In the Kings Name | Page 9

they'll drop down alongside and put me aboard, and I'll
pilot you just to the place where you can lie in the cove out of sight till
the schooner comes in. If I come in my little boat the boys on shore
would make signals, and the schooner would keep off, but if they see
us go as usual out in our lugger they'll pay no heed. But don't you come
in a bit nigher than this. Now I'm off!"
Lieutenant Lipscombe stood thinking for a few minutes after the man
had gone, stealing over the side of the cutter farthest from the shore, so
that when his boat drifted by it was not likely that his visit on board
would have been seen.
Then turning to Hilary:
"What do you think of it, Leigh?"
"It may be a ruse to get us away."
"Yes, it may be, but I don't think it is. 'Bout ship, there!" he shouted;
and the great boom of the mainsail slowly swung round, and they sailed
nearly out of sight of land by sundown, when the helm was once more
rammed down hard, the cutter careened round in a half circle, and as
the white wings were swelling, they made once more for the coast.

It was about nine o'clock of a deliciously soft night, and the moist
sweet air that came off the shore was sweetly fragrant of flowers and
new-mown hay. The night was cloudy, and very dusky for the time of
year, a fact so much in their favour, and with the watch on the alert, for
the lieutenant would not call the men to quarters in case the informer
did not come, he and Hilary leaned over the side, gazing at the scattered
lights that twinkled on the shore.
An hour and a half had passed away, and the time, which a church
clock ashore had struck, ten, seemed to have far exceeded this hour,
when, as they all watched the mist which hung between them and the
invisible shore, a light was suddenly seen to come as it were out of a
bank of fog, and glide slowly towards them, but as if to go astern.
The cutter had a small lamp hoisted to the little masthead, and the
lieutenant knew that this would be sufficient signal of their
whereabouts, and so it proved, for the gliding light came nearer and
nearer, and soon after a voice they both recognised hailed them.
"Cutter ahoy!"
"Ahoy!"
The light came on nearer and nearer, and at last they could dimly make
out the half-hoisted sails of a small fishing lugger, which was run
cleverly enough close alongside, her occupants holding on by
boathooks.
"Mind what you are doing there," cried the lieutenant sharply; "jump
aboard, my man."
"All right, captain."
"Go down and get my sword, Leigh," whispered the lieutenant; "and
put on your own."
It was as if just then an idea had occurred to him that there might be
treachery, and the thought seemed to be communicated to Hilary, who

ran down below, caught up the two swords from the hooks where they
hung upon the bulkhead, and was on his way up, when the lieutenant
came down upon him with a crash, there was the rattling on of the
hatch, the trampling of feet, and a short scuffle, and as Hilary leaped
over his prostrate officer, and, sword in hand, dashed up at the hatch, it
was to find it fastened, for they had been cleverly trapped, and without
doubt the cutter was in the smuggler's hands.
CHAPTER FOUR.
IN COMMAND.
Hilary Leigh was only a boy, and he acted boyishly at that moment, for
in his rage and mortification he first of all struck at the hatch with his
fist, and then shouted to the people on deck.
"Here, hi! you sirs, open this hatch directly."
But as he shouted he knew that his order was absurd, and tucking the
lieutenant's sword under his arm he buckled on his own before leaping
down to where his leader lay.
"Are you much hurt, sir?" he asked; but there was no answer.
"I've got a orfle whack side o' the head, sir," growled Tom Tully.
"So've I, sir," said another man.
"Serve you right too, for not keeping a good lookout," cried Hilary
savagely; "here, it's disgraceful! A king's ship taken by a set of
smuggling rascals. Look alive, there, my lads. Here, you marines, be
smart. Where's Billy Waters?"
"Here, sir," cried that worthy.
"Serve out the arms smart, my man. Two of you carry the lieutenant
into the cabin. Steady there! He isn't dead."

For two of the men had been seen, by the dim light of a horn lantern, to
seize their commanding officer in the most unceremonious way,