s deck just
as her last warp was cast off. I had a rough Flushing coat buttoned up
close round me; and as I had on also a low tarpaulin hat, I thought I
looked the character I wished to assume. The people on board were
likewise too busy to afford me more than a passing glance as I sprung on
deck. A rough, weather-beaten old fellow, with one eye, who, from the
orders he issued, I knew to be the master, stood at the helm. His crew
consisted of seven hands--strong, active-looking fellows,--many more
than the craft required to work her. This circumstance at once made me
suspect that she was not over honest.

"Faith," thought I to myself, "this isn't the best place in the world
for a revenue officer to find himself in."

But it was now too late to get oh shore again. The headsheets were let
draw, the main eased off a little, the peak hoisted up, and, with a fair
breeze, the cutter glided out of the harbour.

"Well, youngster, you were not long in making up your mind about
coming," said the old skipper, scrutinising me, I thought, pretty
narrowly from head to foot. "What place are you bound for, eh?"

I told him Ryde, in the Isle of Wight.

"Well, we'll put you ashore at the back of the Wight; I suppose that
will do for you?" he answered, in a good-natured tone.

I thanked him for his offer; and we went on talking very amicably for
some time, till we had run some fifteen miles from the coast. I think,
from the first, the old man had some suspicions of me; but I had acted
my part well, and I fancied that I had succeeded in lulling them.

Just as I thought all was right, as ill-luck would have it, I happened
to want to use my pocket-handkerchief, and in searching for it I
incautiously threw open my jacket and exposed my uniform buttons to
view.

In the first place, the sort of boy I pretended to be would not have
possessed such an article as a pocket-handkerchief; and I ought to have
remembered that the sight of the crown and anchor would not be
acceptable to persons of my friends' vocation.

"Why--hullo, youngster! who are you, I should like to know?" exclaimed
the old skipper, seizing me by the arm, and giving me no gentle shake.

"He's a spy, surely, and no mistake," cried several of the crew. "Heave
the young shrimp overboard."

"Overboard with him!" exclaimed the rest in chorus. "We'll teach the
Government to send their whelps to hunt us out in this fashion."

I own that I began to feel very uncomfo