“Yes, I s’pose so, my lad, and you know what she’s hanging about this coast for?”

“I don’t for certain,” replied Aleck, “but I shouldn’t be a bit surprised if the captain wanted to press a few likely lads, if he could get hold of them.”

“Oh, you wouldn’t, wouldn’t you? I s’pose not,” said the man, in a sneering tone.

“Why, anybody would guess that.”

“P’raps they would and p’raps they wouldn’t, my lad; but, of course, you don’t know that there’s the little Revenue cutter that’s looking out for any little bit of smuggling going on?”

“Why, what nonsense you’re talking, Eben! Of course I knew.”

“Yes, of course you did, my lad; and you’ve got a spy-glass, haven’t you!”

“No; but I use my uncle’s.”

“That’s right; and when them two vessels come into sight ’smorning you got the glass out to see what they were?”

“Yes; directly.”