or? Don't I tell you I've heard him before, crying for help? He
must have broken an arm or a leg, or he would have climbed back."

"If he could," said the smuggler, grimly. "Here, hold hard a minute.
Don't you stir, on yer life."

"Oh, I'm not going to run any risks!" said Aleck, coolly. "I know it's
dangerous."

"Very," said the hunted man, in a peculiar tone and with a peculiar
look. "You stand fast, my lad."

He had for some time released his hold of the lad, and turned to
re-mount the rock.

"What are you going to do?" said Aleck.

"Hush! Don't shout like that, youngster. Don't I tell you the cutter's
men saw me and are after me?"

"Oh, yes; of course," said Aleck, coolly; "but, look here; you hide a
bit, and I'll call them."

"What!" gasped the smuggler, in his astonishment. "What for? To take
me?"

"No, no! They could help to find the poor fellow lying somewhere below
there."

"No, they couldn't," said the man, fiercely. "You be quiet there, I
say."

"Well, of course you don't want to be taken, and I don't want them to
take you, Eben."

"Say that again, lad," cried the man, excitedly.

"What for? I say I don't want the press-gang to drag you away, even if
you are a smuggler."

"Why?" cried the man, excitedly.

"Because it seems so hard on your poor wife."

"Hah-ah-ah!" ejaculated the man, softly, as he turned away his face and
spoke more gently. "You keep quiet here, Master Aleck, while I go and
see what the cutter's men are about. I won't be long, and when they've
gone I'll help you to find the poor fellow for saying that."

"For saying what?"

"Your words about my poor lass. Master Aleck, I'm a bad 'un, but she
don't think so, and if I don't get back to her it'll be the death of the
poor gal. Now, after my saying that soft stuff will you go and split
upon me?"

"Betray you? No, you know I won't."

"Yes, I know you won't, my lad. You allus was a gentleman, Master
Aleck. There, I'm off. I shan't be long, and when I come back I'll
help you to find the poor chap as is hurt."

"Thank you, Eben; but mind the men don't take you."

"I'll mind, my lad; but if there's an accident and I don't come back you
wait till the cutter's men have rowed me away, and then you go and tell
the missus. Say she's to help you find the poor chap as is hurt and get
him away."

"But she couldn't climb about here, Eben."

"Better than you can, my lad."

"Very well, then. Thank you," sa