here I found
it."

They returned the ladder to the stable, and groped their way to the
place where they had entered.

Capper had taken Greensheve's position on the cope, and now he leaned
down his hand, and, first one and then the other, pulled them up.

Cautiously and silently, they dropped again upon the other side; nor did
they dare to speak until they had returned to their old ambush in the
gorse.

"Now, John Capper," said Dick, "back with you to Shoreby, even as for
your life. Bring me instantly what men ye can collect. Here shall be the
rendezvous; or if the men be scattered and the day be near at hand
before they muster, let the place be something farther back, and by the
entering in of the town. Greensheve and I lie here to watch. Speed ye,
John Capper, and the saints aid you to despatch. And now, Greensheve,"
he continued, as soon as Capper had departed, "let thou and I go round
about the garden in a wide circuit. I would fain see whether thine eyes
betrayed thee."

Keeping well outwards from the wall, and profiting by every height and
hollow, they passed about two sides, beholding nothing. On the third
side the garden wall was built close upon the beach, and to preserve the
distance necessary to their purpose, they had to go some way down upon
the sands. Although the tide was still pretty far out, the surf was so
high, and the sands so flat, that at each breaker a great sheet of froth
and water came careering over the expanse, and Dick and Greensheve made
this part of their inspection wading, now to the ankles, and now as deep
as to the knees, in the salt and icy waters of the German Ocean.

Suddenly, against the comparative whiteness of the garden wall, the
figure of a man was seen, like a faint Chinese shadow, violently
signalling with both arms. As he dropped again to the earth, another
arose a little farther on and repeated the same performance. And so,
like a silent watchword, these gesticulations made the round of the
beleaguered garden.

"They keep good watch," Dick whispered.

"Let us back to land, good master," answered Greensheve. "We stand here
too open; for, look ye, when the seas break heavy and white out there
behind us, they shall see us plainly against the foam."

"Ye speak sooth," returned Dick. "Ashore with us, right speedily."

CHAPTER II

A SKIRMISH IN THE DARK

Thoroughly drenched and chilled, the two adventurers returned to their
position in the gorse.

"I pray H