d Hanks, in an inspiriting tone. It was an exciting
moment. As we drew near, we could count some twelve men or more on her
deck. We were by this time well over on the British half of the
Channel.

"Keep her away a little, D'Arcy," said Hanks. The smugglers had been
watching us without apparently suspecting our intentions. "Now, hard
up!--ease off the mainsheet!--hook on!--follow me, my lads!"

As Hanks uttered the last words we had run alongside. The next moment
he leaped over the bulwarks of the lugger on to her deck, and grappling
with her captain, a Frenchman, tripped him up. Jack at the same time
knocked down the man at the helm with a boat's stretcher. There was a
mighty deal of jabbering and swearing in French, and some round oaths
uttered in English, when, as Hanks was working his way forward, some of
the crew, plucking courage, made a rush, and, seizing him, bore him
overboard, fortunately on the larboard side, on the same which the
wherry was: small thanks to the smugglers on that account. We were
going through the water, it must be remembered, though not very quick.
Hanks made a desperate attempt to clamber on board again by the lugger's
forechains, but missed his aim; then, giving a glance of defiance at the
rascals, he kept himself afloat while he sung out, "Hillo, D'Arcy, lend
me a hand here!"

Directly I saw what had happened I seized an oar, and thrust it out
towards him. He grasped it as we passed by, and quickly clambered into
the wherry. The moment after, with the stretcher, which he had never
let out of his grasp, he was again on the lugger's deck, belabouring
both right and left those of the crew who still resisted. As none of
the smugglers had seen him get out of the water, they were completely
taken by surprise, and without striking another blow, sung out for
quarter.

"You don't deserve it, you blackguards, for daring to resist a king's
officer in the execution of his duty," cried Hanks, flourishing his
stretcher. "But, forward with you, there, and don't move till I give
you leave." The Frenchmen did not understand him, but the English
smugglers did, and his action showed what he desired. The crew were
soon penned up in the fore part of the vessel, with the exception of the
captain and the man Jack had knocked down, who were sitting on deck
rubbing their eyes, hardly yet recovered. Scarcely three minutes had
passed since we ran alongside, and the lugger was ours. I was still i