m the wrong sort. Can't alter now."

"You know your own affairs best, Eben," said Aleck, quietly; "but I
expect they'll catch you, and then you'll be obliged to serve."

"I expecks so too, Master Aleck, but I mean to have a fight for it
first. There we are. P'raps you'd better take the tiller now and run
your boat into the gap. You know the way better than I do. You, too,
Tom Bodger."

The latter went forward, to stand boat-hook in hand, while, after
passing the tiller to the lad, Eben laid hold of the rope and loosened
it from the pin, ready to lower down the yard as soon as Aleck passed
the word.

The next minute the boat had been run into the narrow jaws of the great
chasm, the sail had been lowered, and after they had glided some
distance along, helped by the boat-hook deftly wielded by Tom Bodger,
the smuggler suddenly sprang out on to a shelf of rock at the side.

"What are you doing?" cried Aleck. "You can't get up there in the
dark."

"Can't I, sir? You wait, and I'll hail you from the top before you get
up to your mooring-rings."

The smuggler kept his word, a low farewell shout coming from on high,
and echoing in whispers right along the gap.

"Good-night or good morning!" he cried, and then he was gone.

"I couldn't have got up there even in daylight, Tom," said Aleck.

"Nor me nayther, sir. Might ha' done it once upon a time, but wooden
legs arn't the best kind o' gear for rock-climbing, sir, any more than
they are for manning the yards aboard ship; and that's why I was
pensioned-off."

"Yes, Tom; but what about you to-night?"

"Me, sir? I'm a-going to kiver mysen up with the sail and snooze away
in the bottom of the boat."

"Very well; and I'll bring you something to eat as soon as I get in."

"Thankye, sir; that's about the right sort for me, as I didn't make much
of a business over that there bread and cheese; and here we are!"

"Make her fast, Tom," cried Aleck, springing out. "I want to go and
explain to uncle. I wonder what he'll say," the lad continued, to
himself, as he hurried up the slope. "He can't be so very cross when he
knows all."

There was a candle burning in the kitchen window, evidently placed there
to light the wanderer on his return up the gloomy depression; and, after
glancing up at his uncle's room, to see that all was dark there, the lad
made for the kitchen door.

This was opened, and in a voluble whisper the housekeeper began:

"Oh, Master Aleck, I