Devon Boys Part 55

For the lugger was swinging to the buoy that lay about a hundred yards out, and we could see figures on board.

There was a brisk breeze blowing down the Gap, and the lugger was end-on towards us, rising and falling on the swell, while the sea was all rippled by the wind.

"Look, father," I said, as we went on down, seeing each moment more and more of the opening to the sea; "there's a boat coming ash.o.r.e."

"Man-o'-war's," cried my father excitedly. "Look at the way the oars dip, Sep. Hah, it's a treat to see the lads handle them again. There she is!" he cried. "Look! Why, it's the revenue cutter."

She had just rounded a bend as he spoke, and there, sure enough, was a large cutter with snow-white sails lying off the point that formed the east side of the Gap, head to wind, and waiting evidently for the return of the boat that had come ash.o.r.e.

My father walked rapidly on, and we reached the sh.o.r.e nearly at the same time as the boat, from which sprang an officer, and to our surprise Jonas Uggleston stepped out more slowly.

Just then Bigley appeared, I never knew where from; but I think he must have been watching from among the rocks, and in a quick husky voice he said to my father:

"Captain Duncan, please, pray don't say that you saw that cargo landed last night."

"My poor lad!" said my father kindly. "But tell me; have the cutter's men been aboard the lugger?"

"Yes, sir, searching her, I think; and you see they chased her in, and now they're bringing father ash.o.r.e a prisoner."

He could say no more, for the cutter's officer came up.

"You are Captain Duncan, I think?" he said.

"Yes," said my father, returning his salute. "Whom have I the pleasure of addressing?"

"Lieutenant Melton, His Majesty's cutter _Flying Fish_."

They both saluted again, and old Jonas, who looked curiously yellow, and with his eyes seeming to search the officer's, drew nearer.

"Look here, Captain Duncan, I have been for some time on the look-out for this man."

"Well, sir, you have caught him," said my father coldly.

"Yes, sir, I have, and I have overhauled the lugger, but without success."

Old Jonas glanced at me and then at my father, who did not speak, only bowed, and the officer went on.

"Now, then, Captain Duncan; you know this man to be a notorious smuggler, do you not?"

"I have heard him called so."

"And you know it, sir."

"I never detected Mr Uggleston in any act of smuggling," replied my father more coldly, for the officer's hectoring manner offended him, and I felt that if he told what he knew, it would be to someone more in authority.

I glanced at old Jonas, and his eyes twinkled with satisfaction.

"This is prevarication, sir," cried the lieutenant; "but I am not to be put off like this. Come, sir, I received information about a very valuable contraband cargo that has been run from Dunquerque. It has been landed here successfully during the past night or the night before.

Now, sir, if you please, where was that cargo landed?"

My father was silent, but his face was flushed, and I saw Jonas Uggleston dart a curious look at him as he screwed up his face, and at the same moment Bigley grasped my hand.

"I see," said the officer, "I shall have to question the boys. Once more, sir, I ask you as an officer and a gentleman, do you not know where that cargo was landed?"

"Sir," said my father, "your manner is dictatorial and offensive to a man of higher rank than yourself; but you ask me this question as one of his majesty's servants, and I am bound to reply. I do know where a cargo was landed, but it was not from this man's boat."

"But he was in the business, captain," said the lieutenant with a laugh.

"Now, sir, if you please, where was it?"

"In the second bay to the westward, sir," said my father coldly; and Jonas Uggleston gave his foot a stamp, and uttered a fierce oath.

"You see, he is in the business," said the lieutenant laughing. "There, Uggleston, you have betrayed yourself."

I heard Bigley utter a piteous sigh, and I looked round at him to see the great drops standing on his forehead.

"I am so sorry, Big," I whispered; but he did not reply. He went and took hold of his father's arm.

Old Jonas turned round fiercely, but he smiled directly, and whispered something to Bigley, who fell back with his head drooping, and in a dejected way.

"Now, Captain Duncan, if you please, you will come with us on board the lugger, and we'll run along to the second bay," said the lieutenant; "it will not take long."

"Sir," said my father, "I have replied to your questions as I was bound, but I am not bound to act as your pilot."

"Sir," said the lieutenant, "I demand this service of you as his majesty's servant. Kindly step on board the boat. Now, Uggleston."

I shall never forget old Jonas's fierce scowl as he walked down to the boat, into which he stepped, and remained in the bows, while my father went into the stern-sheets, and was followed by the lieutenant. The bare-legged sailors ran the light gig out, and sprang over the side, seized their oars and backed water, turned her, and began to row with a light springy stroke for the lugger.

"Big, old mate," I said, "I am so, so sorry."

"Don't talk to me," he groaned. "I never said anything: but I was always afraid of this."

"Don't be angry with father," I said appealingly. "He was obliged to speak."

"I can't talk to you now--I can't talk to you now," the poor lad groaned more than spoke, as we stood there close to where the waves came running in.

The lugger had a good many men on board as she lay out there, quite three hundred yards away, though it had seemed only one from high up in the Gap, and the cutter was quite half a mile from where we stood, and more to the east.

All at once Bigley lifted up both his arms, and stood with them outstretched for quite a minute.

"What are you doing that for?" I said.

He made no answer but remained in the same position, and kept so while I watched the boat rising and falling on the heaving tide, with every one distinctly visible in the evening sun.

As I have said the lugger lay with her bows straight towards the Gap; but all of a sudden she began to change her position, the bows swinging slowly round, and I realised that the rope by which she had swung had been cast off, for the buoy was plainly to be seen now several fathoms away.

Just then I saw old Jonas start up in the bows of the boat and clap his hands to his mouth, his voice coming clearly to us over the wave.

"You, Bill! You're adrift! Lower down that foresail, you swab, lower down that foresail! Throw her up in the wind!"