shouted:

"Now, then, you in the boat, it's of no use. Surrender, in the King's
name!"

The splashing made by the oars ceased, and Tom put his lips close to
Aleck's ear.

"You arn't going to surrender, are yer, Master Aleck?"

"No; use your oar as a pole, and get us farther away."

"Do you hear there?" cried another voice. "Heave-to, or I'll fire."

"All gammon, Master Aleck; I know. Don't believe they've got any
pistols."

"There was a shot fired," said Aleck.

"Orficer's, p'raps, sir. Here, I can't do no good a-poling; it's
getting deeper here."

"Scull then," said Aleck; "and be careful. They've got boats
somewhere."

Just then there was a flapping noise, which gave them a turn.

"What's that?" said Aleck, sharply.

"Wind got the sail loose," said Tom. "There's a nice breeze coming on.
Shall I shake out a reef or two of the sail, sir?"

"Yes, if you think we can see to steer?"

"Dunno about that, sir. We must go gently, and feel."

The next few minutes were devoted to preparations for spreading a
portion of the canvas to the light breeze, as they listened to hail
after hail from the shore; and then, as they began to glide softly
along, one of the hails from the shore bidding them heave-to was
answered from round to their right.

"Ay, ay, sir!"

"Keep a sharp look out for a boat somewhere off here. Three prisoners
in her escaping."

"My hye!" muttered Tom Bodger. "That's nice. Resisting the law too.
Strikes me as we're going to be in a mess."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

Aleck, in the midst of his excitement in his novel position, had
somewhat similar thoughts to those of his rough sailor companion. For
what was he doing, he asked himself--resisting the King's men performing
a duty--for a duty it was, however objectionable it might be--and
helping a man they were trying to impress. Worse still, trying to
secure the liberty of a well-known smuggler, one of the leading spirits
in as determined a gang as existed on the coast.

It was that appeal for the sake of the wife and children that had turned
the scale in Eben's favour, and, as Aleck argued now to himself as they
glided steadily over the waters of the outer harbour, what was done was
done, and to hang back now would mean capture and no mercy, for he would
probably find himself bundled aboard the sloop-of-war and no heed paid
to his remonstrances.

"Say, Master Aleck," was suddenly whispered to him, "I hope Eben Megg
arn't going