don't say if I was a
gentleman, and could spind me time as I liked, that I would be sitting
here on the edge of these cliffs, where you might come to harm any
minute."

"I have no fear of coming to harm," Ralph answered; "and I should be
sorry for any one who tried. I always carry a pistol. Not that I think
there is any chance of having to use it but it's always as well to be
prepared."

"It is that, yer honor, always as well; but I don't think I should be
always coming out here if I was you."

"Why not, my good fellow? I harm no one, and interfere with no one.
Surely it is open to me to come here and look at the sea without any
one taking offense at it."

"That's as it may be, yer honor. Anyhow I have told you what I think
of it. Good-morning to you."

"I wonder what that fellow meant," Ralph said, looking after him. "He
meant something, I feel certain, though what it is I can't imagine. I
thought it was as well to let him know that I had a pistol handy,
though he didn't look as if he intended mischief. I suppose after this
I had better not come here so often, though I have not the remotest
idea in the world why I should annoy any one more by standing here
than if I was standing on the cliff in front of Dover Castle. However,
it certainly is a lonely place, and I should have precious little
chance if two or three men took it into their heads to attack me
here."

"They are queer people these Irish peasants of yours, O'Connor," Ralph
said as they sat at dinner that evening.

"What's the matter with them now, Conway?"

"One can't even go and look at the sea from their cliffs without their
taking it amiss," and Ralph related the conversation he had had with
the peasant, adding that he was convinced he had been watched whenever
he went there.

"It is curious, certainly," the captain said when he had finished. "No
doubt they think you are spying after something; but that would not
trouble them unless there was something they were afraid of your
finding out. Either there has been something going on, or there is
some hiding-place down there on the face of the cliff, where maybe
they have a still at work. Anyhow, I don't think I should neglect the
warning, Conway. You might be killed and thrown over the cliff, and no
one be the wiser for it. I should certainly advise you to give up
mooning about."

"But there is nothing to do in this wretched village," Ralph said
discontentedly.

"Not if you stop in the villag