instantaneously, and then they heard an ascending
step.

"Don't mean us to see much of what is going on," said Mike.

"Oh, it isn't that," replied Vince. "He fancies we should do something
while they're busy--get a boat down, slip on board the other lugger or
whatever it is."

"He needn't fancy that," said Mike. "Frying-pan's bad enough; I'm not
going to jump into the fire and try that!"

"Nor I either. Well, shall we turn in?"

"May as well: I don't want to stop up and listen to a gang of smugglers
loading and unloading their stupid cargo."

"Nor I, Ladle. I say, what a shame it is of old Jacques to be living
now, instead of a hundred years ago! Poor old chap, you won't get any
plunder after all!"

"I don't see that it's right to be trying to make fun of our trouble,"
said Mike bitterly; "there's the poor old Crag only a few miles away,
and we're shut up here!"

"Don't take any notice," said Vince: "I say all sorts of things I don't
mean. No chance of getting away to-night, is there?"

"No--not even to drown ourselves by trying to swim away," said Mike,
with a sigh; and they hardly spoke again.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

THE KING'S CUTTER SPEAKS OUT.

"Ladle!"

"Hullo!"

"Wake up!"

"What's the good? We can't go on deck. May as well lie here and rest."

"Nonsense! Get up, or I'll pull you out by one leg!"

"You touch me, and I'll send you flying against the bulkhead."

"Go it!" cried Vince, who was standing on the rough floor, in his
trousers; and, quick as thought, he seized Mike's leg and pulled him
half out. "Now kick, and I'll let you down bang."

"Oh! I say, Cinder, let go! Don't, there's a good fellow."

"Then will you get up?"

"Yes: all right. Does it rain?"

"No--lovely morning; you can see it is through that bit of skylight."

Mike slipped out and began to dress.

"Wonder what they've been doing in the night?"

"Don't know--don't care," said Vince, yawning. "Oh, how horrid it is to
be boxed up here like a rabbit! Can hardly breathe, and perhaps he
won't let us out for hours. Here, Jacques, come and unfasten this
door," he said in a low, angry growl; and, seizing the handle, he was
about to give the door a rough shake, when to the surprise of both it
flew open.

"Hurrah!" cried Vince; and they were not long finishing dressing and
hurrying on deck, to find that, whatever might have been done, the
hatches were in their places, while a good-sized schooner was l