it, and
then a third appeared, when all three in an instant disappeared. The
lugger stood on, sail was shortened, and the anchor dropped. Scarcely
had she brought up when half a dozen boats dashed alongside.

"Be smart, my lads!" cried Dore. "If we are quick about it, we may run
the whole of the cargo before the revenue men are down upon us."

Not another word was spoken; every one knew exactly what he had to do.
The lugger's crew hoisted out the bales and kegs, and the men who had
come off stowed them away in the boats. The lugger's own boat was not
idle. Having loaded her, Ben and Dick, with three other men, jumped in
and pushed for the shore. The surf was pretty heavy, but without
accident they reached the beach, where a large party of people were
collected, with a number of pack horses and carts. The boats were at
once surrounded, and their cargoes quickly taken out of them and placed
either in the carts or on the backs of the horses. The work was carried
on with the greatest rapidity, and by the time Dick and his companions
had launched their boat, the whole had begun to move off, and before the
lugger was reached, not a single person was to be seen on the beach.

On their return to the _Nancy_, the boat was hoisted in and preparations
began for making sail. The operation required care, for should she cast
the wrong way, she might drive on shore. The skipper himself took the
helm. The hands went to their stations. The instant the anchor was
away the sails were sheeted home, and the lugger, casting, as desired,
to port, stood off from the dangerous coast, close-hauled. She had not
got many cable lengths from the beach when two boats dashed alongside.
A number of armed men sprang on board.

"We've caught you, my fine fellows," exclaimed an officer. "Yield, in
the king's name!"

"Happy to see you, gentlemen," answered Dore, with the greatest
coolness. "You are welcome to look over our craft, and if you find
anything contraband on board--for that I suppose is what you are after--
we'll yield fast enough."

The officer was evidently nonplussed, but he was still not inclined to
take the smuggler's word. He allowed the lugger, however, to stand
further out, until she could heave to with safety, when he ordered the
foresail to be backed. He, with several of his men, then went below,
Dore ordering Dick and another lad to carry a couple of lanterns, that
the officer might see his way. The search, as