In the Kings Name | Page 8

don't want no hailing, sir; he's hailing of us," said Billy.
It was plain enough that the man was manoeuvring his cockleshell about, so as to get the cutter between it and the shore, and with pleasant visions in his mind of a lobster, crab, or some other fish to vary the monotony of the salt beef and pork, of which they had, in Hilary's thinking, far too much, he leaned over the side till the man allowed his boat to drift close up.
"Heave us a rope," he said. "Got any fish?"
"Yes. I want to see the captain."
"What for?"
"You'll see. I want the captain. Are you him?"
"No; he's down below."
"I want to see him. May I come aboard?"
"If you like," said Hilary; and the man climbed over the side.
He was a lithe, sunburnt fellow, and after looking at him for a few moments with a vague kind of feeling that he had seen him before, Hilary sent a message below, and Mr Lipscombe came up with his hand before his mouth to hide a yawn.
"Are you the captain?" said the man.
"I command this ship, fellow. What is it?"
"What'll you give me, captain, if I take you to a cove where they're going to run a cargo to-night?"
"Wait and see, my man. You take us there and you shall be rewarded."
"No, no," said the man laughing; "that won't do, captain. I'm not going to risk my life for a chance of what you'll give. I want a hundred pounds."
"Rubbish, man! Ten shillings," said Lipscombe sharply.
"I want a hundred pounds," said the man. "That there cargo's going to be worth two thousand pounds, and it's coming in a fast large French schooner from Havre. I want a hundred pounds, or I don't say a word."
A cargo worth two thousand pounds, and a smart French schooner! That would be a prize indeed, and it made the lieutenant's mouth water; but he still hesitated, for a hundred pounds was a good deal, perhaps more than his share would be. But still if he did not promise it they might miss the schooner altogether, for in spite of his vigilance he knew that cargoes were being run; so he gave way.
"Very well then, you shall have your hundred pounds."
"Now, captain?"
"Not likely. Earn your wages first."
"And then suppose you say you won't pay me? What shall I do?"
"I give you my word of honour as a king's officer, sir."
The man shook his head.
"Write it down," he said with all the low cunning of his class. The lieutenant was about to make an angry reply, but he wanted to take that prize, so he went below and wrote out and signed a memorandum to the effect that if, by the informer's guidance, the French schooner was taken, he should be paid one hundred pounds.
Lipscombe returned on deck and handed the paper to the fisherman, who took it and held it upside down, studying it attentively.
"Now you read it," he said to Hilary; who took it, and read it aloud.
"Yes," said the fellow, "that's it. Now you sign it."
Hilary glanced at his superior, who frowned and nodded his head; and the young man went below and added his signature.
"That'll do," said the man smiling. "Now look here, captain, as soon as I'm gone you sail right off out of sight if you can, and get her lying off the point by about ten o'clock--two bells, or whatever it is. Then you wait till a small lugger comes creeping off slowly, as if it was going out for the night with the drift-nets. I and my mates will be aboard that lugger, and 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