the order to "Be smart!"

In other words, to be ready to help their messmates returning with their
officer, well laden with fresh stores, which soon after were handed down
into the boat and stowed. Then the men took their places again, while
the officers took theirs, the order was given to cast off, there was a
thrust or two given by the coxswain, and the boat glided from the steps,
leaving Tom Bodger watching the movements, smiling, and thinking of the
past.

He smiled again as the oars were poised for a minute and then at a word
dropped to starboard and larboard with a splash before beginning to dip
with rhythmic regularity, the midshipman seizing the lines and steering
her for her run outward to the sloop.

"Well," said the midshipman, in a low voice, "what luck?"

"Pretty good," was the reply. "Not all I should like, but I've seen
enough to say that we ought to get a dozen smart fellows easily.
There's some game or another on I hear from a man I know--a sort of
meeting of fellows from along the coast--and Brown picked up a hint or
two."

"A meeting, sir?"

"Well, call it what you like. Brown thinks there's a cargo to be run
somewhere and that the men are here to make arrangements for getting it
inland."

"What, right under our noses?" said the midshipman.

"Of course; that's a far better way than right under our eyes, my lad.
Give way, lads. I want to get aboard, Mr Wrighton, to hear what the
captain and the lieutenant of the cutter have to say."

The sloop's boat passed out between the two arms of the little harbour
before Tom Bodger recommenced his polishing up in Aleck's boat.

"A pretty cutter," he said. "There arn't anything better worth looking
at afloat than a man-o'-war's launch or cutter well manned by a smart
crew. Makes me wish I'd got my understandings again and was an AB once
more. Not as I grumbles--not me. Rockabie arn't amiss, and things has
to be as they is. Here, let's get all ship-shape afore Master Aleck
comes. Wish I'd got a bit o' sand here to give them ring-bolts a rub or
two. I like to see his boat look a bit smart.

"Wonder what them two's come in for--they arn't lying off here for
nothing! Some 'un's been sending 'em word there's a cargo going to be
run along the shore, and so they've come in for soft tack and
wegetables. Haw! haw! haw!" he laughed, as he bent over his work.
"It's well I know that game. Fresh wegetables for the cook, a look
round to find out wha