shingle, and amidst
the loose rocks, without seeing anything to take their attention, when
suddenly one of the men some fifty yards ahead gave a hail.

"What is it, my lad?" cried Hilary, running up.

"Only this here, sir," said the man, pointing to a long narrow groove in
the sand, just such as might have been made by the keel of some large
boat, whilst a closer inspection showed that the sand and shingle had
been trampled by many feet.

"Yes, that's a boat, certainly," said Hilary, looking shorewards towards
the cliffs, which rose like a vast ramp along that portion of the coast.

There was nothing to be seen there; neither inlet nor opening in the
rock, nor depression in the vast line of cliffs. Why, then, should a
boat be run ashore there? It looked suspicious. Nothing but a fishing
lugger would be likely to be about, and no fishing lugger would have any
reason for running ashore here. Except at certain times of the tide it
would be dangerous.

"It's the smugglers, Billy," cried Hilary eagerly; "and there must be
some way here up the rock. Hallo! what have you got there?" he
exclaimed, as the gunner, true to his instinct, dropped upon his knees
and scraped the sand away from something against which he had kicked his
foot.

"Pistol, sir," was the reply; and the gunner brushed the sand off the
large clumsy weapon, and wiped away the thin film of rust.

"And a Frenchman," said Hilary, examining the make.

"Frenchman it is, sir, and she ar'n't been many hours lying here."

"Dropped by some one last night," said Hilary. "Hurrah! my lads, we've
struck the scent."

Just then Tom Tully began to sniff very loudly, and turned his head in
various directions, his actions somewhat resembling those of a great
dog.

"What yer up to, matey?" cried Waters. "Ah! I know, sir. He was
always a wunner after his grog, and he's trying to make out whether
they've landed and buried any kegs of brandy here."

"Oh, nonsense!" cried Hilary; "they would not do that. Come along, my
lads. One moment. Let's have a good look along the rocks for an
opening. Can any of you see anything?"

"No, sir," was chorused, after a few minutes' inspection.

"Then now let's make a straight line for the cliff, and all of you keep
a bright lookout."

They had about a couple of hundred yards to go, for the tide ran down
very low at this point, and as they approached the great sandstone
cliffs, instead of presenting the appearance of a