m safe, stoopid," cried the
smuggler, angrily. "Master Aleck, sir, thankye kindly for helping a
poor desprit fellow. I can't say much, but my poor little wife'll say:
`Gord bless yer for this for the sake of our weans.'"

"There, don't talk about it, Eben; only let it be a lesson to you not to
go smuggling any more. Do you bear?"

"Yes, sir, I hear; but this hadn't nothing to do with running a cargo or
two. We was unlucky enough to be in Rockabie, and someone has sold us
to the press-gang. Warn't you, were it, mate?"

"Get out!" growled Tom; "is it likely?"

"No. Someone did, but I don't believe it was old Double Dot, Master
Aleck."

"And you believe I didn't, now?"

"B'lieve yer? Yes, sir; and I'll never forget this night."

"Look here," growled Tom, "hadn't you and him better be quiet, Master
Aleck? You're both talking very fine about saving and gettin' free and
never forgettin', and all the time there's boats out arter us and they
may be clost up for all I can say. It's about the darkest night I was
ever out in."

"Let me get up, mate, and have a look round," said the smuggler.

"Think he's safe, Master Aleck?"

"Oh, yes, of course. Let him get up and try if he can make out where we
are."

"But I can't get him down again if he goes off his head, sir, and tries
to turn us out of the boat."

The smuggler uttered a low, mocking laugh.

"Bit too strong for yer, eh, Tommy?"

"Ay; but you wouldn't be if I was all here. There; get up then."

Tom's legs rattled on the planks of the boat as he rolled himself off
and stood up and listened to the smuggler with a low, deep sigh as he
sat up, tried to stand, and sat down again in the bottom of the little
craft.

"Bit giddy," he said, apologetically; "things seems to swim round."

He had put his hands up to his head as he spoke. Then suddenly:

"Who tied my head up with a hankychy?"

"I did," growled Tom, surlily, "and just you mind as your missus washes
it out and irons it flat for you to give it me agen next time you comes
to Rockabie."

"I will, mate," said the smuggler, quietly. "There," he added, after
drawing a long, deep breath, "I'm beginning to come right again. Yes,
it is a bit dark to-night," he added, after staring about him for a
minute or two. Then, uttering a sharp ejaculation, "Here, quick, put
your helm hard up, Master Aleck. Quick, my lad; can't you see where
you're going?"

"No," said Aleck, obeying the order quickly,