, men? Surrender at once; you can't escape."

No reply, but those above could hear the scuffling noise of those
descending and the rattle of a heavy stone, followed by a dull plunge.

"Your blood be on your own heads, then," said the officer who had now
come up. "Once more: in the queen's name, surrender!"

No answer, but the hurried rustle of the descending fugitives.

Sharp orders were given, and then came the fatal word:

"Fire!"

Several rifles rattled out their deadly challenge now, and as the
warders peered over into the darkness, up through the heavy smoke came a
peculiar snarl, more like the cry of a savage beast than the utterance
of a human throat, while directly after, sending a thrill of horror
through the men who were looking down, there was the sound of the heavy
plunge as of something falling from a great height into the sea.

Then silence, save that the heavy breathing of the warders was audible
as they listened for the cry, "Help!" which they expected to hear from
the water when the wounded man rose to the surface, not one of the guard
daring in his own mind to think upon either of the shots fired as being
fatal.

At that moment there was a flash from off the sea a quarter of a mile
away, and a few moments later another glare, both sending a brilliant
path of light across the smooth water. And now, plainly seen in the
midst of a bluish halo on the black night, there stood out the rigging
and hull of a ship, with figures moving here and there; two boats were
lowered down, and directly after the water flashed and sparkled as oars
were dipped, and the man-of-war cutters, with their armed crews, were
rowed in toward the rocks.

By this time there were fresh arrivals on the cliff path, the firing
having drawn there men bearing lanterns, and the officer in charge
shouted:

"Got them?"

"No, sir," said the first officer respectfully. "Sergeant Liss is down
badly hurt with a stone, and Raddon's shoulder is hurt."

"But the prisoners, man?" cried the newcomer, evidently one high in
authority.

"I'm afraid, sir--"

"The prisoners?"

"Below here somewhere, sir--two of them."

"Yes, and the other?"

"We were obliged to fire, sir, and there was a cry, and we heard one
fall into the sea."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

FREE!

It was a slim, grey-haired, military looking man who listened to these
words with the light of one of the lanterns full upon his face, which
contracted into a heavy frow