on a
thick cushion composed of many folds of sail-cloth, the bolt ropes and
reef points in which showed plainly that it had been in use possibly in
connection with some unfortunate vessel wrecked upon the rocks of the
iron-bound coast.

The face was familiar enough to Aleck as the midshipman hitched himself
up a little higher upon the elbow which supported him, and his new
visitor saw that the fierce eyes were not directed at him, but at the
smuggler who bore the lanthorn.

"Then you've come at last?" he said, fiercely. "Now, then, no more of
this tomfool acting; unlock this iron and take me out into the fresh
air, or as sure as you stand there, you great, black-muzzled,
piratical-looking scoundrel, I'll say such things about you to the
captain that he'll hang you to the yard-arm, and serve you right."

"What!" growled the smuggler. "Not got tame yet?"

"Tame, you miserable ruffian! How dare you speak to an officer in His
Majesty's Navy like that? There never was such an outrage before.
Unfasten these irons, I say, and take me out!"

"Why, skipper," said the smuggler, mockingly, "your temper gets worse
and worse."

"My temper, you dog!" cried the midshipman, furiously. "How dare you
treat me like this?"

"And how dare you come with your gang, knocking honest men on the head
and dragging them off to sea?" retorted Eben. "You'd think nothing of
putting them in irons because they wouldn't take to the sea. How do you
like it, my young springold?"

"I'm not going to argue with you, you ruffian, about that," cried the
midshipman. "Now, look here, that woman who brought me the wretched
food said she dare not and could not unlock that iron I've got round my
ankle, but that when her husband came I was to ask him. Now, then,
you're the husband, aren't you?"

"Oh, yes, I'm the husband, safe enough," growled the smuggler.

"Then I order you in the King's name to take these irons off."

"You wait a bit, captain," said the smuggler; "all in good time. Here,
take it coolly for a bit longer; I've brought you some company."

"Ah, who's that with you? I thought I saw someone and heard
whispering."

The smuggler held the lanthorn lower and opened the door, so that the
candle light shone full on Aleck's face.

"You?" cried the midshipman, excitedly. "Then I was right; I thought
you were one of the smuggling gang."

"Then you thought wrong," said Aleck, shortly.

"What do you want here?" cried the prisoner,