good people!' cried a soft little voice from overhead, followed
by a triumphant laugh.

Every one looked round, and half-way up the mast Tricksy was
discovered, who having become annoyed at her desertion by Lieutenant
Jones, was indulging in an exploring expedition on her own account.
Her little round face smiled mischievously from between a large white
hat and tumbled frock, and she sat swinging her heels in perfect
contentment.

Jim Macdonnell's duties having brought him to the quarter-deck at this
moment, the captain made him a sign almost without pausing in the
sentence which he was addressing to Mrs. Stewart.

The sailor climbed into the rigging and removed Tricksy very gently
from her perch, tucked her under one arm with her head hanging in front
and her heels behind, slid down the ropes and deposited the little girl
on the deck.

Tricksy stood and looked at every one in speechless wrath. Her
dignity, being as great as her anger, prevented her from giving way to
an outburst before she should have discovered who deserved it most.

Lieutenant Jones crossed over to her.

'I suppose you have been round all this place before, Miss Tricksy,' he
said in a conversational tone.

Tricksy looked at him with mistrust.

'I believe you are great explorers and rock-climbers, you and your
brothers, Miss Tricksy,' continued the officer, as though being carried
down from a mast before a crowd of people were a matter of everyday
occurrence; 'I envy you your opportunities----'

This sounded quite like the way the other officers had been talking to
the grown-up ladies, and Tricksy found her stiffness begin to forsake
her.

The most important point was to discover whether the Sheriff had seen
what had occurred. If he had not been a witness, Tricksy felt that she
might allow herself to get over it.

Her eyes sought her enemy, but that magistrate was, or affected to be,
engrossed in trying to bring his telescope to bear upon the caves, and
the episode had apparently escaped him.

'Talking of people hiding in the caves,' he said suddenly; 'Mrs.
MacGregor, do you see the figure of a man at the mouth of the one which
we are now opposite? From his attitude he might be a fugitive from
justice or any other of these interesting desperadoes about whom we
have been talking----'

Marjorie's face flushed, and she began to tremble from head to foot.

'Wait a minute, Mrs. MacGregor,' said the Sheriff, 'I will get my
glasses adj