Cutlass and Cudgel Part 12

Ram got up, whistled softly, and went down to the boat.

"Want some more milk?" he said, with a grin.

"Silence, sir! Do you see those?"

"What, them tubs?"

"Yes, sir."

"Not till you got 'em. Wish I had!"

"I dare say you do, sir. Now, then: how did they come there?"

"Why, your chaps put 'em there. I see 'em just now."

"No, no; I mean in the sea and on that rock."

"Come there?" said Ram, with a vacant look.

"Yes, sir! How did they come there? Now, no trifling; out with it at once."

"Been a wreck, p'r'aps, and they're washed up."

"Bah!" cried the lieutenant.

"Ah, you may say 'Bah!' but they might. Why, there was a big ship's boat and a jib-boom washed up here one day; warn't there, Jem?"

"Yes," growled the rough-looking fellow, half-fisherman half farm-labourer. "And don't you 'member the big tub o' sugar, as was all soaked with water, till she was like treacle?"

"Ay, and the--"

"That will do--that will do!" cried the lieutenant.

"Washed up, eh? What's in those kegs?"

"I know," cried Ram, showing his teeth, and looking at Archy. "Full o'

hoysters! Give us one!"

"Come, sir; this won't do for me. You know as well as I do what's in those kegs. Where are the rest?"

"Rest?" said Ram, looking round. "Are there any more of 'em?"

"Yes, I'll be bound there are. Now, then, out with it, if you want to save your skin."

"Skin? That's what father said this morning about the cow; but she wasn't drowned."

"Look here, boy. All this sham innocency won't do for me. Now, then, if you will tell me where the other kegs are, you shall have a reward; if you don't, you'll go to prison as sure as you're there. Jump ash.o.r.e, two of you, and arrest them before they run."

Ram turned, and stared at Jemmy Dadd with an ill-used countenance.

"What does he mean, Jemmy?"

The man shook his head.

"Do you know where the other little barrels are?"

"Wish I did," grumbled Jemmy. "Say, master, what would you give a man if he showed you where they were?"

"Ten guineas; perhaps twenty," said the lieutenant eagerly.

"Ten guineas! Twenty pounds!" said Jemmy, taking off his red worsted cap, and rubbing his head. "My! Was they your'n? Did you lose 'em?"

"No," roared the lieutenant; "it's plain enough, and you know. A cargo has been run here on this ledge. Now, then; it's no use to try and hide it. You know where it is; so will you gain a reward by giving evidence, or will you go to prison?"

Jemmy shook his head, and gave Ram a puzzled look.

"We came after our cow, sir, please," said the latter, looking up at the sailor, who stood with a hand upon his arm, while Jemmy did the same.

"Here, boy!" cried the lieutenant. "You know what a lot of money ten guineas would be?"

"Yes," said Ram grinning.

"Why, you could buy yourself a watch and chain, and be doing your duty to the king as well. Come, did you see a French boat down here last night?"

"No," said Ram. "It was so foggy."

"You are playing with me, sir. Now then, will you answer?"

"I did answer," said Ram meekly. "Didn't I, Jemmy?"

"Jump ash.o.r.e, you two," said the lieutenant, "and have a good search all among those rocks. The cargo's there for certain. You two others," he continued, "draw cutla.s.ses, and keep guard over the prisoners."

His orders were obeyed, and the two men stood by guarding Ram, Jemmy, and the cow, who blinked her eyes and smelt at the sea water from time to time, raised her head and uttered a soft low, which was answered from the green top of the cliff two hundred feet above them, where another cow stood gazing down.

The lieutenant and Archy stood up in the boat watching and directing as d.i.c.k and his companion searched about in all directions along the lower ledge, and then managed to climb up to the one twenty feet above, where the next minute d.i.c.k gave a shout.

"Hah!" cried the lieutenant joyfully. "He has found them."

Ram shut one of his eyes at Jemmy, who made a rumbling noise, but his face did not change.

"What is it, my lad?"

"Cave," cried d.i.c.k.

"What's in it?"

"Lobster-pots and old sail. All wore out."