"Watch well, Lilly," replied the woman, who was throwing more wood on the fire.
"I see a vessel, mother. It is a sloop beating to the eastward."
"A coaster, child?"
"No, mother, I think not. No, it is no coaster--it is that king's vessel, I think, but the glare of the sun is too great. When he rises higher I shall make it out better."
"Which do you mean, the king's cutter on the station, the Yungfrau?"
"Yes, mother," replied Lilly, "it is. I'm sure it is the Yungfrau."
"Then it is from her that the boats came last night. She must have received some information. There must be treachery somewhere; but we'll soon find that out."
It may appear singular that Lilly could speak so positively as to a vessel at a great distance; but it must be remembered that she had been brought up to it, nearly all her life. It was her profession, and she had lived wholly with seamen and seamen's wives, which will account for her technical language being so correct. What Lilly said was true; it was the Yungfrau, which was beating up to regain her port, and having to stem a strong ebb-tide during the night, had not made very great progress.
"There are three other vessels in the offing," said Lilly, looking round, "a ship and two brigs, both going down channel:" and as she said this, the little thing dropped lightly from rock to rock till she stood by her mother, and commenced rubbing her hands before the now blazing fire.
"Nancy must go over to Portsmouth," observed the mother, "and find out all about this. I hardly know whom to suspect; but let Nancy alone, she'll ferret out the truth--she has many gossips at the Point. Whoever informed against the landing, must know of this cave."