Cutlass and Cudgel Part 31

"Oh, well, there then; I'll give you the fifty pounds if I take the boat. Dutch?"

"P'raps. Shake hands on it."

"Is that necessary?" said the lieutenant, glancing with distaste at the great outstretched palm.

"Ay, shake hands on it, and you being a gentleman, you'll say, 'pon your honour."

"Oh, very well. There, upon my honour, we'll pay you if we take the boat."

"Oh you'll take her, fast enough," said the man with a hoa.r.s.e chuckle.

"Yah! There's no fight in them. They'll chatter and jabber a bit, and their skipper'll swear he'll do all sorts o' things, but you stick to the boat as soon as your lads are on board."

"Trust me for that," said the lieutenant. "Now, then, when is the cargo to be run?"

"T'night."

"And where?"

"Never you mind wheer. Get up your anchor, and make sail; I'll take the helm."

"What, do you think I am going to let a strange man pilot my vessel?"

"Yah!" growled the man; "shan't you be there, and if I come any games, you've got pistols, aren't you? But just as you like."

"Come on deck," said the lieutenant. "But one minute. I have lost a boy--gone ash.o.r.e. Have you seen one?"

"Not I; lots o' boys about, soon get another!"

The man went clumping on deck, and stepped over the side into his boat.

"What are you going to do?" said the lieutenant sharply.

"Make her fast astarn."

"Well, you need not have got into her, you could have led her round."

"This here's my way," said the man; and as the order was given to slip the anchor, with a small buoy left to mark its place, the informer secured his boat to one of the ringbolts astern, and then drew close in; and mounted over the bulwark to stand beside the man at the helm.

"What do you propose doing?" said the lieutenant.

"Tellin' o' you what I wants done, and then you tells your lads."

The lieutenant nodded, and in obedience to the suggestion of the man the stay-sail was hoisted; then up went the mainsail and jib, and the little cutter careened over to the soft land breeze as soon as she got a little way out from under the cliffs, which soon became invisible.

"Why, you aren't dowsed your lanthorns," whispered the man. "I'd have them down, and next time you have time just have down all your canvas, and get it tanned brown. Going about with lanthorns and white canvas is showing everybody where you are."

After a time, as they glided on, catching a glimpse of a twinkling light or two on the sh.o.r.e, the man grew a little more communicative, and began to whisper bits of information and advice to the lieutenant.

"Tells me," he said, "that she's choke full o' Hollands gin and lace."

"Indeed!" said the lieutenant eagerly.

"Ay, so that chap says. And there's plenty o' time, but after a bit I'd sarve out pistols and cutla.s.ses to the lads; you won't have to use 'em, but it'll keep those Dutchies from showing fight."

"That will all be done, my man."

"Going to get out four or five mile, master, and then we can head round, and get clear o' the long race and the skerries. After that I shall run in, and we'll creep along under the land. Good deep water for five-and-twenty miles there close under the cliff."

"Then you are making for Clayblack Bay?"

"Ah, you'll see," said the man surlily. "As long as you get to where you can overhaul the boat when she comes in, you won't mind where it is, Mister Orficer. There's no rocks to get on, unless you run ash.o.r.e, and 'tarn't so dark as you need do that, eh?"

"I can take care of that," said the lieutenant sharply; and the cutter, now well out in the north-east wind then blowing, leaned over, and skimmed rapidly towards the dark sea.

The reef that stretched out from a point, and formed the race where the tide struck against the submerged rocks, and then rushed out at right angles to the sh.o.r.e, had been pa.s.sed, and the cutter was steered on again through the clear dark night, slowly drawing nearer the dark sh.o.r.e line, till she was well in under the cliffs; with the result that the speed was considerably checked, but she was able to glide along at a short distance from the land, and without doubt invisible to any vessel at sea.

"There," said the great rough fellow, after three hours' sailing; "we're getting pretty close now. Bay opens just beyond that rock."

"Where I'll lie close in, and wait for her," said the lieutenant.

The man laughed softly.

"Thought I--I mean him--was to get fifty pounds, if you took the boat?"

"Yes."

"Well, you must take her. Know what would happen if you went round that point into the bay?"

"Know what would happen?"

"I'll tell yer. Soon as you got round into the bay, some o' them ash.o.r.e would see yer. Then up would go lights somewhere yonder on the hills, and the boat would go back."

"Of course. I ought to have known better. Wait here then?"

"Well, I should, if I wanted to take her," said the man coldly. "And I should have both my boats ready for my men to jump in, and cut her off as soon as she gets close in to the beach. She'll come on just as the tide's turning, so as to have no fear of being left aground."

"You seem to know a good deal about it, my lad?" said the little lieutenant.

"Good job for you," was the reply, as the sails were lowered, and the cutter lay close in under the cliff waiting. The boats were down, the men armed, and the guns loaded, ready in case the smuggler vessel should attempt to escape.

Then followed a long and patient watch, in the most utter silence; for, in the stillness of such a calm night a voice travels far, and the lieutenant knew that a strange sound would be sufficient to alarm those for whom he was waiting, and send the boat away again to sea. He might overtake her, but would more probably lose her in the darkness, and see her at daybreak perhaps well within reach of a port where he dare not follow.

It was darker now, for clouds had come like a veil over the bright stars, but the night was singularly clear and transparent, as soon after eight bells the informer crept silently up to where the lieutenant was trying to make out the approach of the expected vessel.

The little officer started as the man touched his elbow, so silently had he approached, and on looking down, he dimly made out that the man had divested himself of his heavy boots.

"Do be quiet, master," whispered the great fellow. "Can't 'ford to lose fifty pounds for fear o' getting one's feet cold. See anything?"

"No," whispered the lieutenant, after sweeping his gla.s.s round.