uncan, father."

"No one else?"

"No one."

"Pull, my lads!" cried old Jonas; and as the boat grated on the beach he
leaped ashore.

"I shall not be a quarter of an hour," he said. "Keep her afloat.
Here, Bigley."

He caught his son's arm and they went up to the cottage together at a
trot, and in less than a quarter of an hour they were back again, and
old Jonas clapped me on the shoulder.

"Look here, Duncan," he said, "I always liked you, my boy, because you
and Bigley were such mates."

"Are you going to take Big away, sir?" I said.

"No, boy, but I'm going to ask you to be a true mate to him still. He's
going to stay with Mother Bonnet."

"I will, sir," I said.

"That you will, my lad," he cried, shaking hands. "Now, Bigley, no
snivelling--be a man! Good-bye! I'll write."

He shook hands with his son, seized a bag they had brought down between
them, and the next minute he was on board the boat and they disappeared
into the darkness.

"How came he back again, Big?" I whispered as we listened to the beat
of the oars which came from out of the gloom.

"Doubled back along with the French boat _La Belle Hirondelle_. They
saw her about ten miles away."

"Was it the _Hirondelle_ we saw last night!" I said.

"Yes," said Bigley shortly. "Be quiet."

"I think your father might have said good-bye to me, Bigley Uggleston,"
said Bob Chowne shortly. "I've done nothing to offend him. But it
don't matter. Never mind."

There seemed to be nothing to wait for, but we hung about the beach till
daylight, and then went in and had some breakfast, which Mother Bonnet,
who was red-eyed with weeping, had ready for us, and then we went down
to the beach again.

By this time the mine people were out once more, and they came and had a
look, but there was nothing to see, and no one told the sturdy fellows
or their families that Jonas Uggleston had been back. As for me, I only
meant to tell my father when he returned.

So the mining people went to work, and we lads stood gazing out to sea,
till suddenly Bob Chowne shouted:

"I can see the cutter."

He was quite right, for it proved to be the cutter, but there was no
prize coming slowly behind; and when at last she came close in, the boat
was lowered, and we saw my father step in and come ashore with the
lieutenant, we were ready to meet them.

I wanted to speak to my father about what had happened in the night, but
I had no opportunity, and it seemed