CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

Gurr continued his search till it was quite dark, and then tramped his men back to the cove, where the boat-keeper was summoned, and the boat with her crew, saving d.i.c.k, were sent back to the cutter, one of the men bearing a message from Gurr to say that he was going to stay ash.o.r.e till he had found Mr Raystoke, and asking the lieutenant to send the boat back for him if he did not approve.

It was a very dark row back to the cutter, but her lights shone out clearly over the smooth sea, forming good beacons for the men to follow till the boat was run alongside.

"Got them, Mr Gurr?" came from the deck.

"No sir, and Mr Gurr's stopping at one of the fishermen's cottages ash.o.r.e to keep on the search."

"Tut, tut!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the lieutenant as he turned away and began to pace the deck.

"Beg'n' pardon, sir, Mr Gurr said--"

"Well, well, well, what did Mr Gurr say? Pity he did not do more and not say so much."

"Said as his dooty, sir, and would you send the boat for him if you did not think he'd done right."

"No, sir! His Majesty's boats are wanted for other purposes than running to and fro to fetch him aboard. Let him stay where he is till he finds Mr Raystoke and brings him back aboard."

"Dear, dear," muttered the lieutenant as he walked to and fro. "To think of the boy being missing like this.--Now you, sirs, in with that boat.--Where can he be? Not the lad to go off on any prank.--There, go below and get something to eat, my lads.--All comes of being sent into a miserable little boat like this to hunt smugglers."

"Ahoy!" came from forward.

"What's that?" cried the lieutenant, and an answer came from out of the blackness ahead.

"What boat's that?" shouted the man on the watch. "Mine," came in a low growl. "What is it?"

"Want to see the skipper."

There was a little bustle forward, in the midst of which a boat came up alongside, and the man in it was allowed to come on board.

He was a big, broad-shouldered, heavy fellow, with rough black beard and dark eyes, which glowered at those around as a lanthorn was held up by one of the men. "Where's the skipper?" he growled. "Bring the man aft," cried the lieutenant. "This way."

"All right, mate; I can find my way; I aren't a baby," said the man as he took three or four strides, lifting up his big fisherman's boots, and setting them heavily down upon the deck as if they were something separate from him which he had brought on board.

"Now, my man, brought news of him?" cried the lieutenant eagerly. "Eh?"

And the great fellow seemed to tower over the little commander.

"I say, have you brought news of the boy?"

"What boy?"

"Haven't you come to tell me where he is?"

"Here, what yer talking about?" growled the man. "I aren't come 'bout no boys."

"Then, pray, why have you come?"

"Send them away," said the man in a hoa.r.s.e whisper.

He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, and the lieutenant was about to give an order but altered his mind, for he suspected the man's mission, not an unusual one in those days.

"Come into my cabin, sir," he said imperiously, and as he turned and strutted off, making the most of his inches, the giant--for such he was by comparison--stumbled after him, making the deck echo to the sound of his great boots.

"Now, sir," said the lieutenant haughtily, "what is your business?"

The man leaned forward, and there was a leer on his bearded face seen by the dull swinging oil-lamp, as, half covering his mouth, he whispered hoa.r.s.ely behind his hands--

"Like Hollands gin, master?"

"What do you mean, sir?" cried the lieutenant. "Speak out, for I have no time to lose."

"Oh, I'll speak plainly enough," growled the man; "on'y do you like it?"

"Do you mean that a foreign vessel is going to land a quant.i.ty of Hollands to-night?"

"Never said nothing o' the sort, Master Orficer. Why, if I was to come and say a thing like that, and folks ash.o.r.e knowed on it, there'd be a haxiden."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Some un would run up agin me atop o' the cliff, and I should go over, and there'd be an end o' me."

"You mean to say that if it was known that you informed, you would be in peril of your life?"

"No, I don't mean to say nothing o' the kind, master. I only says to you that there's going to be a drop to be got in a place I knows, and if you care to say to a chap like me--never you mind who he is--show me where this drop of Hollands gin is to be got, and I'll give you--for him, you know--fifty pounds, it would be done."

"Look here, my lad, if you have got any valuable information to give, wouldn't it be better for you to speak out plainly?"

"Didn't come twenty mile in my boat and get here in the dark, for you to teach me how to ketch fish, Master Orficer."

"Twenty miles!" said the lieutenant sharply; "where are you from?"

"Out o' my boat as is made fast 'longside. Is it fifty pound or aren't it?"

"Fifty pound is a great deal of money, my man. Your information may not be worth fifty pence. Suppose the boat does not come?"

"Why, o' course, you wouldn't pay."

"Oh, now I understand you. If we take the boat with the spirits I am to give you fifty pounds?"

"Me? Think I'm goin' to be fool enough to risk gettin' my neck broke for fifty pound? Nay, not me. You'll give it to me to give to him."

"And where is he?"

"Never you mind, master."