t the
great outstretched palm.

"Ay, shake hands on it, and you being a gentleman, you'll say, 'pon your
honour."

"Oh, very well. There, upon my honour, we'll pay you if we take the
boat."

"Oh you'll take her, fast enough," said the man with a hoarse chuckle.
"Yah! There's no fight in them. They'll chatter and jabber a bit, and
their skipper'll swear he'll do all sorts o' things, but you stick to
the boat as soon as your lads are on board."

"Trust me for that," said the lieutenant. "Now, then, when is the cargo
to be run?"

"T'night."

"And where?"

"Never you mind wheer. Get up your anchor, and make sail; I'll take the
helm."

"What, do you think I am going to let a strange man pilot my vessel?"

"Yah!" growled the man; "shan't you be there, and if I come any games,
you've got pistols, aren't you? But just as you like."

"Come on deck," said the lieutenant. "But one minute. I have lost a
boy--gone ashore. Have you seen one?"

"Not I; lots o' boys about, soon get another!"

The man went clumping on deck, and stepped over the side into his boat.

"What are you going to do?" said the lieutenant sharply.

"Make her fast astarn."

"Well, you need not have got into her, you could have led her round."

"This here's my way," said the man; and as the order was given to slip
the anchor, with a small buoy left to mark its place, the informer
secured his boat to one of the ringbolts astern, and then drew close in;
and mounted over the bulwark to stand beside the man at the helm.

"What do you propose doing?" said the lieutenant.

"Tellin' o' you what I wants done, and then you tells your lads."

The lieutenant nodded, and in obedience to the suggestion of the man the
stay-sail was hoisted; then up went the mainsail and jib, and the little
cutter careened over to the soft land breeze as soon as she got a little
way out from under the cliffs, which soon became invisible.

"Why, you aren't dowsed your lanthorns," whispered the man. "I'd have
them down, and next time you have time just have down all your canvas,
and get it tanned brown. Going about with lanthorns and white canvas is
showing everybody where you are."

After a time, as they glided on, catching a glimpse of a twinkling light
or two on the shore, the man grew a little more communicative, and began
to whisper bits of information and advice to the lieutenant.

"Tells me," he said, "that she's choke full o' Hollands gin and lace."