gerly, ready to plunge forward at
the first sound of a scuffle.

Archy peered in at the dark passage, his heart beating as he listened to
the noise made by the two men crawling in, and the last of the two had
hardly disappeared when there was a shout, a scuffle, and the boatswain
plunged in.

"All right!" they heard Gurr say. "I've got him. Hold still, you
varmint, or I'll cut your ears off. Here, Dick, get by me, and go
forrard if you can."

There was more scuffling, and the rattle of a stone or two, as the
listeners pictured in their own minds the man squeezing past the master
and his prisoner, and then Dick's voice came out in a half smothered
way:

"Can't get no farther. All choked-up."

"All right, then, but make sure."

"Oh, I'm sure enough," said Dick. "It's all a stopper here."

"Then out you come, my lad," said the master; and the next minute his
legs were seed as he backed out, dragging evidently some one after him
who was resisting.

"Here, Dick," came in smothered tones.

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Says he won't come. If he gives me any more of his nonsense, touch him
up behind with the pynte of your cutlash."

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Yah! Cowards!" came in angry tones.

"Ram!" exclaimed Archy, as the boy, looking hot and fierce, was dragged
out by the master, to stand looking round him as fiercely as a wild cat.

"Hullo!" cried Archy. "It's my turn now, Ram;" but he repented his
words directly, as he saw the reproachful look the boy darted at him.
Then he forgot all directly, as he exclaimed,--

"I see, Mr Gurr, I see! The smugglers are down here after all, and
they left this boy behind to fasten the door, and cover it over with
stones."

Unable to contain himself, Ram thoroughly endorsed the midshipman's
words by giving an angry stamp upon the bottom of the hole.

"That's it!" cried Gurr. "Here, chuck these stones into the passage, my
lads;" and the rough trap-door was laid bare, the two bolts by which it
was secured were seen to be unfastened, and the lock unshot.

"No way out, Mr Raystoke, is there?"

"No."

"Then we've got 'em trapped safe this time," said Gurr, as the door was
thrown open. "Bad job we've no lanthorns; but never mind, my lads. If
they won't surrender, you must feel your way with the pyntes of your
toothpicks."

There was a murmur of excitement among the men, and then Gurr leaned
down over the hole, put his hand to his mouth, and shouted,--

"Below there! In th