ly in league with the smugglers, he was
friendly to them. I thought it better also to say nothing about it to
my father, for although I knew that he would be pleased should I
succeed, he might very naturally dread the danger I should have to run
in my undertaking. How to set about the matter was the difficulty. I
had no intention of acting a treacherous part, or to try to become
friendly with the smugglers, for the purpose of betraying them. My plan
was to hunt about to try and find out their hiding-places, and where any
cargoes were to be run; then to give information to the baronet. The
only person to whom I confided my plan was Ned, under a promise of
secrecy. He tried to dissuade me, pointing out that it was a very
doubtful proceeding at the best, and that, should I succeed, the
smugglers would be sure to take vengeance on me.

"They will either shoot you or carry you off to sea, and drown you, or
put you on board some outward-bound ship going to the coast of Africa,
or round Cape Horn; and it may be years before you get back, if you ever
return at all," said Ned.

Still his arguments didn't prevail with me, and I only undertook to be
cautious. Had he not given his promise to keep my intentions secret, he
would, I suspect, have told our father or Aunt Deb, and effectual means
would have been taken to prevent me from carrying out my plan. A
considerable time passed by, and although I was on the watch, I could
gain no information regarding the proceedings of the smugglers. During
this period I paid several visits to old Riddle, who always seemed glad
to see me. I was highly delighted one day when he presented me with a
cutter, which he had carved out and rigged expressly for me. It was
about two feet long and of a proportionable width, fitted with blocks,
so that I could lower or hoist up the sails, and set such canvas as the
wind would allow. The inside was of a dark salmon colour, the bottom
was painted and burnished to look like copper, while the rest was of a
jet black. Altogether I was highly delighted with the craft--the first
I had ever possessed--and I only wished she was large enough to enable
me to go aboard her, so that I might sail in her.

Near old Rogers' house was a lagoon of considerable length and breadth,
filled by the sea at high tide. It was open to all winds, and was thus
a capital place for sailing a model. He and Mark at once accompanied me
to it, and they having trimmed the sai