trip seated on the forward thwart.

This was too much for Vince, who began upon him at once, with bitter
irony in his words and tone.

"You there, Joe!" he cried. "Good morning. Don't you feel very proud
of this?"

"Dunno 'bout proud, young gen'leman; but I'm precious glad to get my
boat back."

"Your boat back!" cried Vince, as one of the smuggler crew made fast a
rope to the ring-bolt in their stern.

"Aye. Didn't know as young gen'lemen took to stealing boats
altogether."

"You dare to say we stole the boat, and I'll--"

"Well, you took it right away, anyhow. That comes o' beginning with
borrying and not asking leave."

"Better than taking to kidnapping people."

Old Joe growled out something, and shuffled himself about in his seat
while the boat was drawn out into the sunshine once more, and drifted
behind the other rapidly along till she reached the smugglers' cavern.

"Give zem some biscuit and some vater," said the captain. "You, Joseph,
take your boat and go on. _Allez_!"

The old fisherman looked at him rather uneasily, then at the boys, and
back at the captain.

"You hear vat I sall say?" cried the latter fiercely.

He made a menacing gesture; and the boys took each a deep draught of
water, and began to nibble the hard sea biscuit that was their fare.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

THE TIGHTENING OF THE CHAINS.

There was something very grim and suggestive about the captain's
behaviour to the two boys later on towards evening, when he came and
stood glaring down at them, where they sat in the sand. He had said a
few words to one of the men, who went up into the back of the cavern
while the other waited; and Vince noted that there was a splashing sound
round the corner of the buttress which supported one side of the great
arch, so that he was not surprised directly after to see the prow of a
boat appear, to be run in and beached upon the sand.

Vince looked up inquiringly when the smuggling captain came and stood
before him; but the man did not speak--he only glared down, apparently
with the idea that he was frightening the lads horribly. Vince did not
shrink, for he did not feel frightened, only troubled about home and the
despondency there, as the time went by without news of their fate. For
it was evident to him that the time had come for them to be taken on
board ready for the lugger to sail.

The second man came back with some fine line in his hand.

"_Vite_--tight!" said the