these ruins, which had been long used, as a place of concealment, by the illicit traders of that coast.

some of

"Come, then, my Lord," said Cleaver, with great inward satisfaction at the prospect of having a brush with them after all, let us hasten to the beach. We can send aboard of my yacht for my lads; then we'll rouss up their Castle Mallard for them,-destroy the whole nest of them, and bring off Miss Malcolm in triumph. But, let me tell you, my Lord, the less time we lose, the better chance we have of nabbing the rascals; for it is likely they won't choose to harbour very long so near the scene of their villany."

Lord Eaglesholme warmly expressed his thanks to Cleaver for his generous offer, and readily accepted his proffered assistance.

CHAPTER VI.

Stay by me; thou art resolute and faithful:
I have employment worthy of thy arm.

DRYDEN.

THEY were hastening down to the beach, when, as they reached the narrow bottom of the ravine, they met a party winding slowly upwards. They had no sooner come near enough to enable them to distinguish persons, than Cleaver recognized the man at the head of them to be his old shipmate Captain Macauley. The greeting between these two friends, who had sailed round the world together, but who had not met for eight or nine years, was hearty and sailor-like.

"Well, Macauley, my boy!" said Cleaver, after their first salutations were over, "I think you soon settled the hash of that beggarly brandy merchant. I congratulate you most sincerely, and I hope she will turn out a good prize; but I can't help regretting that I was not aboard of my little punt, that I might have had the pleasure

of fighting along side of you once more upon salt water, were it only for old acquaintance sake. However, I saw the action from the cliff, and I was glad to perceive that my little cockle shell did all she could to help you."

Help us!" said Macauley, "aye that she did; why let me tell ye, that was a rare good manoeuvre of honest Jack Markham's. Had he not run athwart her so gallantly, she might have fetched another tack,-aye and might have given me a great deal of trouble too, for the jade sailed like a swallow." "But, stay, my gallant fellow," said Cleaver, are you inclined for a little more tussling before you sleep? Because, if you are, you may come along with us; for we are going to attack the very Citadel where the whole rascals of them have taken refuge, and where, very likely, they have stowed away most of their goods. Though I was prevented having a touch at these cocks with you

ΟΙ

at sea, sea, I have no objections to admit you to a share of the glory we shall gain by blowing up their castle ashore, and, moreover,-you shall have all the profit." misqs) to T »

That's very kind in you, my good fellow," said

Macauley laughing. "I assure you, my lads will not be sorry to fall in with some kegs of brandy and bales of tobacco; for although we got hold of the nut, it unluckily had no kernel. She seemed to have been already cleaned out, and though apparently well victualled, had nothing on board her but ballast."

"Well, then," said Cleaver, " come along.But, stay!-We must have some more hands with us. Let me see, who have we here ?"

"It's me, your honour,” replied Jack Markham. "I came ashore with the Captain here, to show him the way to Sanderson Mains."

off too,

"Oh you good-for-nothing vagabond!--to allow me to remain on shore, and so little way without ever so much as sending me notice of the fun that was going on!-I've a great mind to stop your grog, and give ye salt water, ye rascal.-But ye dog, I'll have ye made a Master for your gallantry; though, damn ye, I'll always bear ye a grudge for cutting me out of such an evening's amusement !-But who are these men with you?"

"Three of Captain Macauley's lads, your honour, and there are four more in his boat below;

your honour's boat also is on the beach with her six hands."

"Then," said Cleaver, "with your permission, Macauley, we'll take five men from each boat's crew, and let the odd ones paddle back to the vessels, that they may tell the people aboard to keep a good look-out:-and with these ten, and Lord Eaglesholme, and you, and me, we shall make a devil's dozen, without counting Bill Handy, who is within a whistle of us,-enough, in all conscience, I think, to encounter twice as many of these scoundrels-But, hold!-are we all well armed ?”

"There are arms and ammunition enough in both boats for the whole party," said Macauley; "for, to tell you the truth, when I found that the villains had made good their retreat ashore, I thought it not unlikely that they might attack us as we landed on the beach. I therefore took the precaution to be prepared for whatever might happen."

"Be off then, Jack!" said Cleaver," and bring up the lads, with every thing necessary, as fast as you can; and take care, do you hear, and send orders aboard, to make the people alert to prevent surprise."