The Lost Middy Part 37

"You seem to know all about it, Ness," said Aleck, suspiciously.

"Me, Master Aleck? Well, you see, being such near neighbours like I can't help hearing a deal. But it's bad work smuggling, and I keep as clear of the folk as I can. Going home to bed?"

"Yes."

"That's right, sir. Best place, too, of a night. But how did you know the press-gang was coming?"

"I didn't know they were coming."

"But you were theer?" said the old gardener, suspiciously.

"I was there?" said Aleck, "because the noise woke me, coming through my open window."

"Oh!" said the gardener. "I see."

The next minute their ways diverged, and Aleck soon after climbed up to his bedroom window, to drop off into a sleep disturbed by fights with press-gangs and smugglers all mixed up into a strange confusion, from which he was glad to awaken and find that he had hardly time to get dressed before his uncle would be down.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

Captain Lawrence listened with knitted brows to his nephew's narration of all that had taken place in the night, and shook his head.

"It's miserable work, my boy," he said; "so piteous for the poor women.

Well, perhaps good will come out of evil, and it may be the breaking up of a notorious smuggling gang."

It was just as Aleck was finishing his third cup of coffee, which he set down sharply in the saucer, startled by the sudden rush of the gardener to the open window, through which he thrust his head without ceremony.

"Here's--" he began, excitedly. "Oh!"

For a big heavy hand appeared upon his shoulder, clutching him hard and s.n.a.t.c.hing him away.

"What is the meaning of this, boy?" cried the captain.

Aleck's head was already out of the window, and he drew it back again to answer:

"A lot of sailors, uncle, and their officer."

The lad's words were followed by the appearance of Jane, whose eyes were wide open and staring, her mouth following suit to some extent, so that she had to close her lips before saying:

"Plee, sir, orficer, sir. To see you, sir."

The captain nodded shortly and rose to go, followed by Aleck, out into the little ball, at whose door a naval officer and a boat's crew of men were waiting.

"Good morning," said the officer, shortly; and then turning upon Aleck, "Hallo, young man, I've seen you before!"

"Yes, in Rockabie harbour," said the lad, looking at him wonderingly, while his heart began to beat fast as he glanced at the party of st.u.r.dy sailors.

"Ah, to be sure," said the officer; then to the captain again, "You are aware, I suppose, that we made a descent last night upon your nest of smugglers here."

"I have just learned, sir, what took place," said the captain, coldly.

"Of course. Well, sir, in the struggle and after trouble with the women, who resented the taking away of the men, the young officer of the second boat was missed."

"Not the midshipman who was with your boat the other day?" said Aleck, eagerly.

"Eh? Yes," cried the officer. "What do you know about him?"

"Only that we had a few words together."

"And you know that he was missed?"

"I did not know till you told me," said Aleck.

"Didn't know, I suppose, that there was that struggle over yonder by the cove last night, eh?"

"Yes," said Aleck, frankly; "I saw some of it."

"Ah! Then you were with the smugglers, eh?"

"No," replied Aleck; and he briefly related his experience, including his being awakened by shots.

"Ah, to be sure," said the officer; "they're a nice daring set of scoundrels--fired on the King's men; but we got the rascals who did.

Well, sir, what's become of our officer?"

"How should I know?" said Aleck, staring.

"You must have seen something of what went on after we started back."

"No," said Aleck. "There seemed to be no one there but the women."

"But you saw them and heard what they said? You heard them talking about him?"

"No, I did not go near the women."

"Why?" said the officer, sharply.

"Because I was afraid they would think I had something to do with the press-gang coming."

"Well, he must be found. He's here somewhere."

"Is there any possibility of the poor young fellow having been knocked overboard during the struggle?"

"Not the slightest," replied the officer, shortly. "He may have been knocked down somewhere on the way between the cottages, where we pounced upon the men, and the landing-place. Well, he must be found."

"Of course," said the captain, quietly. "You will go up, then, and search the smugglers' cottages--fishermen they call themselves?"

"We have searched them thoroughly," said the officer, "and we've come across now, sir, to search your place--what do they call it?--the Den."