Part 22 (1/2)

He was in a room over the cellar, he was sure, and the as wide open He crept to it, guided by the cold air which came in, and had just reached it when he heard rapid footsteps, and some one panted,--

”Where's the skipper?”

”Here What is it?” whispered Shackle, who seemed close to where the midshi+pman stood

”Jemmy Dadd--came from the cove Boat's crew landed”

”Run down and tell them all to come back,” said Shackle hoarsely

”I did, and they're coht! Get all back in quick!”

As he finished speaking, Archy could hear the dull, soft steps of laden , and it was soon evident that they were quickly and silently replacing the kegs they had been carrying down hill to where tu for a load

Thenothing, but drinking all this in, and in i the whole scene which went on for the next quarter of an hour or so, by which tiht back

As he listened, he wondered what boat's crew it could be that had landed, as no arrangenalled from the cliff or went down to the cove at twelve the next day, where a boat would be about half a

He could not understand it; all he could tell for certain was that the slers had been alarht, for all at once he heard the sharp snap of a great lock beneath his feet; this was followed by the closing of a door, and directly after there was the shuffling of feet, and Shackle's voice was heard in a hoarse whisper,--

”Got the lanthorn, boy?”

”Yes, father”

”Off you go then--all Scatter!”

”You won't try again to-night?”

”Try? No,” said the farely ”Wish I had so steps then, and Archy leaned forward towards the , to utter a faint cry of pain, for his head had co, and as he put up his hand he found that the as protected by thick iron bars

He stood listening till not a sound could be heard, and then he drew back fro out into the darkness the while, and wishi+ng he could have stepped out, leaped down, and fled at once

”Made our plans badly,” he thought to hinal even if I could find et back here at once to seize all this store, and--”

More unpleasant thoughts came back now about how hard it seemed to have to betray these people

”Can't help it,” he said to hiot to dohiain about the cutter

They never expected that he would get valuable information so soon He had been wonderfully fortunate, but as to be his next course?