ather would
send some of his active allies into the bed of the stream lower down, to
advance upward, probably before the whistle was blown.

"And then the scoundrels will be in a regular trap before they know it,"
thought Nic, as he strained his ears to catch the sound of the sailors
being stationed in their hiding-places; but all was still save the soft
humming roar of the falling water plunging into the pool.

An hour passed very slowly, and Nic's cramped position began to affect
him with the tingling sensation known as pins and needles; this he did
not attribute to the movement of his nerve-currents eager to reach his
toes and fill him with a desire to kick his enemies, but quietly changed
his position and waited, trembling with excitement, and longing now to
get the matter over, fully satisfied as he was that his friends were all
in position and ready for the fray.

At last!

There was a sharp crack, as if someone had trodden upon a piece of
dead-wood away up to the right. Then another crack and a rustling, and
an evident disregard of caution.

"Come along, my lads," said a low, harsh voice; and then there was a
splash, as if a man had lowered himself into the water. "They had
enough of it last time, and won't come this, I'll wager. If they do,
we're half as many again, and we'll give 'em such a drubbing as'll stop
'em for long enough."

"Needn't shout and holloa," said another voice from the side. "Keep
quiet. We don't want to fight unless we're obliged."

"Oh no, of course not!" said the man with the harsh voice mockingly.
"If we do have to, my lads, two of you had better take Pete Burge home
to his mother."

There was a low laugh at this, and Pete remained silent as far as making
any retort was concerned, but directly after Nic felt a singular thrill
run through him as the man said softly:

"Three of you get there to the mouth and drop the net across and hold
it, for the fish will make a rush that way. Don't be afraid of the
water. Shove the bottom line well round the stones, and keep your feet
on it. A lot got away last time."

There was the sound of the water washing as men waded along the side of
the great circular pool, and then the whishing of a net being dropped
down and arranged.

"Ha, ha!" laughed a man; "there's one of 'em. Come back again' my legs.
He's in the net now. Can't get through."

"Now then," cried the harsh-voiced fellow; "open those lanthorns and get
your links aligh