agged hole through the
bottom.

Aleck drew a deep breath like a sigh, and Tom nodded his head sagely:

"Stone as big a killick, Master Aleck; that's what did that. Precious
big 'un too. Now, then, you be off and get they chaps here while I
chews it over a bit about how I'm to manage; but I tell yer this--it's
going to be dark afore I gets that done. What d'yer say about walking
over to the Den to tell the captain what's happened?"

"I say no, Tom. I'm going to stay here and help you. You won't mind
sailing over with me in the dark?"

"Not me, sir, and you needn't wherrit about what to do wi' me. I shall
spread a sail over the boat when we've got her moored back in the creek,
and creep under and sleep like a top. You'll give me a mug o' milk and
a bit o' bacon in the morning afore I start back?"

"Of course, of course, Tom. There, I'll run off at once."

"Hold hard a moment, Master Aleck. Mebbe you'll see them two beauties."

"I shouldn't wonder, Tom."

"Looking as innercent as a pair o' babbies, sir," said Tom, with a
knowing wink. "Then what you've got to do, sir, is look innercent too.
You arn't going to suspeck them for a minute, cause they wouldn't do
such a thing. We're a-going to wait till the right time comes."

"And we're quite sure, Tom?"

"That's it, Master Aleck; and then--physic."

Aleck laughed, in spite of the trouble he was in, for Tom's face was a
study of mysterious humour and conspiracy of the most solemn nature.
The next minute the lad was going an easy dog-trot along the pier
towards the town.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

"Hole in her bottom?" said the friendly fisherman who had presented the
brill, in answer to Aleck's application, "and want her brought ashore?
Sewerly, my lad, sewerly."

His application to the big fisherman who had taken his part over the
fight met with a precisely similar reply, when the lad found the men
collected with a number of their fellows outside one of the
public-houses, where something mysterious in the way of a discussion was
going on, and Aleck noted that their conversation ceased as soon as he
appeared, several of the men nudging each other and indulging in sundry
nods and winks.

But the lad was too full of his boat trouble to dwell upon the business
that seemed to have attracted the men together, and he led the way down
to the harbour with his two fishermen acquaintances, finding that all
the rest of the party followed them.

Had he wanted f