stooped down, picked up the pieces
of paper which Cornbury had torn up, and put them in the basket she
carried on her arm.

It will be observed, that Nancy had purposely thrown out hints against
Wahop, to induce Cornbury to believe that he was not suspected. Her
assertion that Wahop was not on the island was false. He had been three
days at Ryde, according to the arrangement. The bait took. Cornbury
perceiving that the suspicion was against Wahop, thought that he could
not do better than to boldly make his appearance at the cave, which
would remove any doubts as to his own fidelity.

Nancy hastened down to the Point, and returned that night to Ryde, from
whence she walked over to the cave, and was there before daylight. She
communicated to Alice the intelligence which she had received from Moggy
Salisbury, and the arrangements she had proposed to her, by which the
motions of the cutter could be known.

"Is that woman to be trusted, think you, Nancy?" inquired Alice.

"Yes, I believe sincerely she may be. I have known her long; and she
wishes her husband to join us."

"We must reflect upon it. She may be most useful. What is the
character of the officer who commands the vessel?"

"A miser and a coward. He is well known--neither honour nor conscience
in him."

"The first is well, as we may act upon it, but the second renders him
doubtful. You are tired, Nancy, and had better lie down a little."

Nancy Corbett delivered the pens to Lilly and then took the advice of
her superior. The day was remarkably fine, and the water smooth, so
that the boats were expected that night. At dusk two small lights, at
even distances, were suspended from the cliff, to point out to the boats
that the coast was free, and that they might land. Alice, however, took
the precaution to have a watch on the beach, in case of any second
surprise being attempted; but of this there was little fear, as she knew
from Nancy that all the cutter's boats were on board when she entered
the harbour. Lilly, who thought it a delight to be one moment sooner in
her father's arms, had taken the watch on the beach, and there the
little girl remained perched upon a rock, at the foot of which the waves
now only sullenly washed, for the night was beautifully calm and clear.
To a passer on the ocean she might have been mistaken for a mermaid who
had left her watery bower to look upon the world above.

What were the thoughts of the little maiden as