We did not go over that afternoon till it was growing late, for my
father had a number of letters to write, and when we did go along the
cliff, and reached the descent to the Gap, to our surprise there lay
Jonas Uggleston's lugger, and we knew he had come home.
"Hah!" ejaculated my father after drawing a long breath. "I shall have
to speak at once. He does not seem to have landed yet."
For the lugger was swinging to the buoy that lay about a hundred yards
out, and we could see figures on board.
There was a brisk breeze blowing down the Gap, and the lugger was end-on
towards us, rising and falling on the swell, while the sea was all
rippled by the wind.
"Look, father," I said, as we went on down, seeing each moment more and
more of the opening to the sea; "there's a boat coming ashore."
"Man-o'-war's," cried my father excitedly. "Look at the way the oars
dip, Sep. Hah, it's a treat to see the lads handle them again. There
she is!" he cried. "Look! Why, it's the revenue cutter."
She had just rounded a bend as he spoke, and there, sure enough, was a
large cutter with snow-white sails lying off the point that formed the
east side of the Gap, head to wind, and waiting evidently for the return
of the boat that had come ashore.
My father walked rapidly on, and we reached the shore nearly at the same
time as the boat, from which sprang an officer, and to our surprise
Jonas Uggleston stepped out more slowly.
Just then Bigley appeared, I never knew where from; but I think he must
have been watching from among the rocks, and in a quick husky voice he
said to my father:
"Captain Duncan, please, pray don't say that you saw that cargo landed
last night."
"My poor lad!" said my father kindly. "But tell me; have the cutter's
men been aboard the lugger?"
"Yes, sir, searching her, I think; and you see they chased her in, and
now they're bringing father ashore a prisoner."
He could say no more, for the cutter's officer came up.
"You are Captain Duncan, I think?" he said.
"Yes," said my father, returning his salute. "Whom have I the pleasure
of addressing?"
"Lieutenant Melton, His Majesty's cutter _Flying Fish_."
They both saluted again, and old Jonas, who looked curiously yellow, and
with his eyes seeming to search the officer's, drew nearer.
"Look here, Captain Duncan, I have been for some time on the look-out
for this man."
"Well, sir, you have caught him," said my father coldly.
"Yes, sir, I have, and I have overhauled the lugger, but without
success."
Old Jonas glanced at me and then at my father, who did not speak, only
bowed, and the officer went on.
"Now, then, Captain Duncan; you know this man to be a notorious
smuggler, do you not?"
"I have heard him called so."
"And you know it, sir."
"I never detected Mr Uggleston in any act of smuggling," replied my
father more coldly, for the officer's hectoring manner offended him, and
I felt that if he told what he knew, it would be to someone more in
authority.