“Yes, I have a boat.”
“And go coasting and fishing about close in. Do you mean to tell me you never found anything of the kind?”
“Yes.”
“And you never saw a cargo being landed—I mean a cargo of smuggled goods?”
“Never,” said Aleck.
“Then you must have been very unobservant, young gentleman. I presume that you have seen smugglers about here?”
Aleck’s face lit up, and he once more caught Ness’s eyes fixed upon him as he spoke.
“Oh, yes,” he said; “several.”
“And you could direct us to their cottages?”
“I could,” said Aleck, “but I’m not going to.”