advisable that a watch should be kept on this point, so that his party might be forewarned in time of the approach of the smugglers.
There was much light in the sky, a fantastic, mysterious glow, as though some great conflagration were taking place and the clouds over head reflected its flicker.
There passed throbs of shadow from side to side, and as Oliver looked he could almost believe that the light he saw proceeded from a great bonfire, such as was kindled on the Cornish Moors on Midsummer's Eve, and that the shadows were produced by men and women dancing round the flames and momentarily intercepting the light.
Then ensued a change. The rose hue vanished suddenly, and in its place shot up three broad ribbons of silver light; and so bright and clear was the light that the edge of the cliff against it was cut as sharp as a black silhouette on white paper, and he could see every bush of gorse there, and a sheep—a solitary sheep.
Suddenly he was startled by seeing a man before him, coming over the sand.
"Who goes there?"
"What—Oliver! I have found you!" the answer was in his father's voice. "Oh, well, I got fidgeted, and I thought I would come and see if you had arrived."
"For heaven's sake, you have told no one of our plans?"
"I—bless you, boy—not I. You know you told me yourself, before going to the station, what you intended, and I was troubled and anxious, and I came to see how things were turning out. The Black Prince is coming in; she will anchor shortly. She can't come beyond the point yonder. I was sure you would be here. How many have you brought with you?"
"But six."
"Too few. However, now I am with you, that makes eight."
"I wish you had not come, father."
"My boy, I did not come only on your account. I have my poor little Ju so near my heart that I long to put out if only a finger to liberate her from that ruffian, whom by the way I have challenged."
"Yes—but I have stepped in as your substitute. I shall, I trust, try conclusions with Coppinger to-night.
