."

"What, for a pirate and smuggler? Well, perhaps they will," said Vince
coolly.

"But you wouldn't like that, my lad. Untie me, and let me set you
ashore, and then I'll sail away and never come near the Crag again."

"Well, but you won't come near the Crag again if I take you ashore. Sir
Francis will have you put in prison, of course. Won't he, Mike?"

"There's no doubt about that," replied Mike.

Daygo groaned.

"Oh, Master Vince--don't, don't!" he cried. "I'm an old man now, and it
would be so horrible."

"So it was for our poor people at home; and I know you've been
pretending you hadn't seen us."

"Ay, I've been a bad 'un--'orrid bad 'un, sir, but I'm a-repenting now,
and going to lead a new life."

"In prison, Joe."

"No, no, no, sir," yelled the miserable wretch. "It 'd kill me. Do be
a good gen'leman, and forgive me as you ought to, bad as I've been. You
untie me and let me run you ashore, and then I raally will sail away."

"What do you say, Mike?"

"Well, I think we might trust him now. He has been pretty well
punished."

"Then you'd trust him?" said Vince.

Mike nodded.

"Then I wouldn't. He'd jump up, strong as ever, and pitch us overboard,
or take us over to France, or do something. I'm not going to untie a
knot."

"Oh, Master Vince," groaned the old fellow; "and after all the fish I've
give you, and the things I've done!"

"Including trying to drown me," said Vince.

"Oh, Master Mike, you have got a 'art in yer," groaned Daygo. "You try
an' persuade him, sir. Don't take me ashore and give me up."

"Look, Mike," said Vince excitedly, as a white puff of smoke suddenly
appeared from the bows of the cutter, followed shortly by another,
showing that they had got within range of the schooner, and the firing
was kept up steadily as the boat sailed on, fast nearing the shore now,
where the cliff was dotted with the people attracted by the engagement.

But the firing did not interest Daygo, who kept on pleading and
protesting and begging to be forgiven to one who seemed to have
thoroughly hardened his heart.

Then the old man made an effort to wriggle himself into a sitting
position, but a light tap with the conger bat sent him down.

"Don't you move again," said Vince sternly; "and don't you say another
word, or you'll make your case worse than ever."

Daygo groaned, and Vince watched the shore, which they were fast
nearing. Then, springing up, he began to wave his ha