The Argosy — page 71: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

60 The Black Buoy. “The other, the careless ease of whose bearing, coupled with the deferential manner of his companion, showed him to be an officer, had a paper in his hand. He looked around him, up and down the little ravine, evidently taking in the features of the place. ‘Very well,’ said he, speaking in a full, low tone that I well remember. ‘I shall post half the men here, and place the rest at intervals between this and the village to stop anyone who attempts — to pass. At a quarter past eight the tide turned. At twelve the signal. You undertake the signal, don’t you?’ “The sergeant produced a lantern from under his cloak. ‘“‘* Here is the signal, sir.’ “Then order the men down, and place the others as you think best.’ “The sergeant saluted, and clanked up the gully. ‘The officer walked slowly towards the water and stood there at the edge—some distance from me, for the tide was low—with his head bowed and his hands behind his back. Now or never for me to get away. Quick as thought, I slipped out of my hiding-place and hastened up the gully. Horror! at the head of it was a string of dark figures winding methodically down, their heads every now and then bobbing up and down against the twilight sky. The rocks were steep, but not high, and I was half-way up them in an instant. Behind a sheltering ledge I crouched, scarcely daring to breathe, while they marched, tramp, tramp, silently down the ravine, ‘They passed out of sight. I heard an order given in a sharp, clear tone, the rattle of arms, and all was still. Then I breathed again. I looked to the head of the gully, and there, athwart the sky, appeared at intervals a black figure. A sentinel was posted there. ‘Up to this moment I had only thought of escaping and arousing some of our friends in the village. It would be hard if we could not devise some means of warning the lugger of her danger. Now that hope was gone, for my return to the village was cut off. Still every- one must know what was going on, and would not someone slip out a boat? How could they? ‘The tide was low; the only channel even for a small boat was close to the lower end of the gully, and the soldiers could prevent anyone passing out. ‘““T covered my face with my hands, and busied myself to think. There could be no reasonable doubt why the soldiers had been brought, twenty miles at least, to our little village. Penal servitude for life! What did that mean? It was no uncommon punishment, I had heard, for a smuggler taken, as my grandfather would surely be, red-handed. For a moment the hope flashed into my head that he might not come to-night. But no! ‘The wind was light and not unfavourable, there was no suggestion of a fortunate storm in the sky, and I knew that the people with the carts had arranged to come, and that all was in readiness. My heart sank within me. ‘Suddenly I raised my head and formed a bold resolve. I would Gomicbooks