The man laughed softly.
“Thought I—I mean him—was to get fifty pounds, if you took the boat?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you must take her. Know what would happen if you went round that point into the bay?”
“Know what would happen?”
“I’ll tell yer. Soon as you got round into the bay, some o’ them ashore would see yer. Then up would go lights somewhere yonder on the hills, and the boat would go back.”
“Of course. I ought to have known better. Wait here then?”
“Well, I should, if I wanted to take her,” said the man coldly. “And I should have both my boats ready for my men to jump in, and cut her off as soon as she gets close in to the beach. She’ll come on just as the tide’s turning, so as to have no fear of being left aground.”
“You seem to know a good deal about it, my lad?” said the little lieutenant.
“Good job for you,” was the reply, as the sails were lowered, and the cutter lay close in under the cliff waiting. The boats were down, the men armed, and the guns loaded, ready in case the smuggler vessel should attempt to escape.