."

"Then his murderers cannot be far off," said my uncle. "I'll land our
people, and we will hunt them down. The poor wretch could scarcely
expect any other fate were he discovered."

"What--do you know the man, sir?" I asked. "Yes, he is the informer,
Langdon; the very man who was to have conducted us to Myers' retreat,"
was the answer.

"Here, sir, is a bit of card tied round the man's neck, and close to him
was this pistol and handkerchief," said Tomkins, who had placed the body
on the sands, bringing him the articles.

"Very well; do you take charge of those things, Tomkins, and on no
account lose them. D'Arcy, do you go back with Sims to the boat; burn a
blue light close down to the water, shade it by the boat's side so that
it may not be seen from the cliffs above; and then, as soon as the boats
come in, order two hands to remain in each, and bring the rest up here."

"Ay, ay, sir," I replied with alacrity, for I was always proud of having
any orders given me by my uncle; and away I and Sims hurried towards the
boat. We had not got many paces before a shout from Jack Stretcher made
us turn back, and at the same moment several men came leaping down by a
narrow path in the side of the cliff.

"Run in--they are smugglers--run in!" cried Sims, setting the example,
and shouting to our people in the boat. It was the wisest thing he
could do to get help, for the man was no coward; but before I had time
to think whether or not I could run down to my uncle, I found myself
knocked down by one of the foremost of the new comers, with a not very
complimentary remark to midshipmen in general, and to me in particular.
What became of Sims I could not tell, for the blow on my head made me
feel inclined to keep my eyes shut. When, after a moment or so, I
attempted to rise, I found myself seized by a couple of men. My arms
were lashed behind me in a very uncomfortable way, and which reminded me
of the necessity of not tumbling down, if I was anxious to preserve the
regular outline of my nose; while a handkerchief was secured tightly
over my eyes. Directly afterwards I heard a scuffle, and my uncle's
voice among that of many others; blows were struck, and two or three
pistols were fired; and then there appeared more scuffling, and all was
quiet except the suppressed murmur of apparently many voices as I was
dragged forward by the people who held me. We went along the seashore
for some way, and then up the cliffs; an