see much game in it, " I said sadly. "Big's father is in thelugger, and mine--"

"In the cutter trying to catch him, " cried Bob. "Oh, I say, what agame!"

"Look here!" said Bigley in a deep husky voice, "come down along withme, Sep, and take hold of my arm. I feel as if I wanted to fight. "

I did as he asked me and we went down, with Bob very silent comingbehind, evidently feeling that he had said too much. 

Bigley went straight to the cottage, where Mother Bonnet was waiting forhim and ready to catch him by the shoulder. 

"There now, my dear! It's of no use for you to hang away, " said the oldwoman. "I've got a nice supper ready, and you must eat or else youwon't be able to help your poor father if he should come back. "

"But he won't come back, " said Bigley. "He will not dare. "

"I don't know what he may not do when it's quite dark, " said the oldwoman. "There! You come and sit down, and you too, my dears, for youmust be famished. "

Bigley yielded, and Bob and I were going away, but Bigley jumped up andstopped us. 

"I'm not bad friends, Bob, " he said, holding out his hand. "You didn'tmean what you said, only when a fellow speaks against my father it hurtsme, and--"

"I'm so sorry, Big, " exclaimed Bob eagerly, and they shook hands. 

I was glad, but still I was going away. Bigley stopped me though. 

"I sha'n't eat if you don't, " he said. 

"But I can't now after what has happened, " I said. 

"It wasn't your fault, " replied Bigley gloomily. "Your father wasobliged to speak. Come and sit down. "

I was so faint and exhausted that I yielded, and we three lads made atremendous meal, to Mother Bonnet's great delight. 

This ended, the inclination was upon us all to go fast asleep after thebroken night we had passed; but Bigley jumped up and led the way to thedoor. 

"Come along, " he said. "The cutter will be back soon to clear off thecargo, and I want to hear what they say. "

He walked out and we followed him to the beach, which was quitedeserted; and we three lads began to walk up and down, too much excitedto feel sleepy now, and kept on gazing out to sea for the returningcutter. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

BIGLEY DOES NOT THINK HIS FATHER IS A DOG. 

We went up to the cottage two or three times, to find Mother Bonnetkeeping up the fire and the table laid for a second supper; and then wewent back to the beach. 

Everything was perfectly still. The mine people had long before gone tobed, but we watched on, feeling sure that something was going to happen;and so it was that about half-past twelve we heard oars, and soon aftermade out a boat which was being pulled by four men, while as soon as wewere seen a voice cried from the boat:

"Ahoy! Who's there?"

"Father!" cried Bigley excitedly. 

"Hush! Who's there?" said old Jonas as we felt quite stunned withsurprise. 

"Only Bob Chowne and Sep Duncan, father. "

"No one else?"

"No one. "

"Pull, my lads!" cried old Jonas; and as the boat grated on the beach heleaped ashore. 

"I shall not be a quarter of an hour, " he said. "Keep her afloat. Here, Bigley. "

He caught his son's arm and they went up to the cottage together at atrot, and in less than a quarter of an hour they were back again, andold Jonas clapped me on the shoulder. 

"Look here, Duncan, " he said, "I always liked you, my boy, because youand Bigley were such mates. "

"Are you going to take Big away, sir?" I said. 

"No, boy, but I'm going to ask you to be a true mate to him still. He'sgoing to stay with Mother Bonnet. "

"I will, sir, " I said. 

"That you will, my lad, " he cried, shaking hands. "Now, Bigley, nosnivelling--be a man! Good-bye! I'll write. "

He shook hands with his son, seized a bag they had brought down betweenthem, and the next minute he was on board the boat and they disappearedinto the darkness. 

"How came he back again, Big?" I whispered as we listened to the beatof the oars which came from out of the gloom. 

"Doubled back along with the French boat _La Belle Hirondelle_. Theysaw her about ten miles away. "

"Was it the _Hirondelle_ we saw last night!" I said. 

"Yes, " said Bigley shortly. "Be quiet. "

"I think your father might have said good-bye to me, Bigley Uggleston, "said Bob Chowne shortly. "I've done nothing to offend him. But itdon't matter. Never mind. "

There seemed to be nothing to wait for, but we hung about the beach tilldaylight, and then went in and had some breakfast, which Mother Bonnet, who was red-eyed with weeping, had ready for us, and then we went downto the beach again. 

By this time the mine people were out once more, and they came and had alook, but there was nothing to see, and no one told the sturdy fellowsor their families that Jonas Uggleston had been back. As for me, I onlymeant to tell my father when he returned. 

So the mining people went to work, and we lads stood gazing out to sea, till suddenly Bob Chowne shouted:

"I can see the cutter. "

He was quite right, for it proved to be the cutter, but there was noprize coming slowly behind; and when at last she came close in, the boatwas lowered, and we saw my father step in and come ashore with thelieutenant, we were ready to meet them. 

I wanted to speak to my father about what had happened in the night, butI had no opportunity, and it seemed that he had only been brought ashoreso that he could go up to the mine, give some orders, and then return, when he was to show the lieutenant where the cave lay to which thesmugglers had taken their cargo of contraband goods. 

The lieutenant walked up to the mine works with my father, and as heevidently wished me to stop, I remained by the cutter's boat with mycompanions, and, boy-like, we began to joke the sailors for not catchingthe lugger. 

They took it very good-temperedly, and laughed and said no one had beenmuch hurt. 

"He was too sharp for us, " the coxswain said grinning; "and--my! How hedid do the skipper over getting away. He's a cunning old fox, and nomistake. "

"How did you lose the lugger?" I said. 

"Oh, it was too dark to do any more, and she went right in among therocks about Stinchcombe, where we were obliged to lie to and wait fordaylight. He's a fine sailor, I will say that of him. "

"What, your lieutenant?" I said. 

"Oh, he's right enough. I meant smuggler Uggleston. He's got away, andit don't matter; we're bound to have a lot o' prize-money out of thecargo we're going to seize. "

"Are you going to seize it this morning?" I asked. 

"Yes, my lad; and here comes the skipper back along o' the old cappen. "

They were close upon us already, and we boys looked eagerly at thelieutenant, longing to go with them, but not being invited of course. 

It was too much for Bob Chowne though, who spoke out. 

"I say, officer, " he cried, "we three saw the cargo landed night beforelast. "

"You three boys?"

"Yes, " said Bob, "we were all there. "

"Jump in then, all of you, " said the lieutenant. 

We wanted no further asking, and the men pushed off and rowed straightfor the little bay, where in due time we arrived in face of the caves. 

"And a good snug place too, " said the lieutenant. "Good sandy bottomfor running the lugger ashore. Nice game must have been carried onhere. Come, Captain Duncan, " he continued in a jocular tone, "you knewof this place years ago. "

"I give you my word of honour, sir, " replied my father coldly, "that Iwas quite unaware of even the existence of the caverns till a few daysago; and even then I did not know that they were applied to thispurpose. "

"Humph! And you so near!"

"You forget, sir, that my house is two miles and a half along the coast, and I have only lately purchased the Gap. "

My father was evidently very much annoyed, but as a brother officer hefelt himself bound in duty to put up with his visitor's impertinences, and accordingly he said very little that was resentful. 

The men rowed on steadily, and as my father grew more reserved in hisanswers the officer turned to Bob Chowne. 

"So you were there when the cargo was landed, were you?" he said. 

"Yes, " replied Bob coolly. 

"Yes, _sir_, " said the lieutenant sharply, "recollect that you areaddressing an officer. "

"Doctors don't say _sir_ to everybody they meet, " retorted Bob quickly. 

"Doctors?"

"Well, my father's a doctor, and I'm going to be one, so it's all thesame. I can make pills. "

The lieutenant frowned and looked terribly fierce; but his men had burstinto a hearty laugh at the idea of Bob making pills, so he turned it offwith a contemptuous "Pooh!"

"Well, " he said, "how came you to be there when the cargo was landed?"

"Thought you knew, " said Bob; "we were shut in by the tide. Our boathad drifted away. "

"You three boys?"

"Yes, and Captain Duncan, " replied Bob. 

"And what did the smuggler say to you?" said the lieutenant, turningsharply on me. 

"Say to us, _sir_?" I replied. 

"Yes, answer quickly, and don't repeat my words. "

"I didn't know smugglers spoke to people they could not see. Hasn't myfather told you that we were in hiding?"

The lieutenant was about to say something angry; but we were comingalongside of the bay, and my father stood up, very unwillingly as Icould see by his manner, and guided the men so that they might avoid therocks. 

"I suppose we could almost run the cutter in here, Captain Duncan, eh?"

"Oh, yes, I think so, " said my father, "on a very calm day. There isdeep water all along, and a way could be found with ease. "

"Such as the lugger people knew, of course. Steady, my lads, steady;that's it, on that wave. "

The men followed his instructions, and the boat was beached pretty closeto the entrance to one cavern, the water being high, and we all jumpedout. 

"Get the lantern!" cried the lieutenant; "and light it now, coxswain. "

This was done, and two men being left in charge, the officer gave theorder, swords were drawn, and he led the way in. 

As he reached the mouth he placed two men as sentries at the entrance ofthe other hole where the water rained down, and turned to my father. 

"You need not enter unless you like, captain. We may have a brush, forsome of the scoundrels are perhaps still here. By the way, where's theledge where you people were hidden?"

"Up there, " said Bob promptly, and I saw the officer scan the place. 

"What, coming?" said the lieutenant. 

"Yes, " replied my father; "but I think these lads ought to stand asidein case of danger. "

"Yes, " was the short response. "Here, boys, you stop here. You are notarmed, " he added with a sneering laugh. 

"I only wish we had your father's cutlasses here, Sep, " whispered Bob, "and we'd show them. "

We stood back as the man went first with the lantern, closely followedby the lieutenant with his drawn sword; and we waited as the lastdisappeared in the opening, fully expecting to hear shots fired. 

But all was perfectly still, and Bigley was creeping slowly nearer andnearer to the opening when Bob Chowne made a rush. 

"Here, you chaps get all the fun, " he exclaimed. "I shall go in andsee. "

The two sentries laughed, for they were big brown good-tempered lookingfellows, and in we all three went, to find ourselves in quite a longrugged passage, running upward and opening into a big hollow at the end, where the lantern was being used to peer in all directions, till it wasevident that nothing was there. 

"We're in the wrong hole, " said the officer. "Now, my lads, forward!"

He went sharply out into the daylight again, to where the two sentrieswere on guard, and entered quickly, passing through the dripping waterclosely followed by his men. 

But there was not room for all, and he backed out directly. 

"There's nothing here, " he cried angrily. 

"Try the other hole, " said Bob, running to where we had found the narrowopening behind an outlying buttress of rock. 

Bob stepped in first this time, the lieutenant following, and then theman with the lantern. 

"Bravo, boy!" cried the lieutenant; "this is the place. Rather awkward, but here we are. Come along, my lads. "

The sailors scrambled in as quickly as they could, and we all followedrather slowly down what was a jagged crack in the rock about two feetwide and sloping, so that one had to walk with the body inclined to theright. 

This at the end of about twenty feet opened out into quite a large roughplace, which contained some old nets and tins, along with about a dozenhalf rotten lobster-pots, but nothing more. 

"There must be another place somewhere, " cried the lieutenant afterconvincing himself that there was no inner chamber. "Lead on, coxswain, with the light. "

The man went on, and we were left to the last, hearing one of themwhisper to his mate:

"This here's a rum game, Jemmy; don't look like much prize-money afterall. "

By the time we boys were out the lieutenant had disappeared with thecoxswain in the first cavern, and his men followed, leaving my fatheroutside. 

"Sep, " he said, as I joined him, "where do you think the men went in?"

"That first place, " I said decisively. 

"Yes, " said Bob Chowne; "that's the hole. "

"So I felt certain, " said my father; and Bigley stood aside looking on, with his forehead full of wrinkles. 

Another minute and the lieutenant was out with his men, the officerfurious with rage. 

"Captain Duncan, are you in league with these smuggling dogs, or are younot?"

"What do you mean, sir?" cried my father haughtily. 

"Well, look here, sir, " cried the officer moderating his tone. "You'vebrought us here on a fool's errand. Where's this cargo that you sawlanded?"

"How can I tell, sir? You appealed to me as an officer to show youwhere it was landed. It was here. The men were going in and out ofthat cave for two or three hours. "

"Then there must be an inner place, " cried the lieutenant, stamping hisfoot with rage. "Come and search again, my lads. "

They disappeared for another ten minutes or so, and then came back withthe officer fuming with passion. 

"Fooled!" he exclaimed aloud, "fooled! Here, back to the boat. "

Everybody embarked again, and the boat was rowed back in silence to theGap, where we landed, and the lieutenant stepped out afterwards leavinghis men afloat. 

"Now, then, Captain Duncan, " he said, "before I go let me tell you thatI shall report your conduct at headquarters. I consider that I havebeen fooled, sir, fooled. "

"I had thought of doing the same by you, sir, " retorted my fathercoldly; "but I do not think it worth while to quarrel with an angrydisappointed man, nor yet to take further notice of your hasty words. "

"What do you mean, sir? What do you mean?" blustered the lieutenant. 

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! I see! Here's a game!" roared Bob Chowne, dancing about in the exuberance of his delight. 

"What do you mean, sir? How dare you!" roared the officer turning uponBob. 

"Why, I know, " cried Bob. "What a game! Don't you see how it was?"

"Will you say what you mean, you young idiot?" cried the lieutenant. 

"Oh, I say, it wasn't me who was the idiot, " cried Bob bluntly. "Why, you let smuggler Uggleston dodge back in the night. He was here abouttwelve or one, and he and his men must have been and fetched all thestuff away again, while you and your sailors were miles away in thedark. "

"Sep, " cried my father, as the lieutenant stood staring with wrath, "wasJonas Uggleston back here in the night?"

"Yes, father, " I replied. 

"And you did not tell me?"

"I have had no opportunity, father; and I did not think anything of it. He was here about one. "

"That's it, then, " cried my father. "Lieutenant, he has been too sharpfor you. I noted that the sand was a good deal trampled. He has beenback with his men and cleared out the place in your absence. "

The lieutenant stood staring as if he could not comprehend it all for aminute or two, and then flushing with rage he stamped about. 

"The scoundrel! The hound! The thief!" he roared. "I'll have him yet, though, and when I do catch him I'll hang him to the yard-arm, like thedog he is. "

"Dog yourself, " cried a fierce voice that we did not recognise, it wasso changed; and Bigley struck the lieutenant full in the face with theback of his hand. "My father is a better man than you. "

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. 

THE LUGGER'S RETURN. 

The lieutenant staggered back from the effects of the blow. Butrecovering, he whipped out his sword and made at Bigley, who hesitatedfor a moment and then dashed up the cliff-side, dodging in and out amongthe rocks, and he was twenty yards away before the lieutenant had goneten, and gaining at every leap. 

Seeing that he could not catch him, the lieutenant drew a pistol fromhis belt and would have fired, but my father caught his arm. 

"Stop, sir, " he cried; "he is but a boy. "

By this time the coxswain and four men had leaped ashore and run totheir leader's side. 

"Up and bring him back, " shouted the lieutenant fiercely, and wrestinghis arm free he fired at Bigley, but where the bullet went nobody couldsay, it certainly did not go very near Bigley, who knew every rock andcrevice on the side of the headland, and wound his way in and out, andhigher and higher, leaving his pursuers far behind. 

"Forward! Quick!" roared the lieutenant; but it did not seem to me thatthe sailors got on very quickly, for they kept on losing ground, and itwas so hopeless an affair at last that they were called off, anddescended to follow their officer to the boat. 

He did not come near us where we stood in a group, and we saw him springinto the gig; but all at once he leapt out again and walked swiftly tous. 

"Here, " he said authoritatively, as if he had forgotten something, andhe pointed to the cottage. "Whose house is that?"

"Mine, " said my father promptly. 

The lieutenant looked disappointed, and turned sharply back again. 

"It is my house, " said my father as soon as the officer was out ofhearing, and as if speaking to himself. "If he had said, `who livesthere?' it would have been a different thing. He would have burnt anddestroyed everything. "

We stood watching the gig as the lieutenant returned and it was pushedoff. It was not long reaching the cutter, whose sails were hoistedrapidly, and, filling as they were sheeted home, the graceful vesselbegan to glide away from the shore, and soon afterwards was careeningover and heading for the west in pursuit of the lugger or luggers, whichever it might be. 

"There, my lads, " said my father, "you may go and look for yourcompanion. He can come down safely now. "

"Will the cutter come back, father?" I said. 

"I daresay it will, to see if Uggleston's lugger returns; but I don'tthink the lugger will, and certainly Uggleston will not dare to returnhere to live for some time to come. "

"Then what's to become of Bigley?" cried Bob Chowne. 

"His father must settle that, my lad. "

"But till he does, father?" I said. "Will he stay here?"

"Certainly, my boy. Why not? His father rents the cottage, and his sonhas a perfect right there. "

"You will not turn him out, then, because his father is a smuggler?"

"I always try to be a just man, Sep, " replied my father quietly. 

"Ahoy!" came from high up over our heads, and, looking up there, wecould see Bigley standing on the highest part of the headland waving hiscap. 

"Come down!" shouted Bob and I in a breath, and he heard us, gave hiscap another wave, and disappeared. 

He was not long in scrambling down to us, my father stopping till hecame up looking very much abashed. 

"Well, sir, " said my father sternly. "What have you to say for yourselffor striking one of his majesty's officers?"

Bigley's manner changed directly, his face flushed and he set his teethas he raised his head boldly. 

"He called my father a dog and a thief, " cried Bigley fiercely, "and--and--I don't want to offend you, Captain Duncan, but I couldn't stand byand hear him without doing something. "

"And you did do something, my lad, " said my father, holding out hishand--"a very risky something. But there, I'm not going to say any moreabout it. Now, tell me; your father has given you some instructions, Isuppose?"

Bigley hesitated a moment. 

"Yes, sir; he said that he should not be able to come back here, but hewould write to me. "

"Yes; go on. "

"And that I was to stay with Mother Bonnet as long as you would let me, and when you turned us out, we were to take lodgings in Ripplemouth. "

"When I turned you out!" said my father angrily. "Pish! Ah, well, stoptill I turn you out then. There, I must go now, Sep; this will be abroken day for you. Bring your two friends over to the Bay, and we'llhave tea and dinner all together. "

He turned off and left us, but I saw him give Bigley a very friendly nodand smile as he went away, and I felt sure that he rather admired whatBigley had done, though he kept up the idea of being very fierce andindignant with him for striking an officer of the royal navy. 

As soon as we were well alone Bob Chowne threw himself on the ground andbegan to laugh and wipe his eyes. 

"Oh, what a game!" he cried, as he rolled about. "Didn't old Big run?"

"Enough to make anybody run when a bullet was after him, " I said. 

"But how he did go up the rocks. Just like a big rabbit. I say, Big, you were frightened. "

"Yes, that I was, " said Bigley frankly; "I don't know when I felt soscared. Made sure he would hit me, and then that the sailors would cutme down with their swords. "

This disappointed Bob, who had fully expected to hear a denial of thecharge of fear, and he sat up and stared at the speaker, who turned tome then. 

"Why, Sep, " he said, "they must have worked hard in the night to get allthose things away. Do you know, I'm sure that must have been the_Hirondelle_. I wonder how they managed to get off. "

"I know, " I said suddenly. 

"Yah! Not you, " cried Bob. "Hark at old cock Solomon, who knowseverything. "

"I don't care what you say, " I replied. "I'm sure this is how they'vegot away. "

"Well, let's hear, " said Bob, and Bigley's eyes flashed with eagerness. 

"Why, they haven't got away at all, " I said. "They wouldn't dare to godown Channel after getting the cargo out of the cave, for fear ofmeeting the cutter just at daybreak. "

"And you think they've gone up towards Bristol?" cried Bigley excitedly. 

"Yes, " I said; "and they are lying up somewhere over yonder on the Welshcoast till to-night, when they'll be off again. "

"That's it, " said Bigley. "I'm sure that's it. "

"I don't believe it, " said Bob sharply. "And if it is true, I'm ashamedof you both. Here's Sep Duncan taking part with the smugglers, and oldBig hitting the officers in the eye, and bragging about his father. Ishall look out for some fresh mates, that's what I shall do. "

"Come and have some tea and dinner first, Bob, " I said mockingly. 

"Yes, I'll have some food first, for I'm getting hungry. My, what agame, though! How old Big did run when the lieutenant was going to givehim a pill! Ha, ha, ha!"

We strolled about the shore, and then went into the cottage for a bit, and that afforded Bob another opportunity for a few sneers about thisbeing Bigley's home now, addressing him as the master of the house, bantering him about being stingy with his cider, and finally jumping upas he saw my father coming down from the mine, and then we all went overto the Bay to our evening meal. 

That night Bigley and I went part of the way home with Bob, and then Iwalked part of the way home with Bigley in the calm and solitude of thesummer darkness. 

We walked along the cliff path, and were about half-way to the Gap whenBig caught me by the arm and pointed down below, about a quarter of amile from the cliff, where, stealing along in the gloom, I caught sightof the sails of a small vessel, and directly after of those of anothergliding on close at hand. They were so indistinct at first that I couldsee but little. Then I could make out that they were both luggers bytheir rig, and that one of them had three masts and the other only two. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. 

SUSPICIONS OF DANGER. 

Like all bits of excitement the coming of the cutter was followed by atime of calm. Bigley seemed to have settled down to a regular life atthe cottage, spending part of his days looking out to sea, and the otherpart up at the mine, where my father seemed now to give him always avery warm welcome. 

We saw the revenue cutter off the Gap now and then, and we had reason tobelieve that the crew had landed and thoroughly examined the cavesagain, but we saw nothing of them; it was only from knowing that oneevening the little vessel lay off the shore about a mile to the west ofthe Gap, and Bigley went along the shore at next low tide, and saidafterwards that he thought he could make out footprints, but the tidehad washed over everything so much that he was not sure. 

He heard no news of his father as week after week rolled by, till all atonce came a letter from Dunquerque, inclosing some money, and tellinghim that he had got away safely, and was quite well. 

"He said, " Bigley told me in confidence, for he did not show me theletter; "he said that if your father behaved badly to me I was to goaway at once with Mother Bonnet and take lodgings at Ripplemouth, justas he told me; but I don't think I shall have to do that. "

I laughed as he told me this, and then asked him if he was going towrite back to his father. 

"No, " said Bigley; "he says I am not to write, because it might givepeople a clue to where he is. I don't care, now I know that he is quitewell. "

Then the time glided on, with everybody at the mine leading the busiestof busy lives. I was there every day, and the men won the lead, otherssmelted it and cast it into pigs, then the pigs were remelted and thesilver extracted and ingots cast, which were stored up, after beingstamped and numbered, down in the strong cellar beneath thecounting-house floor. 

I did a great deal: sometimes I was down in the mine, whose passagesbegan to grow longer; sometimes I was entering the number of pigs oflead that were taken over to Ripplemouth, and shipped at the little quayfor Bristol; sometimes I was watching the careful process by which thesilver was obtained from the lead, and learning a good deal about theart, while Bigley seemed to be growing more and more one of us, andworked with the greatest of earnestness over the various tasks I had toundertake. 

"No news of old Jonas, father?" I said one day as we were walking alongthe cliff path to the mine, a lugger in the offing having brought him tomy mind. 

"No, Sep, " said my father; "but I'm afraid that we shall have a visitfrom him some day, and a very unpleasant one. "

"Why?" I asked. 

"Because he will never forgive me about that cave business. I saw thelook he gave me, my boy. He does not seem to have any very great ideasof the meaning of the word honour, and he evidently could not see thenthat I was bound to state what I had seen. "

"But do you think he will owe you a grudge for that, father?"

"I am sure of it, my boy. He never forgave me for buying the Gap, andnow I'm afraid this exposure of his smuggling tricks has made mattersten times worse. "

"Oh, I hope not, father, " I said eagerly. 

"So do I, my boy; but I have very little faith in him, and I alwaysdwell in expectation that some day or other, or some night or another, he will land with a strong party, and come up here to work all themischief he can--perhaps carry off all our silver. "

"But, father, " I exclaimed, "that would be acting like a pirate. "

"Well, Sep, there is not much difference between a pirate and asmuggler. They are both outlaws, and not very particular about whatthey do. "

"Oh, but I hope we shall have no trouble of that sort, for Bigley'ssake. "

"So do I, Sep, but I feel this, that we are not safe, for we have made adangerous enemy--one who can descend upon us at any time, and then getaway by sea. What can we do if he makes such an attack?"

"Fight, " I said bluntly. "We have plenty of arms, and the men will dojust what they are bid. "

"Yes, " said my father; "but I should be deeply grieved for there to beany bloodshed. I've known what it is in my early days, Sep, and inspite of all that has been said about honour and glory there is alwaysan unpleasant feeling afterwards, when in cool blood you think abouthaving destroyed your fellow-creatures' lives. "

"Yes, father, " I said; "there must be, and we don't want to do it; butif anyone comes breaking into the mine premises to steal, they must takethe consequences. "

"Yes, Sep, " said my father sternly, "they must, for I have enough of theold fighting-man left in me to make me say that I should not give upquietly if I was put to the proof. "

I thought a good deal about my father's words, but though I regularlymade Bigley my confidant, and told him pretty well everything, I did nottell him that, for I knew it would make him very uncomfortable, andbesides it seemed such a horrible idea for us to have to be fightingagainst his father--our men against his. 

The time went on, and we kept on hearing about the French war, but weseemed to be, away there in our quiet Devon combe, far from all thenoise and turmoil, and very little of the news excited us. 

We knew when there was a big fight, and when one side got the better ofthe other; but to read the papers we always appeared to get the victory. But, as I say, it did not seem to concern us much, only when thecountry traffic was a bit disturbed, and our lead began to accumulatefor want of the means of sending it away. 

"I don't so much mind the lead, Sep, " my father used to say; "what Imind is the silver. "

This was when the store beneath the counting-house became charged withtoo valuable a collection of ingots; and the second time this happenedmy father suddenly altered his arrangements. 

"I can't rest satisfied that all is safe, " he said, "when I am away atthe Bay, and this place is only depending upon locks and keys. "

"What shall you do then, father?" I asked. "Have a watchman!"

He nodded. 

"Who? Old Sam?"

"No, " he said; "ourselves, Sep, my lad. It will not be so comfortable, but while the country is so disturbed we will come and live over here. "

No time was lost, and in two days the upper rooms of the counting-houseand store had been filled with furniture, and Kicksey came over for theday, and went back at night, after cooking and cleaning for us. 

As my father said, it was not so comfortable as being at home, but wewere ready enough to adapt ourselves to circumstances; and any changewas agreeable in those days. 

Bigley was delighted, for it robbed his rather lonely life of itsdulness, and he never for a moment realised why the change had beenmade. 

But though we were always on the spot, my father relaxed none of his oldpreparations. Every other day there was an hour's drill or swordpractice. Sometimes an evening was taken for the use of the pistols;and, by degrees, under my father's careful instructions, the little bandof about twelve men had grown into a substantial trustworthy guard ofsturdy fellows, any one of whom was ready to give a good account ofhimself should he be put to the test. 

At first my father had been averse to Bigley drilling with us, but heraised no obstacle, for he said to me, "We can let him learn how to usethe weapons, Sep, but it does not follow that he need fight for us. "

"And I'm sure he would not fight against us, father, " I said laughing. 

So Bigley grew to be as handy with the cutlass as any of the men, and nomean shot with the pistol. 

As for Bob Chowne, he came over and drilled sometimes, and he wasconsidered to be our surgeon--that is, by Bigley and me--but he was notwith us very often, for his father kept him at work studying medicine, meaning him to be a doctor later on; but, as Bob expressed it, he wasalways washing bottles or making pills, though as a fact neither ofthese tasks ever came to his share. 

Four months--five months--six months had gone by since the adventurewith the cutter, and Bigley had only had two or three letters sendinghim money, and saying that his father was quite well, but there was nota word of returning; and it struck me old Jonas must have had means ofknowing that his son was still in the old cottage, or he would not havegone on sending money without having an answer back. 

The rumours about the war seemed to affect us less than ever, and I wasgrowing so accustomed to my busy life that I thought little of my oldamusements, save when now and then I went out for an evening's fishingwith Bigley, the old boat having been brought over from Ripplemouth, none the worse for its trip. 

The mine went on growing more productive, and, in spite of the greatexpenses, it seemed as if my father would become a wealthy man. Leadwas sent one way, silver another, and when the latter accumulated, as wewere on the spot, my father dismissed his anxiety, and we were graduallybecoming lulled into a feeling of repose, save when Bigley talked abouthis father, and then once more a little feeling of doubt and insecuritywould slip in, as might have been the case in the olden times when thepeople near shore learned that some Saxon or Danish ship was hoveringabout the coast. 

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. 

THE LANDING OF THE FRENCH. 

It was nine months now since the scene, at the little bay, when one softspring evening Bigley and I were walking slowly back to the Gap, afterseeing Bob Chowne part of the way home to Ripplemouth. The feeling ofcoming summer was in the air, the birds were singing in the oak woodstheir last farewell to the day, and from time to time we startled somethrush and spoiled his song. 

Every now and then a rabbit gave us a glance at his furry coat as hesprang along, but soon it grew so dark that all we saw after each rustlewas the speck of white which indicated his cottony tail, and soon eventhat was invisible. 

The thin sharp line of the new moon hung low in the west, and the seahad quite a steely gleam in the dying day, while the stars were peepingout and beginning to look at themselves in the glassy surface of thesea. 

Here and there we could see the coasting vessels going up and down theChannel, and just beneath the sinking moon there was a larger vesselcoming up with the tide, but it was getting too dark to make out what itwas. We kept along by the cliff path, and as we came to the descentthat led to the cottage Bigley and I parted, little thinking what aneventful night it was to prove. 

"You'll come up by and by, " I shouted, when he was about half-way down;and he sent back a cheery reply that he would, as I went on along theGap. 

I found my father seated before his books entering some statement by thelight of a candle, and as I came in he thrust the book from him wearily. 

"Oh, there you are, then, " he said good-humouredly. "Look here, youngfellow, I don't see why I should go on worrying and toiling over thismine just to make you well off. I was happy and comfortable enoughwithout it, and here am I wearing myself out, getting no pleasure and nochange, and all for you. "

"Sell it then, father, " I said. "I don't want you to work so hard forme. I don't want to be rich. Give it up. "

"No, " he said smiling; "no, Sep. It gives me a great deal of care andanxiety, but I do not mind. The fact is, Sep, I was growing fat andrusty, and loosing my grip on the world. A do-nothing life is amistake, and only fit for a pet dog, and him it kills. I wantedinteresting work, and here it is, and I am making money for you at thesame time. "

"But I don't think I want much money, father, " I said. 

"Maybe you will when you grow older. "

"I wish I could help you better, " I said. 

"Help me? Why, I am quite satisfied with you, my boy. You help me agreat deal. There, put away those books, and let us have some supper. I find we have nearly eight thousand ounces of silver down below here, and it's far too much to have in our charge. We must get it away, Sep, as soon as we can. "

"What would eight thousand ounces be worth?" I said. 

"Somewhere about two thousand pounds, my lad. But there, let's havesome supper, and then I should like to have a pipe for half an hour inthe soft fresh air. "

A tray was already waiting upon a side-table, and bringing it to occupythe place where the books had lain, we sat down and ate a hearty mealbefore we had done, after which I lifted the tray aside, and handed myfather the tobacco jar. 

In a few minutes he began to fill his pipe, and when he had lit it, Isat watching him and noticed how the soft thin smoke began to curl abouthis face, and float up between me and the row of cutlasses and pistolswith the belts that were arranged along the wall. 

"Now, let's have ten minutes' fresh air before we go to bed, " he saidrising. "You don't want to come, I suppose. "

"Oh, yes, I'll come, " I replied, and I stepped out with him into thesoft transparent night. 

"Ah, that's delicious!" he exclaimed as we walked a little way down theGap, and then struck up the path leading to the high cliff track. 

It was very dark, but at the same time clear; and as we paused after atime there were the lights below us in the new cottages, while above thestars shone out brilliantly and twinkled as if it was about to be afrost. 

"What a calm peace there is over everything!" said my fatherthoughtfully. "Why, Sep, my very weariness seems to be a pleasure, itis so full of the promise of rest. "

"I'm tired too, " I said. "I've been walking a good way to-day. Howplainly you can hear the sea!"

"Yes, the wind must be from the north. But how soft, and sweet, andgentle it is! What is that?"

"What?" I replied listening, for I had not detected a sound. 

"That noise of trampling feet. Don't you hear?"

I listened. 

"Yes, it is as if some people were coming along from the beach. "

"What people should be coming along from the beach?" exclaimed my fatherin an excited manner. 

"Or is it the murmur of the waves, father?" I said. 

"No, " he whispered after listening; "there are people coming, and thatwas a sharp quick order. Run down to the cottages and warn the foreman. Follow out the regular orders. You know. If it is a false alarm itwill not matter, for it will be exercise for getting the men togetheragainst real trouble. "

"Right, father, " I said, and I was just about to run off to give thealarm to the foreman, who would alarm another man while I went to afresh house. Then there would be four of us to alarm four more, whowould run up to the rendezvous while we alarmed four more, and so thegathering would be complete, and the men at the counting-house and armedin a very few minutes. 

I say I was just about to rush off, when a dark figure made a rush atus, and caught hold of my father's arm. 

"Quick, captain!" he whispered. "The French. Landed from a big sloop. Coming up the Gap. "

"Are you sure?" said my father in a low voice. 

The answer came upon the soft breeze, and I stopped for no more, but randown the slope as hard as I could go, dashed into the foreman's cottage, gave the alarm, and he leaped up, his wife catching up her child andfollowing to go along the Gap, as already arranged, the woman knowingthat the others would follow her so as to get to a place of safety incase of the enemy getting the upper hand. 

It proved, as my father had trusted, but a matter of very few minutesbefore four men were running to the counting-house to receive theweapons ready for them, and for eight to follow, while the women andchildren were being hurried from the cottages and away inland. 

The foreman and I were in front of the six men we were bringing, and aswe ran and neared the dim grey-looking building that was to be our fort, we could hear the coming of what seemed to be quite a large body of men, who were talking together in a low voice, while from time to time asharp command was uttered. 

Then, all at once, and just as we reached the counting-house, there wasa fresh order, and the sounds ceased, not a voice to be heard, and thetramp completely hushed. 

"What did it mean?" I asked myself, as a curious sensation ofexcitement came over me, for it seemed that the strangers, whoever theywere, perhaps the French, as Bigley had said, had halted to fire at usas we rushed to the counting-house door, and I fully expected to see theflashes of their muskets, and hear the reports and the whistling of thebullets. 

But no, all remained still, and we paused at the door to let the otherspass in first, and then, with a wonderful sense of relief, I leaped in, and heard the door closed behind quickly, but with hardly a sound. 

It was a curious sensation. The moment before I felt in terribledanger. Now I felt quite safe, for I was behind strong walls, though inreality I was in greater danger than before. 

There was no confusion, no hurry. The drilling had been so perfect, andmy father had been for so long prepared for just such an emergency asthis, that everything was done with a matter-of-fact ease. 

Already as we reached the door the four first comers had been armed; nowas the men entered they crossed over to the other side, and cutlass, pistols, and a well-filled cartouche-box were handed to each, and hetook them, strapped on his belt, and then fell in, standing at ease. 

"All armed?" said my father then, as we stood in the dark. 

There was no answer--a good sign that everyone was supplied. 

"The women and children gone?" said my father then. 

No answer again. 

"Load!" said my father. 

Then there was a rustling noise, the clicking of ramrods, a dullthudding, more clicking, and silence. 

"Now, " said my father, "no man to fire until I give the word. Trust toyour cutlasses, and I daresay we can beat them off. Ready?"

There was a dead silence. 

"I would light the candles, " said my father in a low firm voice, "but itwould be helping the enemy, if enemy they are. Who's that?"

"It is I, sir, Bigley, " said a familiar voice. 

"I had forgotten you. What is it?"

"I have no weapons, sir. "

"No, of course not. Boy, you cannot fight. "

"Why not, sir?"

"Because--because--" I was close to them, and they were speaking in alow tone; "because--" said my father again. 

"Because you think I should be fighting against my father, " said Bigleysharply; "but I'm sure, sir, that it is not so. "

"How do I know that?" said my father. 

_Rap, rap, rap_, came now at the door, and a voice with a decided Frenchaccent, a voice that sounded familiar to me, said:

"Ees any boady here?"

"There, sir, it is the French. "

"I don't know that, " said my father. Then: "Stand fast, my lads. "

"Ees any boady here?" said the same voice. 

"Yes. Who's there?" said my father. 

"Aha, it is good, " came from outside. "My friends and bruders have makegreat meestakes and lose our vays. Can you show us to ze Ripplemoutstowns?"

"Straight down to the sea and along by the cliff path east, " said myfather shortly. 

"Open ze doors; I cannot make myselfs to hear. "

My father repeated his instructions; there was a low murmur outside; andthen there was a sharp beating on the door, as if from the hilt of asword. 

"What now?" cried my father. 

"Le Capitaine Dooncane, " cried a sharp fierce voice. 

"Well?" said my father. "I am Captain Duncan. "

"Open this door, " said the same voice, speaking in French. 

"What if I refuse?" said my father in the same tongue. 

"If you refuse it will be broken down--directly. "

"Is it the war?" said my father mockingly. 

"It is the war, " was the reply. "Open, and no harm will be done to you. Resist, and there will be no quarter. Is it surrender?"

"Monsieur forgets that he is talking to an English officer, " said myfather. "Stand back, sir; we are well-armed and prepared. "

There was a low murmur of voices outside, and my father exclaimed:

"Sep, Bigley, upstairs with you and six men. Two of you to each window, and beat down with your cutlasses all who try to board. Well keep thedoors here. Now, my lads, tables and chairs against the doors. You'llfind the wickets handy. I thought so; they're at the back dooralready. "

He darted to the back room, helped place a table against the door, mounted upon it, and as the blows of a crowbar were heard, he placed apistol to the little wicket in the panel high up, and fired a shot toalarm the attacking party. 

The blows of the crowbar ceased, and a low suppressed yell from manyvoices broke out from all round the little stone-built place. 

"That has quieted them for the moment, " said my father; and, applyinghis eye to an aperture made for the purpose, he inspected the attackingforce. 

"French marines, " he said quietly. "Well, my lads, they're outside andwe are in. If they leave us alone we will not injure them, if theyattack they must take the consequences. It is war time; they havelanded, and we are fighting for our homes and all belonging to us. Willyou fight?"

There was a low dull growl at this, uttered it seemed by every manpresent, and as my father's words had been distinctly heard upstairs, the men with Bigley and me joined in. 

"That's good, " said my father. "I thought so. Now once more trust toyour strong aims and cutlasses. A couple of shots and then swords. They don't want loading again. If they break in we must retreatupstairs. If they prove too much for us and force their way up, we musthold out as long as we can, and then retreat by the north window andback up the west side of the valley among the big stones; but no retreattill I give the word. Now, my lads, do you want anything to make youfight?"

"Only the orders, captain, " said the foreman, "or the French beggars tocome on. "

"All in good time. What are they doing?" said my father. "One shotcan't have scared them off. Ah, the cowards! I expected as much. "

For just then a dull light shone in through the window, and made everybar clear. The dull light became brighter, and the Frenchmen set up acheer. 

"They've fired the big shed roof, sir, " said the foreman. 

"Father, " I cried down the stairs, "they have fired Sanders's cottage. "

"Curse 'em, " growled the foreman. "I'll make pork crackling ofsomebody's skin for that. "

"Now they've gone on to the next cottage, " cried Bigley. 

"They're firing all the cottages, " cried another of the men, and now thegrowl that rose from our little force was furious and fierce, and fullof menace against the enemy, who had done this to give them ample lightas I suppose. 

"Never mind, my lads, they have forgotten that it will make it easierfor us, " said my father. "But hold your fire. It will be wanted here. "

We could see each other plainly now, and it became necessary to look outcautiously, for fear of offering ourselves as targets for theFrenchmen's shots. 

We could see that about a dozen well-armed men were in front, andanother group of as many at the back of the house; but they were payinglittle heed to us for the moment, being engaged in watching theircompanions, who were running from cottage to cottage, firing them bythrusting torches under the thatch, and shouting and chattering to eachother, as if these acts of wanton destruction were so much amusement inwhich they had delight. 

Over and over again men made their pistols click, and were ready intheir rage to send bullets flying amongst the wreckers of their homes;but my father uttered a low warning. 

"Stand fast. Not till I say _fire_. Never mind your homes, my lads, we'll soon raise better ones, and your wives and children are all safe. Wait. "

There was a low growl as if so many bull-dogs were being held back fromtheir prey, and once more all was silent within. 

Then there was a good deal of chattering and rushing, and the firingparties came back to where their companions were waiting, and we knew bythe next order given that our time had come. 

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. 

DESPERATE TIMES. 

In my heat and excitement I wondered that my father did not order hislittle company of men to begin firing at a time when every shot wouldtell, for there was a feeling of rage within me, roused by the wantondestruction of the cottages and every portion of the works that wouldburn; but I had not learned all my lessons then, and how a just andbrave man, whether soldier or sailor, shrinks from destroying life untilabsolutely obliged. 

My father came upstairs for a minute about the time when I was thinkingthis the most, and I could see a peculiarly hard stern look in his eyesas the fire flashed through the window upon his face. 

"Mind: no firing, " he said, "until they attack, and I give the word. "

I felt afterwards how right he was, but then it seemed almost cowardly. 

I soon altered my opinion, for all at once the French leader came up tothe door and struck it with the hilt of his sword, as he exclaimed inFrench:

"Now, Captain Duncan, surrender!"

No reply was given. 

"Open this door and pass out the whole of the silver bars you havethere, " was the next command, and this time my father answered:

"Come and take them if you can--_si vous osez_, " he added in French. 

There was no more delay. A couple of men were ordered to the front withiron bars, and they began to batter the door heavily, but without anyfurther effect than to chip off splinters and make dints. 

The men were called off, the rest standing ready to fire at anyone whoshould show a face at the windows, but we gave them no opportunity, formy father whispered:

"They are sixty. We are only just over a dozen. Wait, men, wait. "

"What are they doing, Big?" I whispered to my companion, for he was ina better post for observations than myself. 

"I can't quite see, " he whispered back. "They've got a bag ofsomething, and they're bringing it to the door. "

I looked out quickly. 

"Powder!" I exclaimed, and then I ran to the head of the stairs andcalled down to my father: "They are going to blow in the door withpowder. "

"Good!" said my father coolly, and issuing an order or two he drew allhis men together into the back room. "Stay where you are, Sep, " hewhispered; "the explosion will not touch you, only, if we are hardpressed afterwards, come down with your men and take the enemy in therear. "

I felt my heart swell with pride at being treated like this, and thenervous sensation of dread grew less. 

"Sooner the better, Master Sep, " said one of the workmen. "Better keepaway from the window, sir. "

"No, " I replied, "I must see what they are doing. "

I felt that I must, and going to the window I stood upon a chair, and, keeping out of sight, looked down from the upper corner just in time tosee a man run back from the door to join his companions, several of whomheld rough torches of oakum steeped in tar. 

"What are they doing, Big?" I whispered. 

"That fellow has just laid a powder-bag by the door. But, Sep, youcan't see any Englishmen there, can you?"

"No, " I said hastily; "but I'm sure that's the French skipper Gualtierestanding to the left of the French captain. "

"So it is, " whispered Bigley. "I thought I knew the face. Look out!"

"What are they going to do?"

"The men are being drawn back, all but the fellows with the lights, andone of them is coming forward to light the powder. Yes; now all theothers are retiring. "

"I can see, " I whispered. "Now I can see the man with the torch. Isay, will it blow the place up?"

"I don't know, " said Bigley in a low whisper; "but I feel horriblyfrightened. "

"So do I, " I whispered back; "but don't let's show it, Big. "

"I won't, " he said sturdily. 

Just then the man who had approached slowly made a dash in close to thehouse, and I was thinking that somebody ought to have shot him down whenhe dashed back again, and his friends received him with a loud shrillcheer. 

As the cheer died away there was a low hissing noise from outside, and Iknew it was the fuse burning, and then we all shrank together to thefarthest corner of the room, waiting in the most painful suspense forthe explosion, which we knew must follow, but which seemed as if itwould never come. 

It was only a matter of so many seconds, but they seemed to be minutesof terrible suspense, before there was a flash, the air seemed to havebeen sucked out of the room, and then, in the midst of a terrific roar, the floor was lifted up, and one end then fell, so that we all slid downinto the room below in the midst of splinters, plaster, dust, and brokenjoists, just as the Frenchmen uttered a yell, and came dashing towardsthe open door. 

What followed was one scene of wild confusion. It seemed that my fatherand his men came dashing out of the back room, and we were seized anddragged over the heap of broken wood-work and plaster, to be placedbehind it, where we struggled to our feet, and then, in the midst of theclouds of blinding dust and choking gunpowder smoke, everybody made abreast-work of the damaged wood, and received the charge of the Frenchsailors with pistol-shots and blows from the cutlasses. 

This proved so effective that they fell back, running out as fast asthey came in, and my father took advantage of the lull to have a fewpieces of furniture dragged forward, and laid upon the heap of refuse soas to give us a better breast-work to fight behind. 

"Hurt, Sep?" cried my father. 

"No, " I replied, "only shaken. "

"That's well. Keep more back, my boy. Now, lads, cutlasses; here theycome!"

There was a yell and a rush, the clashing of steel, with shouts andgroans, and the Frenchmen were beaten back again. 

"Time for breathing, my lads, " cried my father, as we stood there in thedarkness with the light full upon our enemies as they gathered at ashort distance from the shattered doorway. "Who's hurt?"

"No one much, captain, " growled the foreman. "A few chops andscratches. Here they are!"

For just then there was a yell, and the enemy rushed at us, coming in alittle column, and this time led by an officer. 

They could only come in two at a time; but, as they darkened the doorwayand made their rush, they spread out as they entered like a fan rightand left, and once more the groans, yells, and blows rang out. 

It was clearer now, for the smoke and dust had floated out, and I couldsee something of the desperate fight that was going on, with menfalling, and others of the Frenchmen from behind filling their places, for they kept on thronging in through the open doorway, till thecounting-house was densely packed, and those behind literally drovetheir companions forward, till the rough breast-work was beaten andtrampled down, and our little party forced back towards the wall thatseparated us from the inner room, in which there was a doorway leadinginto a back place, opening on to the cliff slope. 

I can't pretend to describe what took place accurately. All I know is, that in the midst of a scene of shouting, yelling, and clashingcutlasses, I found myself crushed against the back wall with my swordabove my head, and my ribs seeming to give way, as I was pinned therehelplessly, till all at once there was a tremendous crash, and we wereall driven backwards in a heap, friends and enemies together. 

For the wood-work partition, already damaged by the force of theexplosion, had given way, and we were precipitated into the back room. 

What followed I hardly know, for as the men struggled up from the ruinthe fight began again, and the result was that I found myself with myfather and five men in the little back place of all, where the dooropened out into the valley; but of course it was locked and barricadedinside, and the door into the back room was held by my father, theforeman, and two others, who were keeping about a dozen Frenchmen atbay, yelling and cutting and thrusting at them. 

"Sep! Here! Quick!" my father shouted, without turning his head, forthe enemy kept him occupied parrying their cuts and points. 

"I am here, father, " I said, getting close behind him. 

"Right. Stand firm, my lads!" said my father. "We're beaten, but wemust retreat in order. Ah, would you?"

This last was to a Frenchman who dashed in at him, but only to have histhrust parried, and to go down with an upward cut which disabled hissword arm. 

"Sep, " he whispered then, "open the back door. Be ready. We must nowmake a dash for the rocks. You lead; I'll keep the rear. Mind, mylads, " he said to the stanch group about him, "keep together. If youseparate you are lost. You'll be cut down or prisoners before you canraise a hand. "

These words were all said in a jerky way in the midst of plenty ofcutting and foining; for, though the Frenchmen did not attempt to passthe doorway, they kept on making fierce thrusts at us, though withlittle result. 

I crept back and unfastened the door silently, so as not to draw theenemy's attention, and, holding my sword ready, I peered out, the noisegoing on drowning that I made with the lock and bolts. 

To my dismay I saw that there were three of the enemy on guard, and, closing the door softly, I took a couple of steps back, and told myfather. 

"Only three!" he said coolly. "Oh, that's nothing. Now, then, to thedoor! Hold it ready. In a few moments you will see us make a dash anddrive these fellows back. Then we shall turn and follow you. Dash outwith a good shout, and strike right and left. The men there are sure torun. Then all for the rocks, and don't look back; we shall follow. "

I obeyed him exactly. Just as I had the door ready to fling open, myfather, the foreman, and the others suddenly sprang forward, as if aboutto drive the Frenchmen out of the counting-house, and they fell back. 

Then open went the door. I saw our fellows turn round, and, sword inhand and feeling as if I was going to my death, I dashed right at thethree men guarding the back, shouting "Hurrah!" at the top of my voice. 

I felt sure that they would run me through, but my father was right. One ran to the left, another to the right, and the other straight on upthe steep slope, and, as I cut at him desperately, down he wentuntouched, save by a stone over which he tripped, and we all went overhim as we rushed up the valley side to the shelter of the rocks, andwith the enemy swarming out and after us. 

It was rough work, but we knew our way. The enemy were strange, andbefore we had toiled up a hundred yards they began to tail off. Inanother hundred we were some way up, and panting behind a clump of rocksthat formed quite a little fort, while below us we could see the enemygathered together in a group, and evidently about to return. 

CHAPTER FORTY. 

AFTER THE FIGHT. 

"Let's get breath first, " said my father. "Sit down, my lads, anywhere. How many are we? Only six all told? Who's hurt?"

"Oh, I'm all right, captain, " said the foreman; "only a bit of a cut. "

"Only a bit of a cut!" said my father. "Here, hold your arm. " Myfather drew out a bandage from his pocket, and tied up the foreman'sarm, and he had no sooner done this than another man offered himself tobe bandaged. 

Just then a couple of shots were fired in our direction, and we heardthe bullets strike the rocks not far away; but while our enemies werebelow, and in the full glare of the burning cottages, we were abovethem, and in the darkness of the shadows cast by the rocks. 

So the shots were allowed to go unheeded, while the bandaging went on, every one having some injury which was borne without a murmur. 

"Are you hurt, Sep?" said my father then, anxiously, after he hadattended to his men. 

"I don't think I'm cut anywhere, " I said; "but my left arm hurts a gooddeal, and I can't breathe as I should like to. "

"Breathe?" he said eagerly. 

"Yes; it hurts my side here and catches. "

"Humph!" he said. "Can you tie this round my shoulder?"

"Why, father, " I said, "are you wounded too?"

"A scratch, my boy; but it bleeds a good deal. "

He tore open his coat and tried to take it off, but could not, and wehad to help him, and then roughly bandage his shoulder, where he hadreceived a horrible cut. 

I trembled as I helped, and forgot my own pains. 

He noticed my trembling and laughed. 

"Bah, Sep!" he said; "this is nothing. I'm afraid some of our poorfellows there are worse. Ah, who's that? Be ready, men; we mustretreat, we are not in fighting trim. "

For we could see a dark figure coming up after us, and it seemed to bean enemy; but directly after half a volley was fired at the figure, andwe saw it drop and roll over. 

"Down!" said my father with a groan. "Oh, if we were only fresh andstrong! But they are six to one, my lads, and it would be madness. "

"Look, father!" I cried pointing; "they are going back. "

That was plain enough, and that they were going rapidly in answer toshouts of recall. So, encouraged by this, we were about to run down andhelp the man who had been shot, when by the glow of the fire we saw himrise up on his knees, and directly after there were a couple of flashesand reports, as he fired his pistols after the retreating foe, and thenbegan to crawl up towards where we were. 

"Why, it's Bigley, father, " I said excitedly. "Ahoy!"

"Ahoy!" came back; and I saw my school-fellow get up and begin limpingtowards us as fast as he could come. 

I ran to meet him, but stopped before I had gone many yards, for thepainful sensation in my side checked me, and I was glad to hold my handpressed upon the place, and wait till he came up. 

"Oh, I am glad!" he cried, catching my hand. "I thought--no, I won'tsay what I thought. "

"But you are hurt, " I said. "Is it your leg?"

"Yes, I feel just as if I was a gull, Sep, and someone had shot me. "

"And you are shot?"

"Yes, but only in the leg. Is the captain up there?"

"Yes, " I said, "and three or four of the men. I say, Big, what aterrible night!"

"Yes, " he replied, in a curious tone of voice; "but, I'm glad it's theFrench, and that no one else has done it. "

My father had come down to where we were seated, and made us follow himto the shelter of the rocks. 

"They may catch sight of you, my lads, " he said, "and turn you intomarks. "

"Are you going to stop them now, captain?" said Bigley, following. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm ready to do anything, my lad, " said my father sadly; "but what canhalf a dozen injured men, whose wounds are getting stiff, do againsthalf a hundred sound?"

Bigley sighed. 

"Couldn't we sit up here in the rocks and pick them all off with thecarbines, sir?" he said suddenly. 

"Yes, my lad, perhaps we could shoot down a few if we had the carbines, which we have not. No: we can do nothing but sit down and wait till weget well, comforting ourselves with the thought that we have done ourbest. "

We were watching the French sailors now, not a man showing the slightestinclination to retreat farther, but standing like beaten dogs growlingand ready to rush at their assailants if they could get the chance. Swords had been sheathed, but only while pistols were recharged; andthen, as soon as these weapons were placed ready in belts, the cutlasseswere drawn again; and just as they had obeyed the order to retreat, themen would have followed my father back, wounded as they were, to anotherattack. 

Down below the Frenchmen were as busy as bees. We could hear thecrackle and snap of wood as they seemed to be tearing it out of thecounting-house; and then it was evident what they had been doing, for atorch danced here and there, and stopped in one place and seemed todouble in size, to quadruple, and at last there was a leaping flamerunning up and a pile of wood began to blaze. 

"There go years of labour!" said my father, speaking unconsciously sothat the men could hear. "One night to ruin everything!"

"Nay, captain, such of us as is left 'll soon build un up again, " saidthe foreman. "Women and children's safe, and there's stuff enough inthe hillside to pay for all they've done. "

"Ah! So there is, my brave fellow, " said my father warmly. "You areteaching me philosophy. "

"Am I, captain?" said the man innocently. "Think they'll find thesilver?"

"I'm watching to see, " said my father; "I don't know yet. Five minuteswill show. I fear they know where to look. "

Bigley was leaning on my shoulder at this time, and he gave me quite apinch as his hand closed, but he did not speak; and there was no need, for I understood his thoughts, poor fellow! And what he must befeeling. 

As the fires at the cottages were beginning to sink, the one theFrenchmen had lit by the counting-house blazed up more brightly. Theykept feeding it with furniture, joists, and broken planks, about a dozenmen running to and fro tearing out the broken wood-work and clearing theinterior till we could see that everything had been swept away; and thenthere was a buzz of excitement by the ruined building while the hammerand clangour of crowbars could be heard, followed by the tearing up ofmore boards; and I knew as well as if I could see that the trap-doorleading to the cellar was being demolished. 

"They know where the silver be, captain, " said our foreman; and oncemore Bigley started and I felt him spasmodically grip my shoulder. 

"Yes, " said my father between his teeth; "they know where the silver is. A planned thing, my man--a planned thing. "

"None o' us had anything to do with it, captain, I swear, " cried theforeman excitedly. "There wasn't a lad here as would have put 'em up towhere it was hid. "

"Hush, man! What are you saying?" cried my father. "As if it werelikely that I should suspect any of the brave fellows who have beenready to give their lives in the defence of my works. "

"But can't we get the rest together, captain, and stop 'em, or cut 'emoff, or sink their boats, or something?"

"No, my lad, I'm afraid we can do nothing more than see them--Ah! Theyhave found it!" said my father as a loud shout of triumph rang out frombelow. "Well, as you say, there's plenty more in the hillside, and wemust set to work again, I suppose, and take warning by this and neverkeep a store here. "

It was all plain enough. The silver was found, and the little boxes inwhich the ingots were packed in saw-dust were carried out and stood downby the blazing fire--twenty of them; and just as this was done there wasthe thud of a cannon away off the mouth of the Gap. 

"Signal for recall, " said my father. 

It was quickly obeyed, for the French formed up round twenty of theirparty who shouldered the boxes. Four men with drawn swords went first, as if they were making a showy procession in the blaze of the burningfire; then came the twenty men carrying silver, then six more with drawnswords; then a group of about ten who seemed to be wounded, and fourmore who were being carried; and lastly some twenty or thirty, withswords flashing in the firelight, to form a rearguard. 

"_En avant_!" rang out clearly in the night air, and away they wentchattering and making plenty of noise, just as a second gun was firedand seemed to make the air throb as the report echoed up the valley. 

"Why, there must be nigh a hundred on 'em. We may have a shot at 'emnow, captain, mayn't us?" cried the foreman. 

"What for, my man?" said my father kindly. "If we could save the silverI would say yes, but it would be only spilling blood unnecessarily. Wemade a brave defence and were beaten. We could not master them now, even if we could fire volleys every five minutes. It would only mean afierce fight, and we should be hunted down one by one for nothing. No:they have won. Let them go now, but I should like to see them embark. A good-sized French man-of-war must be off the Gap. "

"Come on, then, captain, and let's get over the mouth. "

"No, " said my father. "You go with my son and one of the men, but Iforbid firing. See all you can. I must stay and look after our poorfellows here, unless they've taken them away as prisoners. "

"Ah! I forgot them, " said our man. "Come along, Master Sep. Let's godown here and cross, and get on the cliff path. "

"Will you go, Big?" I said. 

"No, I couldn't walk, " he replied. "I can hardly get down here. "

"I'll look after him, " said my father. "Go on, but take care not to becaught. "

"We'll mind that, captain, " was the reply; and we descended as rapidlyas pain would let us, reached the stream, crossed the path the Frenchmenhad taken, and went on diagonally up the slope, getting higher above theenemy at every step, and talking together in a low tone about the fight, and how the poor fellows were whom we had missed. 

"I hope and pray, " said our foreman, "as no one ar'n't killed; and, mylor', how my arm do hurt!"

"So do I. Poor fellows!" I said, "how well they all fought!"

"Ay, they did. But the captain, Master Sep, he was like a lion all thetime. Why, lad, what's the matter?"

"I--I don't want to make too much fuss, " I panted; "but I'm brokensomewhere, and it hurts horribly. "

"Sit you down, lad, and wait till we come back, " said the foremankindly. 

"No, " I said, grinding my teeth, "I won't give up;" and I trudged on, knowing as well as could be that one or two of my ribs were broken whenI was crushed against the wall, just before it gave way. 

And all the time below us to the left wound the line of Frenchmen. Itwas so dark that we could not have told that they were there, but forthe low babel of sounds that arose of voices and trampling feet, whilenow and then a sound more painful to us still came up in the form of agroan or a faint cry of pain, and after one of these outbursts theforeman said:

"I wonder whether that be one of our lads. "

"Nay, not it, " said our companion roughly; "it be a Frenchy. One of ourlads wouldn't make a noise like that if you cut his head off. "

I felt sure he was right, and I could not help smiling, but I was in toomuch pain to speak. 

And so we trudged on, our paths diverging in a way that took us higherand higher towards where the track curved round the cliff at the eastside of the Gap, while theirs, of course, kept down by the stream to thebeach. 

It was a weary painful walk, for the excitement was now gone, and mycompanions' wounds were stiffening, and giving them as much pain as mychest did me; but no one murmured, and we kept on till we were at themouth of the Gap, high up above where four boats were lying, while halfa mile away we could see the lights and dimly make out the hull of alarge vessel. 

In spite of our pain we had made most progress, and were waiting someminutes before the head of the column came up, and there, as we seatedourselves hundreds of feet above, we could watch the embarkation of thelittle force, and see in a dim way the boats run in, hear the plashingof feet in the shallow water, and then the sound of the boxes as theywere laid in the bottom of one of the boats, this boat being then rowedout about a dozen yards to wait for the others. 

"Only wish it was a storm instead of a calm smooth time, " said ourforeman. "Everything seems for 'em. I can't see why the Ripplemouthpeople haven't been over to help us. They must have seen the fires. "

"No, " I said, "I don't suppose they would. See how deep down in thevalley the cottages are. "

It was quite dark where we were sitting, but there appeared to be a palelight on the sea which enabled us to make out all that was going onbelow; and we watched the boats fill, and one by one push off, thewounded men being divided between the four. It was plain enough, and itmade me shudder when some poor fellow was lifted moaning in by hiscomrades, who did not seem to be any too tender in their ways. 

At last all were on board, and the word was given to start. There was aloud plashing as the oars dropped into the water, and we saw one boatlead off, and then a second follow, then the third and the fourth insingle file, and making haste to join the big vessel, upon which signallights were burning. 

"Why, they don't know the way, " I exclaimed, as I saw them bear off atonce to the eastward instead of following right out the meanderingchannel of the little river. 

"Don't know the way?" cried our foreman; "why, it's plain enough. They're at sea. "

"They're over a lot of dangerous rocks, " I said excitedly; "and if theredon't happen to be water enough they'll come upon the Goat and Kids, andperhaps be upset. "

"No fear, " said the foreman; "they'll know better than that. "

They were now about four hundred yards from the shore, and fading awayinto the darkness, heading for the lights of the French ship, and far tothe east now of the course of the river, where it ran down through thesand and shingle--a course the lugger always followed when going out orcoming in. But all seemed to be well with the boats, the regular beatof whose oars we could hear though they were quite out of sight, whenall at once there came out of the darkness a tremendous yell, and we allstarted to our feet in alarm. 

We could see nothing, but as we listened to the cries for help, and theshouting and splashing of the water, it was evident that an accident hadoccurred, and it needed very little imagination to picture the men of anoverset boat struggling in the water, and being helped into the others. 

"There's one of them capsized on the Goat Rock, " I said excitedly. 

"Think so, my lad?" said our foreman hoarsely. 

"I'm sure of it, " I cried. "Oh! If the day would break and we couldonly see. "

As if in response to my wish there was a faint gleam out in the darknessjust like a pale star, and then a blue glow which lit up the scene witha curiously sickly glare. 

It made everything very plain, and by this light we could see that therewere three crowded boats out in the blue circle of light, while we couldjust see the fourth beyond them upside down, the keel just above thewater, and three men seated astride. 

"Regular capsize, " said our foreman. "Hope none of the wounded chapsaren't drowned. Don't mind about the rest. "

The blue light burned out, but not before we had plainly seen that itwas burning in the bows of the largest boat, and that the men on thatcapsized had been dragged into one of the others. Then, as we listened, the babble of voices ceased, the plash of oars recommenced, andgradually died away. 

"Well, " I said, "we may as well go back and report what we have seen. They've gone now. "

"Yes, " growled our foreman, holding his hand to his wound, "and they'veleft their marks behind. "

CHAPTER FORTY ONE. 

AMONGST THE WOUNDED. 

Weary as our walk down to the mouth of the Gap had been, that backseemed far worse, and we reached the fire by the counting-house, whichstill burned brightly, being fed with more wood, to find my fatheranxiously awaiting our news. 

"Gone!" he said. "Yes, but they may return. Two--no we cannot sparetwo men, one must go and keep watch to warn us of their return. "

"I'll go, Captain Duncan, " said Bigley, limping up. "I can't walk aboutmuch, but I can sit down there on the top rocks and watch. "

"Very good, my lad, " said my father, "but take your pistols and firetwice rapidly if boats come in again. "

As Bigley squeezed my hand and started off, my father exclaimed:

"Now I must have a messenger to go to Ripplemouth for Doctor Chowne. What man is not wounded?"

There was a murmur among the group assembled about the fire, a grimblood-smeared powder-blackened set of beings, several of whom had hadtheir hair scorched away by the explosion. There was not a man who wasnot ready to go, but there was not one who was not wounded. 

"I hardly know whom to send, " said my father. "Sep, can you get overthere?"

"I'll try, father, " I replied from where I was sitting down on a pieceof rock; but I spoke so faintly that my father came to my side, andcaught my cold damp hand, and laid his upon my wet forehead. 

"Madness!" he muttered. "Look here, my lads, " he cried, "a couple ofthe women must be found at once. "

"Ahoy! Duncan, ahoy!"

It was a distant hail from high up on the track. 

"Heaven be praised!" cried my father, and then he shouted, "Chowne, ahoy!"

There was an answering hail, and in five minutes more Doctor Chowne camescrambling down the side of the ravine upon his pony, with Bob hangingon to its tail. 

"My dear boy!" exclaimed the doctor, grasping my father's hand. "Weheard the guns, and could make out the lights of a big vessel off here. I was afraid that something was wrong, and going up the hill yonder Icould see the glow in the sky. That decided me, and we came overtogether. Anybody hurt?"

"Well, yes, a little, " said my father grimly. 

As he spoke the first grey dawn of morning was beginning to show in thevalley and mingle strangely with the glow of the big fire and of thesickly flickering gleam above the burned-out cottages. 

It was a doleful sight upon which the doctor gazed round as he strippedoff his coat. My father, blackened, scorched, and blood-stained, wasstanding with the foreman, six men were sitting or half reclining on theground, and four more lay on their backs as if insensible. 

It was a ghastly answer to the question, "Is anybody hurt?" for therewas no one without a serious wound. 

"Ah! I see, " said the doctor grimly. "Well, is anybody killed?"

"Heaven forbid!" cried my father. 

"Amen, " said the doctor. "Here, Bob, bandages, scissors. Fine lessonin surgery for you. Now, captain, you first. "

"No, no--the men, " said my father. 

"Here, I've no time to waste, " cried the doctor. "Now, then, who'sworst?"

"Mas'r Sep, " cried the foreman loudly; and there was a sort of chorus of"Ay, ay!"

I tried to protest, but I felt sick, and as if I should faint, and thedoctor cried:

"Hold your tongue, sir. Now then, what is it--bullet or sword cut?"

"Oh!" I shrieked, for he had seized me rather roughly. 

"There, eh?" said the doctor, "that's it, is it? Here, knife, Bob. "

"What is it?" said my father excitedly; "an operation?"

"Yes, " said Doctor Chowne, "on his coat. Only going to rip it off, man. What a fuss you do make about your boy!"

"But tell me, Chowne, " cried my father, "is he badly hurt?"

"Badly hurt? No. A few ribs broken seemingly. I'll soon bandage himup. "

He did, and very painful it was; but at the same time it seemed to giveme strength and confidence, as he wound the stout bandage round andround and left Bob grinning at me as he fastened the ends, while he wentto another patient. 

"Been a regular fight, then?" said Bob, who kept on questioning me, andmaking me tell him everything, though I felt as if I could hardly speak. 

"Yes, " I said, "terrible. "

"But old Big; where's he?"

"Wounded, and keeping watch where the Frenchmen went. "

"Old Big wounded, eh? And a regular fight--French and English too. Well, of all the shabby mean beggars that ever lived, you and old Bigleyare about the two worst. "

"What do mean?" I cried angrily. 

"There, don't wriggle that way or I shall stick the needle in you. Togo and have a big genuine fight like that and never let me know. "

"Here, Bob, quick!" cried the doctor, and my old school-fellow had to goand help bandage another's wound. 

"He will have his grumble, " I said to myself, smiling as well as I couldfor one in pain. 

The daylight grew broader, and the blackened counting-house and cottagesmore desolate-looking, the whole place seeming to be suffering from theeffects of some terrible storm, and as I lay there I saw the doctor goon busily bandaging the poor fellows' wounds, every one suffering thepain he was caused without a murmur. The worst cases he temporarilybandaged, leaving the rest till the men were better able to bear it, andat last he came round to my father, who was wounded in two places. 

"Die? No: there are some ugly chops and holes, but I'm not going to letany of the brave fellows die, " cried the doctor cheerily. "Now thefirst thing is to get the women back and a roof over that long shed incase it should rain. I'll have a lot of ling cut for beds, but I musthave some help. Perhaps I had better ride over to the village--no, I'llsend my boy. But I say, Duncan, I think you ought to have given betteraccount of the Frenchmen. "

"Why, they had to get fifteen or sixteen wounded men away, " I cried, andthen winced. 

"And serve 'em right, " said the doctor. "Here, Bob!"

_Bang, bang_!

"What's that?"

"Bigley's signal; and by the way, doctor, the poor lad is wounded too. Come along and see. "

"No, I'll go, " said the doctor. "You are not fit. "

"But I'm going all the same, " cried my father; and I saw them go offalong the cliff path. 

"Here, Mars Sep, " said our foreman, "I'm going to climb up yonder to seewhat's going on; will you come?"

"I don't think I can do it, " I said, "but I'll try;" and with the helpof his hand now and then I managed to climb up the west slope of the Gapright to the very top, where, in the bright sunny morning, we saw asight that filled us with horror, for a couple of well-filled boats wererowing towards us from the side of a large sloop of war, from whoseport-holes projected a row of guns that seemed to threaten freshdestruction to our coast. 

But all at once we saw a flag run fluttering up to the peak and thenblow out clear, with the result that the boats began to alter theircourse, turning completely round and rowing back to the man-of-war. 

As they were going back we could see sail after sail drop down from theyards of the sloop; and as the boats reached her and were hoisted up tothe davits, she began to move swiftly towards the west, her canvasgrowing broader minute by minute till she passed out of our sight. 

"Why, she's gone, " said our foreman. "Is she coming back?"

"I hope not, " I cried. "Look!" I pointed towards the east over adepression in the Gap side through which we could catch a glimpse of thesea, and there in the bright sunlight we could make out a couple ofvessels crowding on under all sail; and, little as I knew of suchmatters, I was able to say that one was a small frigate and the other aman-of-war cutter that looked very much like our old friend. 

"After the Frenchman--eh?" said our foreman, gazing hard, wide-eyed andopen-mouthed, as his cheeks flushed and he seemed to forget his wounds. "Well, then, all I can say is, that I hope they'll be caught. "

"Let's get down, " I said. "See, there's the doctor bringing BigleyUggleston back on his pony. I wonder how he is. "

CHAPTER FORTY TWO. 

A FIGHT AT SEA. 

We descended slowly and painfully, to get down in time to receive asevere scolding from the doctor, while my father confirmed the news, asBigley was half-lifted off for Bob to mount the pony and go off forhelp. 

The British ships had had news brought them of the attack, and hadstarted at daybreak in full chase, and an hour afterwards all who couldclimbed to where we could catch sight of the sea, to find out themeaning of the firing that was going on. 

It was plain enough. A large three-masted lugger was in full flightwith the frigate after her, and sending shot after shot without effect, till one of them went home, cutting the lugger's principal mast in two, and her largest sail fell down like a broken wing, leaving the luggerhelpless on the surface. Then a boat was lowered, and we saw her goingat full speed, pulled as she was by a dashing man-o'-war crew, and wewatched anxiously to see if there was going to be a fresh fight. Butno; the man-o'-war long-boat pulled alongside and the men leaped aboardto send up the English colours directly, while the frigate went on infull chase of the French sloop, and we soon after saw that the luggerwas being steered towards the mouth of the Gap. 

But meantime the doctor had been busy with poor Bigley, who had beenlaid upon a soft bed of heather to form his couch while his wound wasexamined. 

"Why, you cowardly young scoundrel!" he cried cheerfully, "the bullet isembedded in the muscles of the calf of your leg, and it came in behind. You dog: you were running away. "

"So would you have run away, doctor, " I said warmly, "if half a dozenFrenchmen were after you and firing. "

"Never, sir!" cried the doctor fiercely, as he probed the wound; "anEnglishman never runs. There, I can feel it--that's the fellow. "

"Oh, doctor!" groaned poor Bigley. 

"Hurt?" said Doctor Chowne. "Ah, well! I suppose it does. And so you, an Englishman, ran away--eh?"

"English boy, " said Bigley grinding his teeth with pain, while I feltthe big drops gathering on my forehead, and was wroth with the doctorfor being so cool and brutal. 

"English boy!--eh?" he said. "Well, but boys are the stuff of which youmake young men. Ha, ha, ha! What do you think of that?"

"You're half-killing me, doctor!" groaned poor Bigley. 

"Not I, my lad. I've got the rascal; come out, sir! There you are--seethere! What do you think of that for a nasty piece of French lead to besticking in your leg? If I hadn't fished it out it would have beenthere making your leg swell and fester, and we should have had no end ofa game. "

As he spoke he held out the bullet he had extracted at the end of a longnarrow pair of forceps; and, as Bigley looked at it with failing eyes, he turned away with a shudder and whispered to me, as I supported hishead upon my arm:

"I'm glad Bob Chowne isn't here to see what a miserable coward I am, Sep. Don't tell him--there's a good chap!"

I was about to answer, but his eyes closed and he fainted dead away. 

"Poor lad!" said the doctor kindly. "Why, he was as brave as a lion. Italked nonsense to keep up his spirits and make him indignant while Ihurt him in that cruel way. Poor lad! Poor lad!"

"Doctor Chowne, " I cried with the tears in my eyes, "I felt just now asif I hated you!"

"Just you say that again!" he cried, laughing grimly. "You forget, youyoung dog, that I have you by the hip. You are my patient, and I haveas tight a hold of you as an old baron in the good old times had of hisprisoners. There! He is coming to, and I sha'n't have to hurt him anymore to-day. "

"Will he have to lose his leg, doctor?" I whispered. 

"What! Because of that hole? Pshaw, boy! The bullet is out, andnature has begun already to pour out her healing stuff to make it growtogether. I'll make him as sound as a roach before I have done. Now wemust see to getting our wounded under cover. I didn't think the Gapwould ever be turned into such a hospital as this. Why, Sep, it's quitea treat to get such a morning's practice in surgery. There! I'll goand wash my hands, and I must have some breakfast or I shall starve. "

Breakfast! Starve! At such a time as this! I looked at him in horror, and he read my thoughts and laughed. 

"Why, you young goose!" he exclaimed, "do you think I can afford to bemiserable and have the horrors because other people suffer? Not a bitof it. I'm obliged to be well and hearty and--unfeeling--eh? Ah, well, Sep! I'm not such an unfeeling brute as I seem; and I'd give fiftypounds now to be able to find those poor fellows breakfast and shelterat once. "

The doctor was able to supply his patients with refreshments without theexpenditure of fifty pounds, for Mother Bonnet had just come up toannounce that she had been back to the cottage to find it untouched, after going away in alarm when the Frenchmen landed, and she said thatshe had the fire lit and coffee and tea on the way for every one whowanted it. 

"Mother Bonnet, you're a queen!" cried the doctor; and then turning tome: "Rather strange that they should have spared the cottage and oldJonas's goods, eh, Sep? There's something behind all this. "

We were not long in finding out what was behind all this. I had my ownsuspicions without the doctor's, and they were soon confirmed by thecoming of the big three-masted lugger, which was brought close in by theman-o'-war's men, who landed with a lieutenant at their head, and cameup the Gap to see our condition. 

He was a bright, manly fellow, and my father and he became friends atonce, while he was quite humorous in his indignation. 

"The cowardly scoundrels!" he cried. "Oh, if we had only been here!How delighted my Jacks would have been to have a go at them!"

"Do you think so?" said my father smiling. 

"Think so, sir? Why, my boys have been half mad with disappointment. Poor fellows! Just about a dozen of you. Well, there's no mistakeabout your having made a brave defence, Captain Duncan. Not a manunhurt. Sir, I'm proud to know you. "

"My men behaved better than I did, sir, " said my father modestly. 

"Oh, of course, sir, " cried the lieutenant laughing; "but avast talking. What can we do for you? I'm here ashore with the lugger and prisonerstill my ship comes back, so what shall we do? You don't want doctoring, I see?"

"We want covering in first of all, sir, " said the doctor, pointing tothe unroofed shed. 

"Of course you do, " cried the lieutenant; "and all your men wounded. Here, heave ahead, my lads, and half of you run back to the lugger andbring up all the spare sails and spars you can get hold of. If thereare no spars bring the sweeps. "

"Ay, ay, sir, " cried the sailors; and half of them went off at thedouble back along the valley, while the others, under the command oftheir officer, set to work and shovelled and brushed out all the burntcharcoal and smouldering wood from the long shed, and then from thecounting-house, and after that they were busy at work cutting ling andheath with their cutlasses, when the men despatched to the lugger cameback loaded with sails and spars. 

At it they went, and in a very short time had rigged up a roof over theshed for our poor fellows, carried in a quantity of ling, and spreadover that more sail-cloth, making quite a comfortable bed with room fora dozen men, and ample space for the doctor to go between. 

Then, with the tenderness of women, the great bronzed fellows lifted thewounded men who could not walk, slipped under them a hammock, and one ateach corner carried them in and laid them down. 

"There you are, messmates, " said the biggest of the men; "now, then, aquid apiece for you to keep down the pain. Make ready: pockets, 'baccoboxes, " he shouted, and his comrades laughingly obeyed. 

"Thank you, my lads, thank you, " cried the doctor, going round andshaking hands with all in turn; "why, it would be a pleasure to have todo with such men as you. But there, you're safe and sound. "

"At present, sir, " said the big sailor; "but hark! They're at ityonder. "

We listened and sure enough there was the distant sound of heavy firingcoming from the west. 

"And we not in it, mates, " said the big sailor dolefully. 

The wounded being cared for and the miners' wives beginning to comeback, we left them in the doctor's charge, and, in response to thelieutenant's invitation, went back with him to the lugger. 

"I'll send your fellows up all I can, " he said, "but you two come to thelugger cabin, and I think I can scrape you up a bit of a meal. "

We were ready enough to go for many reasons, one of them beingcuriosity; and having shaken hands with Bigley, and asked my father todo the same, for the poor fellow was very miserable and despondent, awaywe went. 

"The rascals!" said the lieutenant, "they've got all your silver then?How much was it worth?"

"Nearly two thousand five hundred pounds' worth, " said my father. 

"What a haul!" exclaimed the lieutenant, "and so compact and handy. Never mind, captain, hark at our guns talking to them. They'll have todisgorge. But, I say, some one must have told them where to come. "

"I'm afraid so, " said my father. 

"Who was likely to know?--this smuggling rascal that we have got in theFrench lugger?"

"Who is he? An Englishman?"

"No, sir, a Frenchman who speaks English pretty well. The officer onthe revenue cutter knows him. A Captain Gualtiere, I believe. "

"Oh!" I exclaimed. 

"You know him then?" said the officer sharply. 

"Yes, " said my father; "he picked up my son and two companions one dayafter their boat had been blown out to sea. "

"He seems to have picked up something else beside, sir, " cried theofficer--"knowledge of where you kept your silver. And you may dependupon it his lugger has been playing leader to the French sloop, andshowed the captain where to land. Two thousand five hundred pounds inbars of silver! We must have that back. "

"I'm afraid you are not quite right, sir, " said my father sadly. "Ithink we shall find that the betrayal of my place was due to a smugglerwho used to live in yonder cottage, information respecting whose cargolanding I was compelled, as a king's officer, to give to the commanderof the cutter. It has been an old sore, and it has doubtless rankled. "

"Oh, father!" I said sadly, "do you think this really is so?"

"Yes, Sep, " he replied, "and so do you; but don't be alarmed, I shallnot visit it upon his son. The poor lad thinks the same, I am sure, andhe is half broken-hearted about it. " We reached the beach soon after, where a couple of Jacks were in charge of the boat, and soon after wewere pulled alongside of the lugger, to find that the men left on board, in charge of a midshipman of about my own age, had been busy repairingdamages, _fishing_, as they called it, the broken spar, while thelugger's crew sat forward smoking and looking on, in company with theirskipper, who rose smiling, and saluted. 

"Aha! Le Capitaine Dooncaine, " he cried; "and m'sieu hees sone. Isalute you both. "

"Salute me?" cried my father angrily. "After this night's work?"

"This night's work, mon capitaine?" he said lightly. "Vy node. I amprisonaire; so is my sheep, and my brave boys. But it ees ze fortune ofvar. "

"Yes; the fortune of war, " said my father bitterly. 

"I do node gomplaine myself. You Angleesh are a grand nation; ve are agrand nation. Ve are fighting now. If ze sloop sail vin she vill comefor me. If she lose ze capitaine vill be prisonaire, and behold encoreze fortune of war. "

"Sir, " said my father, "it is the act of pirates to descend upon a setof peaceful people as your countrymen did last night, thanks to yourplaying spy. "

"Spy? Espion? Monsieur insults a French gentleman. I am no spy. "

"Was it not the work of a spy to bring that French sloop here to ravagemy place and steal the ore that had been smelted down?"

"True, saire, it vas bad; but ze espion was your own countrymen, saire. Ze Capitaine Gualtiere does no do such not you calls dirty vorks aszat. "

"Jonas Uggleston! It was he, then?" cried my father. "I felt sure ofit; but I believed you to have had a hand in it, Captain Gualtiere. "

"A hand in him, sair. Ze Capitaine Ugglee-stone ask me to join him, itthere is months ago, sair; but I am a smugglaire, and a shentilhomme, node a pirate. "

"Captain Gualtiere, " said my father, "you once saved my boy's life, andI have insulted you--a prisoner. Sir, I beg your pardon. "

My father took off his hat, and before he realised what was about totake place, the Frenchman had thrown his lithe arms about him and kissedhis cheek. 

"Sair, " he exclaimed with emotion, "I am a prisonaire, but I look uponze Capitaine Dooncaine as a friend. "

They then shook hands, and my father coloured up as he saw the officerof the frigate look on as if amused. 

"Monsieur, " said Captain Gualtiere; "I am no longer the maitre here; butyou vill entaire my cabine, and I pray you to take dejeuner--zebreakezefast vis me. "

The result was that we had a surprisingly good meal, and very refreshingit proved, though I was in terrible pain all the time, and kept onwondering whether I ought to eat and drink. 

The lieutenant from the frigate kept getting up and going on deck tolisten to the firing, which was very heavy in the distance, thoughnothing could be seen, and he exclaimed once against the great headland, the Ram's Nose, which shut off the view. 

"It's so hard, " he said; "here have I been longing for an engagement, and the first one that turns up I am away from my ship, and cannot evensee the fun. "

I saw my father, who was wincing with pain, smile at the lieutenant'sidea of fun. 

"Why, you are safer here, " he said. 

"Safer!" exclaimed the lieutenant contemptuously. "Now, Captain Duncan, would you have liked it when you were on active service?"

"That I certainly should not, sir. "

"Ah, well, " said the lieutenant, "I suppose I must be contented with ourlittle prize here. This Gualtiere has long been wanted. A mostsuccessful smuggler, sir. "

The conversation was ceasing to interest me, so I went on deck, when themiddy came up to me directly from where he was standing listening to thefiring. 

I looked at him with the eyes of admiration, for his uniform, dirk, andpistols gave him a warlike aspect, and besides he was in temporarycommand of the sturdy Jacks who were overawing the smuggler's men. 

"Won't you sit down?" he said, turning up a little keg. 

I sank upon the seat with a sigh, for I felt weak. 

"Ah! You are a lucky fellow, " he said. 

"Why?" I asked. 

"Why? To be in a fight last night and get wounded. "

"Oh!" I exclaimed laughing. 

"Ah, you may laugh!" he said. "I call it first rate. You're only alandsman, and get all that luck. It's of no use to you. Why, if it hadbeen me, of course I am too young for promotion, but it would have beenremembered by and by. I say, tell us all about it. "

I told him, and to my surprise I found before long that all the sailorswere listening intently. 

"Ah!" exclaimed the middy as I finished; "don't I wish we had all beenthere. "

"And don't I wish you had all been there!" I said dolefully; "our placeis regularly wrecked. "

"Never mind, " cried the middy, shaking my hand. "They ar'n't gettingmuch by it. Hark! How our old girl is pounding away at 'em. I'll bebound to say that the spars and planks are flying, and--oh, don't I wishI were there!"

CHAPTER FORTY THREE. 

BIGLEY FEELS HIS POSITION. 

During the day, after leaving an adequate guard over the prisoners inthe lugger, the lieutenant came up the Gap twice, and worked hard withhis men to get our poor work-people in a more comfortable state, thoughnow plenty of the Ripplemouth folk had been over, and help andnecessaries were freely lent, so that the night was made fairlycomfortable for the wounded and their families. We slept in the ruinsof the counting-house, whose roof was open to the sky, for my father hadnot the heart to go home and rest there; and when he sent Bigley over, and I felt that I should like to go and keep the poor fellow company, I, too, had not the heart to go and leave my father alone. 

The next morning the lieutenant came to fetch us to breakfast on boardthe lugger; but we made a very poor meal, our injuries being morepainful, and I felt weak and ill; but there was so much to see and hearthat I kept forgetting my sufferings in the interest of the time. 

There were our men to go and see, and sit and talk to where they weretoo poorly to get up. There was Mother Bonnet to speak to when shestarted for the Bay to attend on Bigley; and I had her to see again whenshe came back, all ruffled and indignant, after a verbal engagement withour Kicksey, who would not let the old woman interfere, because shewanted to nurse Bigley herself. 

Then towards afternoon, when the lieutenant had nearly gone mad withsuspense about the frigate and at being bound to stop there with thelugger, according to his orders, news came by a fishing boat, that therehad been a desperate engagement, and the frigate had been sunk. 

But on the top of that came news by a man who was riding over fromStinchcombe, that it was the French vessel that had been sunk. 

This stopped the lieutenant just as he was putting off in the lugger, and soon after a fresh news-bearer came in the shape of anotherfisherman, who announced that the Frenchman was taken. 

There was a regular cheer at this, and I saw Captain Gualtiere's browknit; but he passed it off, and sat with the officer straining his eyesto the west in search of the prize to our flag. 

It was no wonder that he looked as triumphant as our people seemedchap-fallen when towards evening the frigate appeared alone, with everystitch of canvas that she could show spread to the western breeze, butthe spy-glasses showed that she was in anything but good trim, for hermain-mast was gone by the board, only a short stump rising above thedeck, and as she came nearer, her shattered bulwarks told of a desperatefight. 

There was a signal of recall flying; and at this the lieutenant shookhands warmly, and with the middy bade us good-bye, setting sail directlyafter with the prisoners in their own vessel, and towing the frigate'sboat behind. 

We learned afterwards that there had been a most desperate engagement, far away to the west, and that the Frenchman was becoming hopelesslybeaten with half her guns silenced, and that she was on the point ofstriking her colours, when a lucky shot from one of her big guns cutthrough the frigate's main-mast, and it toppled over into the sea, whereupon the French sloop made her escape, sinking the cutter whichbravely tried to check her, and carrying off her crew as prisoners. 

We only obtained this information in driblets; but one thing wascertain, the French sloop had got right away, and my father frowned ashe thought of his lost silver. 

He bore up famously for a few days, working hard, in spite of DoctorChowne's orders, in trying to make his wounded work-people comfortable, and then when by the doctor's orders I was lying at home on a sofa inthe same room as Bigley, my poor father broke down and took to his bed. 

"I'm not surprised, " Doctor Chowne said to me shaking his head. "You'reall a set of the most obstinate mules that ever kicked. I should havehad you all well by now, only young Bigley there would walk on hiscrippled leg and irritate it; you would keep rolling and dancing aboutand keeping your ribs from mending; and your father has gone on walkingabout just as if nothing was the matter, when all the time he ought tohave been in bed. "

"But a little rest will soon set him right, will it not, doctor?" Isaid anxiously. 

"A little rest? He'll be obliged to take a great deal now, and I'm gladof it. Hang him: I'll bring him in a bill by and by!"

The doctor was quite right; we had all been very disobedient, andsuffered for it; but in spite of the pain, and fever, and weakness, thatwas a very pleasant time. How we used to lie there listening to thebirds! Sometimes it was the blackbirds piping softly in the garden. Then from high up over the hill we could faintly hear the skylarksinging away, and then perhaps mingling with it would come the wildquerulous _pee-ew_! _pee-ew_! Of the grey and white gulls, as inimagination we saw them gliding here and there about the cliffs. 

But there was war in our cottage at the Bay--desperate war. MotherBonnet coming every morning with fish and cream and chickens and fruitfor her boy, as she called Bigley; and our Kicksey snorting andindignant at the intrusion, and telling old Sam that it was just as ifmaster was too poor to pay for things. 

Then by degrees my father grew well enough to sit out in the littlebattery by his guns, and breathe the soft sea-breezes that came in fromthe west; and here he used to receive our foreman, who came over everymorning to report how much lead had been smelted and cast, and how themine was growing more productive. 

For as fast as the men grew well enough, they returned to their duties. The cottages were restored as quickly as was possible, and every day thetraces of the French attack grew less visible; but still my father didnot get quite well. 

Bob Chowne was over with us a great deal, and I believe he did bothBigley and me a vast deal of good from being so cantankerous. He woulddo anything for us; fetch, carry, or turn himself into a crutch forBigley to lean upon, as he hopped down the garden to a chair; but hemust be allowed to snarl and find fault, and snarl he did horribly. 

One day when I was beginning to feel quite strong again, and I was ableto take a long breath once more without feeling sharp prickingsensations, and afterwards a long dull aching pain, I went down thegarden to find Bigley standing before my father with his head bent andlistening patiently to what seemed to be a scolding. 

"I've told you before, my lad. Ah, Sep, you there?"

"Yes, father, " I said. "I beg your pardon. I did not know. "

"There, stop, " cried my father. "It is nothing that you may not hear. Bigley Uggleston is talking again about going, and I am bullying him forit. "

"I can't help it, Captain Duncan, " cried poor Bigley passionately. "Iwant to be frank and honest; and it always seems dreadful to me that, after what has taken place and your terrible losses, I should be stayinghere and receiving favours at your hands. "

"Now, my good lad, listen to me, " said my father. "Do you think that Iam so wanting in gentlemanly feeling that I should wish to visit the sinof another upon your head?"

"No, sir; but I am in such a strange position. "

"You are, my lad; but you see your father has always had the worthyambition to give his son a good education, and make him something betterthan he has been himself. "

"Yes, sir, but--"

"Hear me out, Bigley. It has been my misfortune twice over to give himdeadly offence, and the last time he visited it upon me by givinginformation to the French, which led to, as you call it, my seriouslosses. "

"Yes, sir, " cried Bigley, "and I am miserable. I feel as if I could notlook you in the face. "

"Why not?" said my father kindly. "Yours is a good, frank, honest face, my lad, and you have always been my boy's companion and friend. Come, come, no more of this nonsense. I have right on my side, and some dayyour father will awaken to the fact that the information I gave wasgiven in the way of duty, and have a better opinion of me. As to you--"

"I must go, sir--I must go, " cried Bigley, "I cannot stay here anylonger. "

"No, you must not go, " said my father firmly. "It is evidently yourfather's wish that you should stay, or he would say so when he sends youmoney so regularly. There, come, we'll say that he has done me a greatdeal of injury, and caused me a very heavy loss. "

"Yes, sir, that is always on my mind. "

"And that kept you from getting better, my lad. So now I'm going tomake a bargain with you. Get quite strong again, as I hope to be myselfbefore long, and come and help us at the mine to recover the lost groundagain. "

"May I?" cried Bigley eagerly. 

"Of course, " said my father; and as I saw quite a cloud disappear frompoor Bigley's countenance, I tossed up my cap and cried, "Hurrah!"

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. 

BIGLEY MAKES A DISCOVERY. 

The time glided on and the war did not trouble us, for we were too busyin the Gap, where everything had been restored and even improved, and myfather was fighting bravely to recover from the terrible loss the Frenchdescent had caused to the property, for the rebuilding of cottages andrepairs of machinery, after the store of silver had been taken, left himvery much impoverished; but, as he used to say, it was only a questionof time to get right. 

Bigley worked regularly with me, living at the smuggler's cottage withMother Bonnet for his housekeeper; and he used to hear regularly fromhis father, who expressed no intention of ever returning, merely sayingthat he was glad that his son was doing so well, and quite accepting theposition. He used to send money, but now Bigley had ceased to use it, for he received a regular payment from my father, and this other moneyused to be sent to a bank. 

The mine was fairly productive, but I knew that my father had beencompelled to borrow a good deal, and this preyed upon his mind so muchthat one day he said to me:

"Sep, I think I shall be obliged to sell the Gap, with the mine and allit holds. I don't like this life of debt, and the prospect of years oftoil before I can clear it off. "

"But it would be such a pity, father, " I exclaimed. 

"It would, my boy, but I am not so sanguine as I was. That terriblenight shook me a great deal, and if it were not for the thought of you Ishould give up at once. "

He repeated this to me two or three times, and it made a very unpleasantimpression that troubled me a very great deal. 

Bob Chowne, who was shortly going up to London to study at one of thehospitals, came over one evening, and we all three, as in the old days, had tea at the smuggler's cottage, Mother Bonnet beaming upon us, andnever looking so pleased as when we wanted more of one of her home-madeloaves. 

Then after tea we decided, as the sea was so calm, to have a few hours'fishing, and taking the boat we rowed out as far as the Goat and Kids, the grapnel was thrown out, and we began to fish. 

It was a glorious evening, and we took rock-whiting, pout, and smallconger at such a rate that I cried, "Hold, enough!"

"No, no, keep on, " said Bob Chowne. "Let's see how many we can catch. "

"It will be a good feast for the work-people, " said Bigley, as Ihesitated; and knowing how glad they all were of a bit of fish I turnedto again, throwing in my baited hooks, and hauling in the fine fellowsevery minute or two. 

But at last the darkness forbade further work, so the lines werereeled-up, the fish counted over into the two baskets, and Bigleyproceeded to haul up the grapnel. 

The intention was good, but the grapnel refused to be hauled up. Theboat's bows were dragged right over it, and Bigley stood up and tuggedtill the boat was perceptibly pulled down, but not an inch would thegrapnel budge. 

"It has got between a couple of rocks, I suppose, " said Bigley. 

"Here, stand aside!" cried Bob Chowne, "let the doctor come. "

He caught hold of the stout line, stood in Bigley's place, and hauledtill his wrists ached. 

"Here, come and pull, Sep, " he cried; and I joined him and hauled, butin vain. 

Then we changed the position of the boat, and dragged and jerked in onedirection and then in another. Every way we could think of did we try, but could not stir the anchor, and as we were giving up in despair Bobsaid:

"I know; some big sea-monster has swallowed the hook and he won't move. Here, let's get ashore. "

"But we must not lose a new grapnel, " cried Bigley. "Here, I know whatwe'll do. "

He hastily unfastened the rope from the ring-bolt in the bows, andsecured it to the boat-hook by a hitch or two, and then cast itoverboard. 

"There!" he said; "that will buoy it, and I'll come out to-morrow andget it up somehow. "

Then taking the oars he rowed us ashore, where a couple of the mine menwere smoking their pipes and shining like glowworms as they waited tosee what sport we had had. 

The news spread respecting our exceptionally good fortune; and as soonas the two men had helped to haul the boat right up beyond the reach ofthe tide, as the grapnel was gone, they ran up to the miners' villageand came trooping back with the rest, armed with baskets, dishes, and insome cases only bare-handed, to receive their portions of our big haul. 

They gave us a cheer, and soon afterwards we parted, Bob Chowne to sleepat the smuggler's cottage, while I went back to the Bay. 

I woke at daylight next morning, and not feeling disposed to sleep, Idressed and started off for the Gap to rouse up Bigley and Bob andpropose a bathe; but as I came in sight of the Gap mouth I found Bigleyalready astir and just going down to the boat. 

I shouted and ran down to him waving my towel, to which he answered bywaving another, showing that he had risen with a similar idea to my own. 

"I thought I would have a bathe, and do some business too, " he said; andthen, in answer to my inquiring look, "Try and get up the grapnel, " headded. 

"Oh!" I exclaimed; "but why didn't you rouse up Bob?"

"Rouse up Bob!" he said gruffly. "Go and try and rouse up that block ofstone!"

"What! Have you tried?" I said. 

"Tried! I've shaken him, and punched him, and done everything I couldbut drenched him, and that would be a pity. He don't want to get up; solet him lie. Here, help me run the boat down. "

I laid hold of one side, we balanced her on an even keel, and as it wasdown a steep slope we soon ran her into the water, jumped aboard, andbegan paddling out down the narrow part that formed the bed of the riveron the seaward side of the pebble ridge. 

The tide was very low, the sun up bright and high, and the water soclear that there was every rock below us so close that it seemed as ifwe could not go over some of them without touching. 

"We'll row out to the buoyed grapnel, " said Bigley; "make fast, andwhile you have your bathe I shall dive down, follow the rope, and see ifI can find out how the grapnel has got fast. "

"If you can, " I said. 

"Well, I'm going to try, " replied Bigley. "I don't suppose it's abovethree fathoms deep. "

"You can't dive down three fathoms?" I said. 

"Can't I?" replied Bigley laughing. "I'm going to show you. Lookhere!"

He pointed to a big long stone in the bows of the boat weighing sometwenty-pounds. To this a thin line was attached, and I saw his meaningat once. 

"Yes, " I said, "that will do it, only don't forget to let go. "

"No fear, " he replied; and we paddled on, with the beautiful view of thecliffs opening out as we rowed farther from the shore. 

We had nearly a quarter of a mile to go before we struck against thefloating boat-hook close to the now exposed rocks, when Bigley threw inhis oar, hoisted the rough buoy aboard, unhitched the rope, ran itthrough the ring-bolt, and hauled on till he had the boat's stem rightover the grapnel, which still refused to come; so we made fast. 

Bigley then began to undress rapidly, while I proceeded to work moreslowly, being curious to watch what he was doing. 

I had not long to wait, for after making fast one end of the thin lineto the thwart of the boat he poised the stone on the gunwale, leaped in, and then putting his left arm round the grapnel rope he got well hold ofthe stone, and drew it over to descend with it rapidly to the bottom. 

I crept to the bows and looked over to see his white body far below inthe clear water, and then he came up again to rub his eyes, pant, andhold on by the side of the boat. 

"Why, what's the matter?" I said; "seen a shark?"

"No, " he cried, "but I've seen something else. Here, haul up thestone. "

"Bother the stone!" I exclaimed, "I came to bathe. "

"Haul it up quickly, " he said; and I obeyed, and afterwards lifted it onto the gunwale. 

He seemed very excited, but he would not speak about what he had seen, only beg me to do what he told me, which was to untie the line from thestone and then make a running noose and put it loosely round. 

I did all this, wondering at his mysterious way, but only expecting thatit was to fasten round the grapnel so as to pull in a fresh direction. 

As soon as I had done he took hold of the loop that was round the stone, drew a long breath, and asked me to lift it over into the water. 

This I did, and he went down head-first, while I again watched him belowamong the waving weeds all indistinct in the troubled sea. 

He was down for a full minute as I crouched there with my head over theside. He seemed to be so long that I began to grow alarmed lest he hadbecome entangled, and I was about to haul up the line attached to thestone. I looked down anxiously with my face closer to the surface, butonly to make him out in a bleared indistinct manner, and then he shot uplike a line of light and swam to the side and held on. 

"Thought I shouldn't be able to do it, " he said; "but I've got the lineround. "

"Well, what next?" I said. "But I say, is a grapnel worth all thistrouble?"

"A grapnel?" he said with a peculiar smile. 

"Yes. "

"Wait a minute till I am in the boat. "

He climbed in, and came to my side. 

"Now, " he said; "haul up steadily. I think she'll come. "

I tightened the line, and for a moment or two there was a deadresistance. Then something heavy began to stir, and I hauled awaysteadily, hand over hand. 

"I've got it, " I said as I gazed down. "It was right in amongst somestrong weed. Here it comes. "

I pulled away till I had nearly got it to the top, and then Bigley cameto my help, reached over, and the object I was dragging up bumpedagainst the boat, slipped out of the noose, and went down rapidly justlike a mass of stone. 

"What did you fasten the line to that for?" I said. 

"What did I do it for, Sep?" he panted. "Didn't you see what it was?"

"No, " I said bluntly. 

"What did it look like?"

"Box covered with sea-weed, " I replied. 

"Well, don't you see now?"

"No, " I replied. 

"Why, Sep, how dull you are this morning!" he cried. "Didn't you seethat you had hold of one of your father's silver chests?"

"_One of my father's what_?" I roared. 

"One of the silver chests. Sep, it was over these rocks, against thatone, I suppose, " he cried, pointing to a huge block just below thesurface, and a favourite haunt of conger, "that the Frenchman's boatcapsized. "

"What, the one with the silver?" I cried. 

"Yes, and I believe all the chests are at the bottom there. "

"And they were coming back to try for them when the frigate came insight!" I shouted. 

"Yes, yes, yes. "

"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" I cried, leaping up in the boat, and wavingmy arms about like an idiot. "Why, Bigley, it will set father free ofall his troubles. Here, I'm half mad. What shall we do? Hold hard amoment: I'm going down to see. "

I had only my breeches on, and tearing these off, I stepped on to thegunwale, leaped up, turned over, and dived down into the clear coldwater, trying with all my might to reach the bottom, but only describinga curve, and coming up again about twenty feet from the boat. 

I swam back to have another try, but Bigley stopped me as I was about todive off. 

"No, no, " he said; "it's of no use. You can't get down there without akillick or some other weight. "

"But I'm not sure it is the silver, " I cried in a despairing tone. 

"But I am, " he said. "The boxes are lying all about. They look likestones if you stare down, because they are all amongst the weed; butwhen I got down to feel for the grapnel I was right upon them. It's inamongst them somehow. That was why I came up again and tried to fastenthe line round one. "

"But are you quite sure, Big?" I said, trembling with eagerness. 

"Quite sure, " he said. "There can't be any mistake about it. TheFrenchman's boat ran on the rock and capsized, and all the chests musthave gone to the bottom like a shot. "

"And my poor father suffering all that worry, when here lay all hissilver at the bottom, close to the shore. Here, what shall we do, Bigley? We must stop and watch it, for fear anybody else should comeand find it. "

"No fear of that, " he said, drawing the rope once more through thering-bolt, and then securing the boat-hook to the end, and throwing itoverboard to act as a buoy. "Here, let's dress and go and tell him. "

"Yes, yes, " I cried, trembling with eagerness, and hurrying on myclothes, as he did his, we rowed ashore, and after hauling the boat backto its safe place, climbed up the slope, and prepared to walk to theBay. 

"Big, " I said; "I'm afraid to leave it. Suppose while we are gonesomeone goes and takes it all away. "

"Ah! Suppose they do, " he said. "But it isn't such an easy task. Nobody knows of it but us, Sep, and we can keep the secret. "

"You are right, " I said. "Come along, and let's make haste and tellhim. "

We strode along the cliff path that morning faster, I think, than we hadever gone before, and when we came in sight of our place I was going torush in and tell my father, but something struck me that it would beonly fair to let Bigley go, as he had made the discovery, so I told himto go first. 

He would not, though, and we went up to the cottage together, to findKicksey kicking up a dust in the parlour with a broom. 

"Is father up yet?" I cried. 

"Yes, my dear, hours ago, and half-way to Barnstaple before now. "

"What!" I cried. 

"He's going to London, my dear, and here's a letter that Sam was tobring over to you if you didn't come back to breakfast. "

I tore open the letter and read it in a few moments. 

It was very brief, and merely told me that he had had a letter the pastnight making so stern a demand upon him for money that he had decided togo up to London at once and sell the mine. 

"Big, " I said dolefully; "we've come too late. What shall we do?"

I gave him the letter to read, and he wrinkled up his brow. 

"Go after him and catch him, " he cried. 

"Yes; but how?"

"I don't know, " he panted; "let's try. "

"But the silver?"

"Is locked up safely where we found it, lad, " he cried. "It is asecret. Come on. "

"But how, Big? He is riding. "

"Then we must walk. A man can walk down a horse. Now, let's see if itcan't be done by boys. "

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. 

TRYING AN IMPOSSIBILITY. 

We two set out to perform an impossibility: for though, startingtogether on a long journey, a good steady walker might tire out a horsecarrying a man, and in a fortnight's work, before we had got half-way toBarnstaple, I knew that my father would have arranged to catch thecoach, and I remembered that the coach would change horses every ten ortwelve miles; and as all this forced itself into my mind, I sat down ona stone by the road-side. 

"Tired?" said Bigley, wiping the perspiration from his face. 

"No, not yet; but I've been thinking, and my thoughts get heavier everymoment, " I replied. 

"What do you mean?" cried Bigley. 

"That we cannot do this, " I said; "and we should be doing something farmore sensible if we go back home, and write a letter to my father. Why, it would get to him days before we could. "

Bigley took off his cap and rubbed his ear. 

"I'm afraid you are right, " he said; "but I don't like to go back. "

"Then let's go on to Barnstaple, and write to him from there. "

"To be sure!" cried Bigley, jumping at the compromise. "Come along. "

"No, I said; it will not do. I've left his letter behind, and I don'tknow where to write. "

"Oh, Sep!" cried Bigley reproachfully. "Then, we must go back. "

We stood looking at each other just as we had made a fresh start, andthe weariness we were beginning to feel brought with it a strangelow-spirited sensation that was depressing in the extreme. 

"Come along, " I said. "Let's get back, or we shall lose another daybefore we can get off a letter. "

"Wait a minute, " said Bigley; "there's the half-way house not a quarterof a mile away. We'll go on there and have some bread and cheese andcider, then we shall be able to walk back more quickly. "

It did not take us long to reach the pretty little road-side ale-house, where the first thing I saw was the doctor's pony tied up to the gate bythe rough stable or shed. 

"Some one ill?" I said. "Shall we tell Doctor Chowne what we weregoing to do?"

I had hardly spoken these words when my father appeared at the door. 

"Why, Sep, Uggleston!" he exclaimed; "you here?"

"Why, father!" I cried, catching him by the arm. "I thought you hadgone. "

"The pony broke down, my boy, " said my father, "and I have had to bringhim back here--walking all the way; and I was undecided as to whether Ishould pay someone to take him home, or lead him myself, and make afresh start to-morrow. "

"Come back, " I said with a look full of delight. "He ought to comeback, eh, Big?"

Bigley nodded and smiled, and then I eagerly told him all. 

"It was Bigley's doing, father, " I exclaimed. "He found it out. "

"My lad, " said my father huskily, "you have saved me, for I could onlyhave sold my property at a terrible loss. "

"And you will come back with us, father, " I said. 

"Come back, my boy? Of course. Why, Bigley, my lad, you have alwayslooked at me as if I felt a grudge against you for being your father'sson; now, my boy, I shall always have to look at you as a benefactor, who has saved me from ruin. "

Bigley tried to say something about that dreadful night, and the attackon the mine premises, but my father stopped him. 

"Never mind about all that, " he said; "let's get back and see if you areright, and that it is not a solitary chest which the Frenchmen have leftus. "

"No fear of that, sir, " cried Bigley. "I was down long enough to seethat there was quite a lot of them. "

"Or of pieces of rock, " said my father smiling. "I'm older than youare, my lad, and not so sanguine. "

"But I feel so sure, sir, " cried Bigley. 

"That's right, my lad. I'm glad you do; but you have seen them, I havenot. "

"But Sep saw them too. "

"I saw the box we hauled up, " I said; "but I could not be sure aboutwhat was at the bottom amongst the rocks and weeds. "

Bigley looked so disappointed that my father smiled. 

"Come, " he cried; "you think I am ungrateful, and throwing cold waterupon your discovery, when there is plenty over it as it is. So come, let us assume that the treasure is there, and begin to make our plansabout how to recover it. "

At the last moment we had been obliged to leave the pony at the littleinn, and we were walking steadily back as this conversation went on. 

"Well, sir, it will be very easy, " said Bigley eagerly. 

"Not so easy, " said my father. "We shall want a couple of men who candive. "

"Oh no, you will not, sir, " replied Bigley. "I have thought it all out. All we shall want will be a clear day with the sea smooth. "

"Yes, highly necessary, Bigley, " said my father. 

"Then we should want a very long smooth pole, and if we could not getone long enough two poles would have to be fished together. "

"And then you'd fish for the boxes?" I said. 

"No, " said Bigley seriously; "you would have to sink the pole just downto where the chests lie, and rig up a block at the top, run a ropethrough it, hold one end of the rope in the boat to which the pole ismade fast, and at the other end have a thick strong bag made of net. "

"Well, what then?" said my father. 

"Why, then you would put a big pig of lead in the bag, let me take holdof the bag, let the rope run slack, and I should go down to the bottomin an instant. Then I should lift a box into the net-bag and come up, leaving it there for you in the boat to haul it up. "

"Yes, that sounds very simple, " said my father; "but could you do it?"

"Could I do it!" cried Bigley. "Why, sir, we did get one up to the topwithout any proper things. I can dive. "

"Yes, he can dive, father, " I said eagerly. "You need not be afraidabout that. "

My father looked at us both, and grew very silent, as we trudged on, toreach the cottage at last utterly tired; and though Bigley proposed thatwe should go on and see whether the buoy we had left was all right, myfather said that it might very well wait till morning, and Bigley stayedfor the night. 

"I thought your father would have been ever so much more eager andexcited about it, " said Bigley, speaking to me from the inner room wherehe slept, the door having been left open. 

"He is excited, " I said in a low voice, for across the passage I couldhear him walking up and down in his own room; and that kept on till Idropped off asleep, and dreamed that the French had landed with fourlarge boats and a great pole which they lowered down into the sea. Thenthey seemed to have got me fastened to the rope that ran through thewheel-block at the head, and they had fastened a pig of lead on to mychest, which pressed upon me as they hauled me up out of the boat, andthen let go. 

It was all wonderfully real. I felt myself suspended over the water, which looked black as ink instead of lit up by the sun as it was whenBigley went down. And as I hung there, the oppression from the pig oflead was terrible, and it seemed to please Captain Gualtiere, who wasthere in a boat opposite, giving orders and laughing at my struggles toescape. "Now, " I heard him say in his Frenchy English, "cease to holdze ropes, and laissez let him go. "

Then there was a dull splash, and with the weight always upon me Iseemed to part the waters and go down, down, down, into the deep blackdepths, which appeared to have no bottom. There was a growing sensationof suffocation; my boots hurt my feet, and the blister I had made uponmy heel smarted, and all at once the pony, as it stood at the half-wayhouse door, kicked out at me, just as I was beginning to suffocate; andthis broke the rope, and I shot up to the surface. 

In other words, I started up awake, to find that I had been lying on myback, that I was bathed in perspiration, and that my father was stillwalking up and down his bed-room. 

"What stuff to go and dream!" I said to myself, as I felt very muchrelieved. "That comes of eating cold beef and pickled cucumber forsupper. "

I turned upon my side to settle myself off to sleep again; but I couldnot doze off; and do what I would, the thought of being sent down intothe black water with a pig of our lead upon my chest, and the pony downbelow ready to kick out at me kept haunting my mind, while across thepassage there was my father still keeping up the regular tramp. 

Just then the clock at the bottom of the stairs began to strike, and Ithought that it must be a dark morning and about four, but to myastonishment it struck eleven, and I felt sure that it must be wrong. 

And all this while there was the restless pace up and down my father'sroom, making the jug in the basin rattle faintly, and after turning overthree or four times I made up my mind that it was impossible to sleep, so I would dress, and then go and wake Bigley and sit and talk. 

I had just made up my mind to this, as it seemed to me, when Bigleystood in the doorway and said:

"Now, Sep, old fellow, wake up. "

I started up in bed and stared, for the room was flooded with sunshine, and I knew that I must have been sound asleep, while from across thepassage came the regular pace of my father walking up and down, and thejug clattered in the basin. 

"Has he been walking up and down all night?" I said sleepily. 

"Oh, no!" said Bigley. "I have only just called him, and heard him getup. But make haste. It's a splendid morning, and the sea's likeglass. "

"And the skin's all off my heel, " I said; "and it's as sore as sore, andso is one of my toes. "

"Sep!" shouted my father just then; "make haste down, and tell Ellenthat we want the breakfast as early as possible. "

"Yes, father, " I said; but at the same moment Kicksey's voice came upthe stairs as she heard what he said, and it was to announce thatbreakfast would be ready in ten minutes' time. 

CHAPTER FORTY SIX. 

TREASURES FROM THE DEEP. 

It was a glorious morning. There had been no wind for nearly threeweeks beyond pleasant summer breezes, and the water was as clear ascrystal, which is not so very often the case on our shore. 

My father had soon completed his preparations, there being a fine larchin the woody part of the Gap; and this was soon felled, stripped, andcleared of branch and bark. Bigley soon found a suitable rope and blockin his father's store, and a couple of boats were got ready, with asuitable bag of rough canvas, in which several holes were cut out so asto allow the water to pass readily through. 

All this was got ready in a couple of hours, three pigs of lead wereplaced in the boat, in case one would be lost, and with the foreman tohelp, and a couple of men to pull, we set off from the beach with nolookers-on, and in a short time we were fast to the line that marked thespot where the boxes were supposed to lie. 

Bigley gave vent to a sigh of satisfaction, for he had been in aterrible fidget, telling me over and over again that he was sure theboat-hook which served as a buoy had been washed away, and totallyforgetting that the cluster of rocks known as the Goat and Kids were sofamiliar to the fishermen about that the spot could easily have beenfound again. 

However there we were. The line was hauled tightly in over the bows ofour boat, the pole thrust down straight to the bottom, but only to keeprising up until one of the pigs of lead was lashed on to the thick end, when it consented to stay. The block with its wheel had already beensecured in its place, and the rest of the gear being ready nothingremained but to make the first descent, and for which Bigley was eager. 

"I scarcely like to send you down, Bigley, " said my father just at thelast. "I hardly feel justified in doing so. "

"Why not, sir?" cried Bigley. "It's only like diving for fun. "

"But if anything happened?"

"Why, nothing can happen, sir. It's as easy as can be. "

"One moment, " said my father; "let's see how the tackle works. "

He gave the word, the men slackened the rope, and the bag with the pigof lead in it went down with a splash and sank rapidly to the bottom, where it was allowed to stay for a few minutes and then hauled up. 

"There, sir, that goes right enough, only when it went down it wouldhave taken me with it, and when it came up it would have brought thefirst chest of silver. "

"If you have not been mistaken, " said my father drily. "Well, sir, weshall see, " said Bigley colouring; and standing up in the boat he made aspring and dived off, curving down and rising again like a seal beforeswimming back to the side with a mastery over the water that I nevercould approach, though there was a time when I could swim and divepretty well. 

"Now, then, " cried Bigley, taking hold of the bag without waiting forfarther orders, "let the rope run quite clear, and don't haul till Icome up and tell you. "

"Do you feel sure that you can do it, my lad?" cried my father eagerly. "Oh yes, sir!"

"Then, mind, if there is any difficulty you will give up at once. "

"I will not do it, Captain Duncan, if I cannot, " said Bigley laughing. "Now, then, off!"

The bag, which with the lead inside had been resting on the gunwale, waslowered into the water; Bigley seized it, and in an instant over heturned to go down head-first, with the line running rapidly through theblock, and then all at once growing slack. 

My father and the foreman held the end, but like the rest they leanedover the side of the boat to watch the movements of the white figurethey could indistinctly see far below, for the water was of coursedisturbed, and our movements in the boats kept up a series of rippleswhich blurred the surface. 

My heart beat fast, for Bigley seemed to be down a long time, though itwas only a few seconds before he rose rapidly to the surface and swam tothe boat. 

"Well, my lad, " cried my father excitedly, "there is nothing, then?"

"I couldn't manage it the first time, " panted Bigley. "I got hold of abox, but it was awkward work getting it into the bag. I could not holdit and get the chest in too. Haul up, please. "

"But are you sure you can do it?" said my father. 

"I am certain, sir, " replied Bigley; and the men began to haul up thebag. 

As Bigley was about to give the word to let go once more there came aloud "Ahoy!" from the shore; and turning my head I saw that Bob Chownehad come over and was asking to be fetched. 

"It is impossible, " said my father--"he must wait;" and I knew as wellas if I were listening to him that Bob was saying something about ouralways having all the fun. 

"Let go, " cried Bigley; and away he went again, the weight drawing himdown so rapidly that I felt a little envious, and as if I should like tomake one of the trips. 

He was up again more quickly this time. 

"Haul up, " he cried; "it's of no use. I can't get the box into the bag. Here, I see!" he cried, "make fast that maund to the rope and put thelead in there. "

He pointed, as he held on by the boat's edge, to a fish-basket in thestern of the boat; and as soon as the bag had been hauled aboard therope was set free and fastened, scale-fashion, to the basket. 

Bigley's countenance brightened at this, and seizing it directly he gavethe word, declaring that he was all right; and away he went once more, and came up again so quickly that we felt there was something wrong. 

"What's the matter?" I cried. 

"Haul up and see, " was his reply; and as the men hauled, everyone heldhis breath till the basket came up slowly and heavily to the surface. 

"It's a box or a stone, " I cried; and then I gave a shout, in which allthe men joined, for there was a square box in the basket and my fatherlifted it out. 

"He's right! He's right!" cried my father excitedly. "Bigley, my dearlad, I could not believe that it was true!"

"Over with the basket, sir, " cried Bigley; "quick!" and he went downagain and once more rose. 

"All ready!" he cried; and so it was, for another box was hauled in--another unmistakable case of our silver, for there were the marks uponit; and my heart beat with pride and pleasure at our success. 

"How do you feel?" cried my father. "Don't go down more than you canbear. "

"I feel like this, sir, " cried Bigley seizing hold of the two handles ofthe basket and going down once more, to come up again almost as quickly, and another box was hauled up. 

Just then there was a cheer from the shore, and on looking in thatdirection there was the doctor now beside Bob Chowne, and they evidentlyrealised what was taking place, for both shouted and waved their hats. 

They would have come off to us, but there was no boat to be had nearerthan Ripplemouth; so they watched us while Bigley went down again andagain till ten boxes had been recovered, when my father refused to lethim go down any more, in spite of his prayers and declarations that hewas all right and could go down as often as we liked. 

My father was determined, though, and made him dress himself and helprow ashore with us so as to carry the chests up to the cottage; but assoon as they were landed my father sent up to the mine and all the menwere fetched to bear the silver up, and it was placed in safety in therestored cellar. 

The spot had of course been left buoyed, and a couple of men wereawarded the task of watching the place till after dinner, when towardsfour o'clock we all went down again, Bigley declaring himself ready todive. 

By this time I had come to the conclusion that I was behaving in a verycowardly way in letting him do all the work, and without saying a word Idetermined to quietly undress ready, and take the next turn. 

The doctor and Bob Chowne, who had said just what I anticipated, joinedus this time, while everyone occupied in the Gap came down to see theastounding fact that the Frenchmen had not got the silver after all. 

We rowed out and made fast as before, and Bigley went down; but insteadof paying any attention to his dive I let the others watch him, gotready, and then, as a fresh box was recovered, I leaped overboard, crying, "My turn now!" and swam to the basket. 

"You, Sep?" said my father in a hesitating tone. 

"Yes, father, " I shouted. "Let go. "

The men obeyed, and almost before I could realise it, I felt a snatch atmy arms, and was dragged rapidly down. 

In spite of my preparation I was so surprised that I almost lost mypresence of mind; but, as luck had it, the basket settled down close toa box, and somehow or another I got one hand under it and tilted it overinto the basket, to which I was holding on tightly the while. 

Then in a blind confused way, with the water seeming to thunder in myears, I loosened my hold, and almost directly my head popped out intothe fresh air, and I swam to the boat amidst a furious burst ofcheering. 

I felt quite ashamed, and hardly knew what was said to me, for the ideawas strong upon me that I had failed. But I had not, for the nextminute one of the little chests was hauled up and into the boat, myfather leaning over and patting my bare wet shoulder. 

"Bravo, Sep!" he exclaimed; and those two words sent a glow through me, cleared away the confusion, and made me think Bigley a long while downwhen he took his turn, I was so impatient to begin again. 

He was soon up, another hauled in, and this time I did not let theweight drag at my shoulders, but plunged with it, went down, shuffled achest into the basket more easily, and came up. 

Then Bigley obtained another, and suggested that the next dive should befrom the stern of the boat. 

He was quite right, and in the course of about an hour we had gone onturn for turn and obtained nineteen of the chests, so that there wasonly one more to recover. 

The doctor had twice over suggested that we had been too long in thewater, but everyone was in such a state of excitement, and there was somuch cheering as box after box of silver was recovered, that his advicewas unheeded, and in the midst of quite a burst of cheers I seized thebasket by the handles and took my fifth plunge into what seemed to be asea of glowing fire, so glorious was the sunshine as the sun sank lowerin the west. 

I knew where the last one lay, just where it had been shot when the boatoverturned, and it was on its side in the midst of a number of blocks ofstone tangled with weed. The boat had been shifted a little, and I camedown right by it, turned it over and over into the basket; but as I didso I slipped, and something dark came over me. My legs passed between acouple of stones, and then as I tried to recover myself and rise thedarkness increased, a strange confusion came over me, and then all wasblank till I heard someone say:

"Yes; he'll do now. "

My head was aching frightfully, and there was a strange confusedsensation in my head that puzzled me, and made me wonder why my feetwere so hot, and why my father was leaning over me holding my hand. 

Then he appeared to sink down out of sight as a door was shut, and Iheard him muttering as I thought to himself, and he seemed to saysomething about being better that everything should have been lost thanthat have happened. 

I couldn't make it out, only that he was in terrible trouble, and hisface looked haggard and thin as he rose up again and bent over me totake me in his arms as he looked closely in my face. 

Then, as he held me to his breast, I could feel that he was sobbing, andI heard him say distinctly in a low reverent tone:

"Thank God--thank God!"

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. 

LAST MEMORIES. 

I heard all about it afterwards; how they had hauled up quickly as I didnot rise to the surface, in the belief that I might be clinging still tothe basket; but though the last chest was there, that was all. 

Bigley seized the handles and went down, staying so long that everybodygrew cold with horror, and when they hauled up he was helpless, and withone hand holding fast to the side of the basket. 

It was our foreman who went down next, and managed to get his arm roundme, where I was entangled in a tremendous growth of sea-weed, and withone of my legs hooked, as it were, between and round a piece of rock. By great good fortune he was able to drag me out, and rise with me tothe surface, but so overcome that he could hardly take a stroke; and asfor me, Doctor Chowne had a long battle before he could bring me back asit were to life. 

I have little more to tell of my early life there on the North Devoncoast, for after that time rolled on very peacefully. We had no morevisits from the French, not even from Captain Gualtiere, and we saw nomore of old Jonas Uggleston. He had settled in Dunquerque, he told hisson in his letters, and these always contained the advice that he was onno account to leave the service of Captain Duncan, but to do his duty byhim as an honest man. 

And truly Bigley Uggleston did do his duty by my father and by me, foryear by year we grew closer friends, the more so that Bob Chowne driftedaway after his course of training in London, and finally became a ship'ssurgeon. 

As for us, we led a very uneventful life, going steadily on with themanagement of the mine, which never was productive enough to make a hugefortune, but quite sufficient to keep my father fairly wealthy, and giveemployment and bread to quite a little village which grew up in the Gap. 

For the recovery of the silver was the turning-point in my father'smining career. After that all went well. 

As I said, Jonas Uggleston never came back, but one day a bronzedwhite-headed old sailor was seated at the door of the smuggler's cottagewhen I went to call on Bigley, and this old fellow rose with quite abroad grin on his face. 

I stared for a moment, he was so foreign-looking with his clipped beardand quaintly cut garb. Then I realised who it was: Binnacle Bill comeback to his old wife, Mother Bonnet. 

"Couldn't leave the master before, " he said. "But now I've come, andyou'll give me a job now and then, and Master Bigley, I should likenever to go away no more. "

Binnacle Bill did not go away any more, for he was at once installedboatman, and bound to have boat, tackle, and baits ready every timeBigley and I felt disposed to have an hour or two's fishing in theevening. 

If Bob Chowne came down his work grew harder, for Bob was as fond offishing as ever. He used to come to see his father sometimes, for hewas devotedly attached to him, and the old doctor's place was full ofthe presents his son sent him from abroad. 

But Bob always came over to the Bay, grumbling and saying that he wassick of Ripplemouth; and then he grumbled at old Sam and Kicksey aboutthe dinner, or the fruit, or the weather, and then he used to grumble athis two old school-fellows as we walked along the cliff path, or wentout with him in the boat. 

"Ah, you two always were lucky fellows, " he said to us one day, when Itold him that I was going to spend my winter evenings setting down myold recollections with Bigley Uggleston's help. "Nothing to do butenjoy yourselves, and idle, and write. But what's the good of doingthat? Nobody will ever care to read about what such chaps as we'vebeen, did in such an out-of-the-way place as this. "

"Never mind, " I said, "I mean to set it all down just as I canrecollect; and as to anybody reading it--well, we shall see. "

"Ah, well, " said Bob, "just as you like; but if I was a grumbling sortof fellow, and given to finding fault, I should say it's just waste oftime. "

This was too much for Bigley, who burst into a hearty fit of laughter, in which I joined. 

Bob stared at us both rather sulkily for a moment, and then uttered hisfavourite ejaculation, which was "Yah!"

THE END.