“I say,” he cried again, addressing Archy, “is that thing sharp?”
The midshipman did not condescend to answer, but stood gazing thoughtfully over the side, till the boat gradually seemed to die away in the faint mist of the coming night.
“Well, Raystoke, what are you thinking?” said a voice behind him, and he started round.
“I was just thinking of coming to you, sir.”
“Eh, what for?”
“It seems to me, sir, that if that cargo was run, and is hidden anywhere near, they’ll be moving it to-night.”
“Of course. Raystoke, you’ll be a great man some day. I shouldn’t have thought of that. Well, what do you propose?”
“To go ashore, and watch.”
“Of course. My dear boy, if you can help me to capture a few of these wretched people, I shall get promoted to a better ship, and you shall come with me. I won’t rest till I am post-captain, and as soon as you can pass, you shall be my lieutenant. There, select your crew and be off at once.”
“No, sir; that will not do. They’ll be on the watch, and if they see a boat’s crew land, they’ll do nothing to-night.”