as fast as
you could?"

"Yes; but it wasn't fast, for the wind kept dropping. But how did you
know this?"

"Never you mind how I knowed. You knowed that me and four mates came
over here last night."

"That I didn't," cried Aleck. "What for--to run a cargo?"

"Never you mind what for, my lad. You knowed we'd come."

"That I didn't. I hadn't the least idea you had. But how did you know
I got out the glass to have a look at the vessels? Bah! You couldn't
know if you were over here. No one saw me but old Dunning. It's
impossible."

"Is it?" said the man, with a sneer. "Then we arn't got a glass at
Eilygugg, of course, eh, and nobody left behind to look out for squalls
and run across to tell us to look out when they see the wind changing?
So, you see, clever as you think yourself, you're found out, my lad.
Now do you see?"

"I see that you're on the wrong tack, Eben," said the lad, scornfully,
"and let me tell you that you've been talking a lot of nonsense. I
don't see why I should tell you. It's absurd to accuse me of being a
spy and informer. Do you suppose we up at the Den want to be on bad
terms with all the fishermen and--and people about?"

"You mean to say you haven't put the boat's crew yonder up to taking me
and my mates?"

"Of course I do. Why, I haven't even spoken to the officer, only to the
midshipman."

"Well, it looks very bad," growled the man, gazing at the lad,
searchingly.

"If you think a press-gang is likely to come ashore to get hold of you
and your mates, why don't you slip off into the hills for a bit?"

The man stared, and his features relaxed a little and a little more, and
he caught Aleck by the sleeve.

"Look here, Master Aleck," he said; "the captain yonder's a gentleman,
though we arn't very good friends, but he never did anything to get any
of us took."

"Of course he didn't."

"Wouldn't like you to, p'raps."

"Why, of course he wouldn't. If the fleet want men they'll get them
somehow, and the Revenue cutter will hunt out the smugglers sooner or
later; but for you to think that I'm on the look-out always to do you a
bad turn--why, it's downright foolishness, Eben."

"Well, I'm beginning to think it is, my lad," said the man, smiling;
"but that's just what they thought at home, and my young brother Bill
ran across to give us the warning. I put that and that together, and I
felt as sure as sure that you'd come over to inform agen us."

"But you don't bel