This, then, was the meaning of the signal: Alf had found out something—of course; a long low chasse-marée had been lying off that day, he recalled, and the signal lights had been meant for the cutter, which must have crept in at dusk, and for aught he knew the King's men might be landing, in answer to the signals, to catch the fishermen and smugglers in the very act of landing a cargo1.
Right or wrong, Lance paused to think no more. It was a time to act and try and warn his old friends. How could Alf be such a sneak2?
Quickly and silently he stepped out and back to his own room, put on his boots, opened the window and lowered himself down the heavy trellis, reached the lawn, and ran to get to the zigzag3 and reach Old Poltree's cottage on the ledge4.
"I'll tell Hezz," he said to himself—"just say the King's men are out, and then get back."
It is easier to make plans than to carry them out.
When Lance reached the long whitewashed5 cottage, meaning to knock till Hezz came to his window, he was caught by a strong hand, wrenched6 round, and a hoarse7 voice said in a whisper—
"Who's this?"
"I—Lance, Mother Poltree. I came to tell you I'm afraid the King's men are coming to-night."
"Whish!" she said, as she clapped another great hand over his mouth. "Who told tales—you?"
"No, no, I wouldn't."
"Whish! they're coming," she cried, as she stood listening. "They came after you."
"I—I didn't know," whispered Lance, as he made out steps descending9 the zigzag, showing that he was only just in time, for whoever it was had been close behind.
"This way," said the old woman sternly, and all thought of retreat was cut off, for she held the boy's arm firmly and hurried him to the end of the cottage and across the patch of garden.
The way was new to Lance, and thoroughly11 excited now, he allowed the sturdy old woman to half guide, half thrust him along, till the way was so narrow along the steep cliff slope that at her bidding he went on first, with the consequence that more than once he lost his footing, and would have fallen from the narrow track but for the help he received.
At one time they were ascending12 as if to climb to the cliff top, then down, and up again, till at the end of a few hundred yards a rift13 was reached, down which the old woman hurried the lad, uttering a peculiar14 hissing16 sound the while, which quite changed the aspect of the scene which had unfolded itself to Lance's astonished gaze. For there below him, lit up by a few lanterns, he could make out the hull of a great lugger, lying in the jaws17 of the rift down which they were hurrying, while men were wading18 waist-deep to and fro—those going out to the lugger's side empty-handed, these coming bearing bales and kegs, which they carried to a low rocky archway, so low that it must have been covered when the tide was up, while now they stooped and passed in their loads to other hands, which seized them and bore them away.
At the warning hiss15 uttered by the old fisherwoman the work ceased, and as a man, evidently the captain, swung himself down into the water, Old Poltree, his sons, and another man crept out from beneath the rugged19 archway.
Few words were spoken. The captain of the lugger gave an order or two, splashed through the water with his men, and climbed on board, where the lanterns were extinguished, hitchers and sweeps thrust forth20 on either side, and the English fishermen waded21 out to put their shoulders to the stern of the boat and help to thrust her out into the open water.
Their help did not last, for the water deepened rapidly and the great lugger was well on the move, and unless the boats of the revenue cutter were waiting for them her safety was assured. The danger was from the shore for those who had been breaking the laws.
"No!" cried the boy eagerly.
"Nay23, no lies, my lad. The French skipper saw three lights, and he thought it was our doing. You did it to bring 'em on."
"Indeed, no!" cried Lance. "I saw them too, and as soon as I guessed what it meant I ran down to warn you; didn't I, Mother Poltree?"
"Iss, my son.—You're wrong, old man, it was t'other youngster. I told you he was after no good."
"You hold your row, Hezzerer," growled his father; and then quickly, "Look, they've found the way down. Someun's showing 'em with a light."
His gruff voice was evidently heard, for from where the dull yellow light of a horn lantern shone at the top of the gash25 in the massive cliff a stern voice shouted—
"Surrender, in the King's name, or we fire."
"Fire away, then," muttered Old Poltree. "Tide'll be up soon. In with you, my lads. In with you, missus, for you can't get back now."
"Come along, Master Lance," whispered Hezz, who had crept close to his old companion.
"No, no!" cried Lance, aghast. "I'm not coming with you; I must go back."
"Nay, my son; you can't now," growled Old Poltree. "In with you;" and he dragged the boy down into the water and gave him a thrust, while as Lance indignantly raised his head again to rush back, he saw by the light of a single lantern held by one of the men that he was in a spacious26 water-floored cavern27 which evidently extended for some distance; but what interested him most in his awkward position was the sight of the big old man on one side of the exit, his eldest28 son on the other, each armed with a piece of broken oar8, ready to defend the natural door against all comers.
"Right away with that light," growled the old man, and its bearer splashed through the water farther and farther away.
"Let go," cried the boy angrily. "I will not be taken with you."
"Nay, you shan't be, young Master Lance," whispered the old woman. "My Hezz'll show you the way out, while my old man keeps the sailors back till the tide's up and they can't get in."
"Yes, that's right, Master Lance," whispered Hezz, and the boy unwillingly30 followed the lantern-bearer till at the end of a hundred yards the water had ceased and they were walking over the dry rocky bottom of the rapidly-contracting cave, where Lance noticed that a heap of casks and bales had been hurriedly piled up.
And now from behind him there came the shouts of men and the noise of heavy blows and splashing; but neither of those with him seemed in the least disturbed, Hezz even chuckling31 and saying—
"It's all right, old mother; father won't let no one pass. I say, we shall have to haul you up."
"'Fraid so, my son," said the old woman. "I'm too heavy to clamber now."
A wild feeling of excitement pervaded32 Lance all this time, mingled33 with indignation at what he mentally called his cousin's treachery. But he felt better at the thought that he was to escape, for the idea of being captured with the smugglers was horrible.
And now his attention was taken up by the movements of Hezz, who, while the man held the lantern up, took a coil of rope from where it rested on a big stone, thrust his head and one arm through it, and began to climb up a rugged narrow crack at the end of the cavern—climbing as if he had been up there before, and soon disappearing from their view.
But they could hear him plainly enough, his boots grating on the rock, and his heavy breathing coming whispering down for some minutes before all was still, but only for the silence to be broken by a curious rustling34 sound, and Lance caught sight of the rope uncoiling as it fell.
"Up with you," said the man with the lantern, and Old Poltree's second son seized the rope, and by its help climbed up in much less time than his brother; while Lance longed for his turn to come that he might hurry away, but felt an unwillingness35 to go before the woman with them was saved.
"Come on," was whispered, and the other man gave the lantern to Mother Poltree, while the shouting and splashing at the cavern entrance grew fainter.
In a very short time there was another summons from above, but at this moment they were joined by big Billy Poltree.
"All right, mother," he said. "Mouth's pretty well covered. I'll go next, so as to help pull you up. They can't get in now."
The man seized the rope, and as he disappeared in the dark crack Lance thought of the consequences if the King's men came now and seized them, so that he started round guiltily when he heard a sound behind him; but it was only the old fisherman.
"Hullo, young squire," he said; "not gone? Well, I'll go next, and then I can help with you both."
With a display of agility36 that was wonderful in so old and heavy a man, he directly after seized the rope and climbed up, leaving Lance with the old woman, who stood silently holding the lantern and gazing back.
"Tide's right over the mouth now," she said.
"Is it?" replied Lance; and anxiously, "Pray tell them all, Mother Poltree, that I didn't betray them. I wouldn't do such a thing."
"Needn't tell 'em, my son," said the old woman. "No one would believe it of you. But it's a bad job for us if they catch my folk. It means sending 'em across the seas. Now, then, up with you, quick; and then I'll dowse the light."
"No, you first," said Lance.
Lance seized the rope and climbed actively38, finding plenty of foothold, and soon after reaching the open air in the spot which he felt sure was where he had heard the splashing and thrown down the stone.
"Now quick, boys," whispered Old Poltree. "She's got the rope fast round her I can feel. Haul steady; give her time; and then we must make for the hills. They won't hurt the women."
"Quick! this way; I can hear them," cried a familiar voice out of the darkness, and from two ways there was a rush of footsteps and a scrambling39 sound.
Lance made a dart40 to dash away, but some one flung his arms about him, lifted him from the ground, and rolled with him over and over amongst the furze and brambles.
"Keep still," whispered a voice in his ear; and he lay quiet, for it was Hezz listening to the sounds of struggling and pursuit till they died away, and then he rose.
"Don't say naught41 to me, Master Lance—I'm too bad; but you keep close to me and I'll show you how to get back to the big house without the King's men ketching of you. Quick! here's one of 'em."
This on hearing a hoarse panting, but a voice whispered—
"Hezz!"
"You, mother! Got up?"
"Yes, my son, with all the skin off my hands. Have they got away?"
"I think so, mother. What are you going to do?"
"Get home to tell the girls. And you?"
"See Master Lance safe, and then get hid somewheres till they're all gone. I shall be all right, and they won't hurt you. Come on, Master Lance."
No more was said, Lance having his work to do in climbing after his companion, who led him by what by daylight he would have considered to be an impossible path; but it ended at the stone wall which bordered the cliff part of the home grounds, and when he began to thank his companion he was gone, only a faint rustling as of a rabbit telling of which way.
Ten minutes later Lance had climbed back to his bedroom window, closed it, and after regaining42 his breath he stole out into the passage to make his way to his cousin's room.
But all was silent there. Alf had not returned.
Lance crept back to his own bedroom, undressed, and lay down to listen for his cousin's return, undecided as to what he should do.
Nature decided43 it for him, sending him off fast asleep, wearied out by his exertions44; but before dawn his door was opened and a light step crossed the floor and paused by his bedside, a low ejaculation as of astonishment45 being heard, and then the steps were directed to the door, which was softly closed.
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1
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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2
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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3
zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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4
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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5
whitewashed
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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7
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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8
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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9
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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10
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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11
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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12
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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13
rift
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| n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入 | |
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14
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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15
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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16
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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17
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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18
wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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19
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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23
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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24
squeaked
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的过去式和过去分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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25
gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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26
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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27
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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28
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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29
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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30
unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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31
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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32
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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34
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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35
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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36
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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37
moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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39
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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40
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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41
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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42
regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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43
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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44
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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45
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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