hidden as soon as it became of any size.

As the hours went on, and they were not interrupted, the dread increased
that they might be summoned to descend as prisoners before they had
completed their work; but Jem's rough common sense soon suggested that
this was not likely to be the case.

"Not afore night, Mas' Don," he said. "They won't take us aboard in the
day. We're smuggled goods, we are; and if they don't mind, we shall be
too many for them. 'Nother hour, and I shall begin to twist up our
rope."

About midday the same sailor came up and brought them some bread and
meat.

"That's right, my lads," he said. "You're taking it sensible, and
that's the best way. If we've any luck to-night, you'll go aboard afore
morning. There, I mustn't stop."

He hurried down, closing and fastening the trap, and Jem pointed to the
food.

"Eat away, Mas' Don, and work same time. Strikes me we sha'n't go
aboard afore close upon daylight, for they've got us all shut up here
snug, so as no one shall know, and they don't dare take us away while
people can see. Strikes me they won't get all the men aboard this time,
eh, Mas' Don?"

"Not if we can prevent it," said Don, with his hand upon the rough piece
of sacking which covered his share of the work. "Think it's safe to
begin again?"

"Ay! Go on. Little at a time, my lad, and be ready to hide it as soon
as you hears a step."

In spite of their trouble, they ate with a fair appetite, sharpened
perhaps by the hope of escape, and the knowledge that they must not be
faint and weak at the last moment.

The meal was finished, and all remaining silent, they worked on
unravelling the sacking, and rolling up the yarn, Don thinking of home,
and Jem whistling softly a doleful air.

"If we don't get away, Mas' Don," he said, after a pause, "and they take
us aboard ship and make sailors of us--"

"Don't talk like that, Jem! We must--we will get away."

"Oh, yes, it's all very well to talk, Mas' Don, but it's as well to be
prepared for the worst. Like as not we sha'n't get away, and then we
shall go aboard, be made sailors, and have to fight the French."

"I shall not believe that, Jem, till it takes place."

"I shall, my lad, and I hope when I'm far away as your mother, as is a
reg'lar angel, will do what's right by my Sally, as is a married woman,
but only a silly girl after all, as says and does things without
thinking what they mean. I was horrid stupid to take so m