nant
Fox of the revenue cutter Clasper.

"In the Queen's name, I arrest you, Carver Kinlay!" said the
officer in a firm, loud voice.

"Not so easily," said Kinlay, who was evidently determined not to
surrender himself without resistance; and planting one foot firmly
on the little bridge which spanned the stream, he drew a large
revolver and pointed it full at the lieutenant's head.

Standing very near to him, in a dark crevice at his right hand, I
saw the movement. I saw Carver's eyes flash in the torchlight, and
just as the click of the trigger sounded I sprang quickly forward
and knocked the man's hand upward. The shot rattled among the
stalactites of the roof, and the report filled the cavern with
deafening noise.

Kinlay was utterly taken aback by what happened, and as the weapon
fell from his hand and dropped into the deep water, he turned
instinctively to see who had attacked him. Two of the cutter's men
thereupon crossed the planks and encountered him on the large flat
rock whence the casks had been taken, while I made my way past
them.

I was walking coolly over the little bridge, with my extinguished
lantern in my hand, when the lieutenant stepped forward and took me
by the collar.

"Aha, youngster!" he exclaimed, "I've seen you before. You've done
me a good turn, but I must take you nevertheless."

And he retained his hold of my jacket, giving directions to his men
the while.

I made a gentle protest, showing no resistance, and stood by the
officer, looking excitedly at the scuffle that ensued between the
smugglers and the revenue men. Tom Kinlay had already been seized
and dragged off to the cutter's boat. One of the smugglers had
retreated to the inner recesses of the cave, taking refuge in the
darkness, and the three others were having a severe fight with the
sailors, using large knives in their defence.

Two of them were speedily overpowered, one of them receiving a
serious wound in his side, the other a great cut across his cheek.
They were both taken to the boat, and there kept under strict
guard. The third man managed to get over to Kinlay.

Carver, on losing his pistol, had taken out his sheath knife, and
armed with this he fought with furious determination, standing with
his back against a wall of rock. One of his antagonists, in trying
to lay hold of his hand, was badly cut, and the other disabled by a
blow in the face. But when Carver was joined by his comrade there
was a rush of the