"Ah! the neighbours hev been too stirred up in their minds to tell 'ee. No one hain't seed Jake since Wednesday night, and 'tis the question we all do axe, whether he be in the land o' the livin' or not."
"Dear name! Do 'ee tell me?" cried Tonkin. "Bean't he with the carriers?"
"Seemingly not," said one of the women. "I seed yer missis cryin' her eyes out yesterday, neighbour Zacky."
"Maybe he's took away for a sojer or sailor," suggested Doubledick. "He wented up-along to pluck mistletoe, so 'tis said, and maybe was pounced on by some rovin' sergeant on dark lonesome moor."
At this moment a cheer was heard from the direction of the hill, and then the ringing clatter of horses' hoofs. A boy ran up.
"Riding-officer and sojers be comin' down hill," he cried.
Tonkin darted a glance around. The horsemen were approaching at a walking pace down the steepest part of the descent. It suddenly flashed upon him that his lugger had a cargo of contraband on board, which it behoved him to secure before the riding-officer could lay hands on it. For the moment his anxiety for Jake was eclipsed.
"Lunnan Cove an hour after sundown," he whispered to Doubledick, then slipped away, and ran at headlong speed along the jetty. Four of the fishermen at the same moment set off with him, but instead of going on the jetty, they hastened at the double along the beach, following its curve towards the southern end of the reef.
All this time the lugger had lain within the reef. Pennycomequick, proud of his achievement, was waiting until, the excitement on shore having subsided, he could run her in and draw all eyes to himself.
On reaching the end of the jetty, Tonkin, one of the very few fishermen who could swim, dived into the water and swam towards his vessel. Pennycomequick flung him a rope. He heaved himself on board, secured one of the smaller boats which the Frenchmen had set adrift, and made it fast by the painter to the stern of the lugger. Then he hauled up the anchor, and hoisted sail, apparently with the intention of running in to the jetty. All his movements were deliberate.