"Shure, you fellows have spoilt the game entoirely," he answered. "The risk is too great and, be the same token, I'm getting too old for that business." "But you know something about it," suggested the Lieutenant. The skipper winked. "Now look here," went on Lawless, "I don't ask you to betray your friends, but just give me a hint--you understand?--and if it leads to anything I'll see that you lose nothing by it." "Is it afther timpting me ye'd be, sorr?" asked the skipper with seeming indignation. "I'm merely suggesting you should give me a hint." "An' phwat 'ud become of me if the bhoys got wind of it, will ye tell me?" "There's no reason why they should. You may be sure I shall never breathe a word." After a few moments' reflection the skipper looked cautiously round the cabin and then leant over the table to Lawless. "Have ye iver heard tell av Mike Mahoney, sorr?" he asked in a whisper. "Rather! He's supposed to be the cleverest gun-runner in the south of Ireland." "Ye may say so, an' he's a black-hearted son av Satan; he is that. He's owed me three pounds since St. Patrick's Day two years gone, and it's meself that's niver loikely to see the colour av it. Now I'd be glad to have ye take a rise out of that blackguard." "Tell me where he's to be found." "Has ye'r honour heard tell av a little fishing village be the name av Ballyoon betwixt here and Mizzen Head?" "No, but I'll soon find it." "Then it's there that Mahoney--may the divil get his sowl--has his headquarters. Many's the noight that he's crept up past Sherkin Island an' into Roaringwather Bay wid a cargo of rifles and ammunition." "Then it's his regular port of call, so to speak?" "Indade it is. Divil a wan, save the bhoys, suspect it, least av all the Rivinue people, and it's a nice little fortune Mike's been piling up for himself, so it is. More'n wance he's said to me, 'Pat Rossan,' he's said, 'ye're an old hand at the game. Phwy don't ye jine in wid me and the rist av the bhoys?' But I'm too old for that now, as I tould him, and I don't want to ind me days wid me back against a wall." "Thanks very much, Mr. Rossan," said Lawless. "I'll see that you lose nothing by this." "Indade I shall be glad av any little hilp ye can give me, sorr, for phwat wid submarines and restrictions there's moighty little profit to be got out of the fishing these days." As the skipper was about to leave, Trent drew Lawless aside. "I'd keep an eye on that old buffer if I were you," he whispered. "Ten to one he'll try to creep out to-night and warn this same Mike Mahoney." "Good idea," answered the Lieutenant, and turned to his visitor. "I must ask you to hoist a riding-light when you get aboard your hooker, Mr. Rossan, and keep it burning all night," he said. "To be sure if ye'r honour wishes it," replied the skipper, and then, after shaking hands with both officers, slipped into his dinghy alongside and pulled back to his smack.