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llage or hamlet. They were still, they knew, some distance from the harbour. Here and there only could they see a light twinkling from a window, probably of some sick-chamber. It was pretty evident that most of the people had gone to bed, still some one or other might be up who would give the alarm. They found themselves verging to the right; it was better, however, than keeping to the left side, which might lead them away from the harbour. Presently they came to some grassy downs, and the regular road they had been pursuing turned sharp off to the left. "We had better keep straight on," said Bill; "we shall be more exposed on the open downs; but then it isn't likely that anybody will be there to see us, so that won't matter." Jack, as usual, was ready to do whatever Bill proposed. They got quickly over the grass, which was cropped short by sheep feeding on it, and they could manage to see somewhat better than they had done on the road. Presently Jack, whose eyesight was even keener than Bill's, having been well practised at night from his childhood, caught his companion's arm, exclaiming, "Hold back; it seems to me that we have got to the edge of the downs." They crept cautiously forward. In another instant they would have leapt down a cliff some hundred feet in height, and been dashed to pieces. They turned away from it, shuddering at the fearful risk they had run, and kept along on somewhat lower ground, still having the star which had before guided them ahead. Once more they found themselves approaching buildings, but they were low and scattered; evidently only in the outskirts of the village. "We must be close to the harbour now," said Jack. "The greater reason that we should be cautious," observed Bill. "This road, I suspect, leads right down to the part of the harbour we want to reach." They ran on, their hope of escape increasing. Suddenly they heard the voice of a man shouting out, "Who goes there?" Bill seized Jack's arm, and pulled him down in the shadow of a high wall, near which they happened at that moment to find themselves. Some minutes they waited, scarcely daring to draw breath. The shout was not repeated. "We may go on now," whispered Jack; and getting up, they crept forward. Presently, below them, they caught sight of the harbour, with the stars reflected on its surface. The most difficult part of their undertaking was now to be performed. They had to find o
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