eeded though; which was lucky."

"Yes: I still stay at the Jean Auberge."

"Do you know, Sieur Clubin, how I recognised you? It was from your
having recognised me. I said to myself, there is nobody like Sieur
Clubin for that."

And he advanced a step.

"Stand back where you were, Rantaine."

Rantaine fell back, and said to himself:

"A fellow becomes like a child before one of those weapons."

Sieur Clubin continued:

"The position of affairs is this: we have on our right, in the direction
of St. Enogat, at about three hundred paces from here, another
coast-guardman--his number is 618--who is still alive; and on our left,
in the direction of St. Lunaire--a customs station. That makes seven
armed men who could be here, if necessary, in five minutes. The rock
would be surrounded; the way hither guarded. Impossible to elude them.
There is a corpse at the foot of this rock."

Rantaine took a side-way glance at the revolver.

"As you say, Rantaine, it is a pretty tool. Perhaps it is only loaded
with powder; but what does that matter? A report would be enough to
bring an armed force--and I have six barrels here."

The measured sound of the oars became very distinct. The boat was not
far off.

The tall man regarded the little man curiously. Sieur Clubin spoke in a
voice more and more soft and subdued.

"Rantaine, the men in the boat which is coming, knowing what you did
here just now, would lend a hand and help to arrest you. You are to pay
Captain Zuela ten thousand francs for your passage. You would have made
a better bargain, by the way, with the smugglers of Pleinmont; but they
would only have taken you to England; and besides, you cannot risk going
to Guernsey, where they have the pleasure of knowing you. To return,
then, to the position of affairs--if I fire, you are arrested. You are
to pay Zuela for your passage ten thousand francs. You have already paid
him five thousand in advance. Zuela would keep the five thousand and be
gone. These are the facts. Rantaine, you have managed your masquerading
very well. That hat--that queer coat--and those gaiters make a wonderful
change. You forgot the spectacles; but did right to let your whiskers
grow."

Rantaine smiled spasmodically. Clubin continued:

"Rantaine, you have on a pair of American breeches, with a double fob.
In one side you keep your watch. Take care of it."

"Thank you, Sieur Clubin."

"In the other is a little box made of wrought iron, which