"There is little danger of any such thing being attempted," said Macauley, " for I anchored with the prize so close to your yacht, that they are within hail of each other."

"Now, Sandy,

"That's well," said Cleaver. while Jack's away, you will have time enough to tell us how you first got sight of this same smuggler."

"That's soon done," said Macauley. "After I received your letter, I thought it was just as well to take a trip over here to look out for you, particularly as Sir Alisander Sanderson is an old acquaintance of mine, and I haven't broke a biscuit in his house for many a long day. So you see, after hauling into the bay here, with the which I am very well acquainted, I espied the yacht, and from the very build of her, I immediately guessed her to be yours. Having given orders to my people to take a station near her, I got into my boat, and went aboard of her, to see whether I could get any information about you. So as I was standing on deck talking to Markham about you, and the Random was preparing to take up her ground, we espied a strangelooking sail coming round the easter headland,

as if for the purpose of sailing right into bay. But no sooner had the jade caught a sight of the Random, whose cut you may believe is pretty well known upon this coast, than she immediately wore, and stood off, evidently with the intention of keeping out of our view if she could. But faith we were too sharp for her, and this ma nœuvre of hers only the more convinced me that my first suspicions were well founded.

"I hailed the Random immediately, and sung out to the people not to let go the anchor, and to 'get up her sails directly; and getting aboard of her as fast as I could, I ran out to sea, carrying as much canvas as she could bear, but without showing any immediate intention of attacking. The enemy guessing what we were about, attempted to gain an offing, but although she sailed uncommonly well, I succeeded in shooting a-head of her, which I had no sooner accomplished, than I fired a gun to bring her to. To this she paid no attention, but began to try to make the thing out by manœuvring, during all which time we kept peppering her whenever we came within reach of her. But

"9

"Thank ye, thank ye, Sandy," said Cleaver,

66

interrupting him, familiarly. I know all the remainder of the story, for I saw the whole mats ter from the cliff,-(a murrain on that fellow who didn't send for me, else I might have been in the very thick of the thing,)so we shall spare you the rest of your wind, for you will want it all to enable you to climb up this cursed ravine, that always makes me blow like a porpus. But stay,-if I mistake not, I think I hear the lads coming."lote bo var my hus &

f!

As he said so, Jack Markham came singing merrily up from the beach, attended by six stout active sailors, all in high glee, at the very thought of the work they were to be employed And after every individual of the party. had been properly appointed with arms, they set forward. le dogodi's we go to DIY

on.c

b The direct way to Moatmallard day, very close by Sanderson Mains. Cleaver, therefore, sent Bill Handy forward, with Thomas the groom, who had at last ventured to join the party, even although he saw the warlock Lord at the head of it, to report the arrival of his old acquaintance, Macauley, and the capture of the smuggling vessel. sel. Bill w was s, also instructed to tell the Ba

1

ronet that they had still a piece of work to perform, which would probably occupy them the greater part of the night.

Having given him these orders, Cleaver appointed a particular spot, near the corner of one of the Baronet's inclosures, and not far from the house, but avoiding the village, where Bill was instructed to wait for him, and he desired him to make all haste. Handy ran off on his errand with the utmost speed.

The Baronet was sitting, anxiously waiting for some intelligence of Cleaver, whilst Doctor Partenclaw and the others had already nearly emptied Mr Brouster's large bowl, when Bill Handy was announced. He was immediately ordered up stairs, and Sir Alisander listened with the most intense interest to his spirited account of the sea-fight, and the capture of the Charming Sally. His intelligence, however, did not ap pear to be quite so agreeable either to Partenclaw or to Macflae, who threw lugubre looks at each other, as if all hopes of cheap brandy and claret had with them fled for a time.

Bill Handy delivered the remainder of his message, and concluded by urging the necessity

of his immediate departure to meet his master. The Baronet instantly ordered Duncan Brouster to carry some home-brewed ale, and some bread and cheese, down to the pathway, to meet the party. This command the jolly butler lost no time in preparing to execute, and his bustle upon this occasion, being rather more than ordinarily great, excited much curiosity among the inmates of the kitchen; and the more, when they learned from Thomas, the groom, that the warlock Lord was in the company.

Neither Mr Brouster, nor the other servants, would have been desirous to go near him, especially at such a time of night, had they not heard that he was accompanied by so many Christian people like themselves. Even as it was, they required the countenance of one another to give them nerve to face him; and honest Duncan, upon consideration, was by no means sorry to see them, men and women, creeping down the inside of the dike after him, in a long string, holding each other by the skirts.

Having reached the stile at the end of the wall, opposite the spot Captain Cleaver had appointed, Mr Brouster took care to have the large basket