d hardly time to get
dressed before his uncle would be down.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

Captain Lawrence listened with knitted brows to his nephew's narration
of all that had taken place in the night, and shook his head.

"It's miserable work, my boy," he said; "so piteous for the poor women.
Well, perhaps good will come out of evil, and it may be the breaking up
of a notorious smuggling gang."

It was just as Aleck was finishing his third cup of coffee, which he set
down sharply in the saucer, startled by the sudden rush of the gardener
to the open window, through which he thrust his head without ceremony.

"Here's--" he began, excitedly. "Oh!"

For a big heavy hand appeared upon his shoulder, clutching him hard and
snatching him away.

"What is the meaning of this, boy?" cried the captain.

Aleck's head was already out of the window, and he drew it back again to
answer:

"A lot of sailors, uncle, and their officer."

The lad's words were followed by the appearance of Jane, whose eyes were
wide open and staring, her mouth following suit to some extent, so that
she had to close her lips before saying:

"Plee, sir, orficer, sir. To see you, sir."

The captain nodded shortly and rose to go, followed by Aleck, out into
the little ball, at whose door a naval officer and a boat's crew of men
were waiting.

"Good morning," said the officer, shortly; and then turning upon Aleck,
"Hallo, young man, I've seen you before!"

"Yes, in Rockabie harbour," said the lad, looking at him wonderingly,
while his heart began to beat fast as he glanced at the party of sturdy
sailors.

"Ah, to be sure," said the officer; then to the captain again, "You are
aware, I suppose, that we made a descent last night upon your nest of
smugglers here."

"I have just learned, sir, what took place," said the captain, coldly.

"Of course. Well, sir, in the struggle and after trouble with the
women, who resented the taking away of the men, the young officer of the
second boat was missed."

"Not the midshipman who was with your boat the other day?" said Aleck,
eagerly.

"Eh? Yes," cried the officer. "What do you know about him?"

"Only that we had a few words together."

"And you know that he was missed?"

"I did not know till you told me," said Aleck.

"Didn't know, I suppose, that there was that struggle over yonder by the
cove last night, eh?"

"Yes," said Aleck, frankly; "I saw some of it."

"Ah! Then you were with th