smugglers; they knocked us down and took possession of
the ship."

"Yes, of course, yes," said the lieutenant eagerly. "I remember now.
Of course, yes, Leigh. But--but where are they now?"

"That's just what I should like to know, sir," said Leigh, sharply;
"we've got rid of them, but they ran the little _Kestrel_ ashore."

CHAPTER SIX.

EXPLORING.

Fortunately for the little _Kestrel_ the morning breeze was soft and the
sea as smooth as a mirror, and all the crew had to do was to await the
tide to float them off from where they were lying high and dry, with the
keel driven so deeply in the sand that the cutter hardly needed a
support, and the opportunity served for examining the bottom to see if
any injury had been sustained.

Lieutenant Lipscombe appeared with a broad bandage round his head, for
his head had been severely cut in his fall, and the pain he suffered did
not improve his already sore temper.

For though he said nothing, Hilary Leigh could see plainly enough that
his officer was bitterly annoyed at having been mastered in cunning and
so nearly losing his ship. He knew that to go into port to repair
damages meant so close an investigation that the result might be the
loss of his command. So, after an examination of the injuries, which
showed that the whole of the coamings of the hatchway were blown off and
the deck terribly blackened with powder, the carpenter and his mate were
set to work to cut out and piece in as busily as possible.

"Nothing to go into port for, Leigh, nothing at all. The men will soon
put that right; but it was very badly managed, Leigh, very. Half that
quantity of powder would have done; the rest was all waste. Hang it
all! what could you have been thinking about? Here am I disabled for a
few minutes, and you let a parcel of scoundrels seize the cutter and run
her ashore, and then, with the idea of retaking her, you go and blow up
half the deck! My good fellow, you will never make a decent officer if
you go on like this."

"Well, that's grateful, certainly," thought Hilary; and the desire came
upon him strongly to burst out into a hearty laugh, but he suppressed it
and said quietly:

"Very sorry, sir; I tried to do all for the best."

"Yes; that's what every weak-headed noodle says when he has made a
blunder. Well, Leigh, it is fortunate for you that I was sufficiently
recovered to resume the command; but of all the pickles which one of his
majesty's ships c