Part 20 (2/2)

Archy began wondering He had thought the boy a dull, stupid-looking bu he had been

”Well, we'll risk it, boy Coave a bound

Here was news! He had been growing dull and disheartened, thinking that his expedition was foolish and impossible, and here at once he had learned what he wanted He knew that now all he had to do was to take advantage of every wall and tree, even to creep along the ground if necessary, and he would be able to follow the so, watch the-place

He would thus learn everything, and be able at daybreak to rand capture would be ht of the lieutenant's delight, and of the joy there would be ast the men, for this wouldthe vessel that had brought the cargo into a trap, so that it could be captured, and more prize-money as well as honour be the result

It did not take hi to think all this; and then he rose cautiously and dropped down again, for the door was re-opened, and the light beamed out so that the watcher felt that he must be seen

”That rowled the farmer; ”keep that door shut and your mouth too”

”But do be careful, ain”

”It's all right, , boy”

Archy heard the departing steps, and began to suffer a fresh agony of suspense He could not stir, for the farhtest movement would have caused a discovery; and all the ti more and more faint

”Oh!” he said to himself; ”and it's so dark I shan't be able to tell which way they have gone”

What should he do? Start up and run?

If he did the wo that, he could do nothing but wait till she went in, when he ain

His heart beat so loudly that he felt as if itto the departing footsteps, which grew more faint till they died out entirely, and as they passed away the midshi+p,” he thought ”So near success, and yet to fail!”

”Ah, deary deary me!” said a voice from close at hand, ”I'm very sick and tired of it all I wish he'd be content with his cows and sheep”

Mrs Shackle drew back as she said this, the door closed, and Archy sprang up, darted out of the gateway, and hurried along the path as fast as the darkness would allow, stopping fro ti the slope toward the road leading to the cove, as far as he could tell, for it seeone in that direction; but as he went on and on, and was unable to detect a sound, he felt that heintently

”Bother the woet all the cargo fro-place, and take it so”

He bit his lip with disappointo back, and try some other way”

Easy to determine, but hard to carry out in the darkness, and in a place which seeht There should be a lane or track leading down to the cliff he knew, but where it was he could not say; in fact, at that moment, in his confusion, he could hardly tell for certain that he was on the road leading right away to the cove

”I ,” he said at last despondently ”Oh, if I could only have followed theave a bound just then, for plainly on the night air carass Then there was a whisper, and directly after he knew that a nu quickly toward hi noise, which he recognised as thathis harness, and once h

There had not been tilers--to fetch the cargo, and theyin his direction