They returned together and hurried along the cliffs, keeping well away from the edge to avoid being seen. "She’s making for Laxted Cove," said Arthur when he saw the boat. "How far away?" "About half a mile. We’ll have to fetch round it and approach from the other side if we’re to see what’s going on." "Come on, youngster; hold your wind." They pounded along at a steady pace over the rough bent. The surface was very irregular, and more than once the boys tripped and almost fell headlong as some sudden irregularity of the ground betrayed their steps. In spite of all their haste, by the time they had reached a point beyond the cove whence they could look down in security, the boat had already been beached, and men were landing. The boys lay flat on their faces, peering over the edge of the cliff that fell here almost perpendicular to the beach. The men below were speaking in low tones; Jack caught a few words of French, he thought. They were apparently impatient to be off. He could not distinguish their faces, nor even their dress, for having come up the beach from the water-line they were now in the shadow of the cliffs. Suddenly there was a low hail; immediately afterward the sound of footsteps. From the darkness of the undercliff there stepped three men carrying a heavy bundle. They staggered somewhat noisily across the shingle toward the waiting boat. Behind them two other figures came out of the blackness and stood just below the boys, as if watching the proceedings. The three men met those who had landed from the boat. Jack saw the bundle transferred from the one party to the other, and with a start he recognized that it was the form of a man, well trussed up. It was carried to the boat and stowed with scant ceremony in the bows. Then the boat was pushed off, the men wading until she was fairly afloat. They sprang on board, gave a low farewell to the men on the beach, and seizing the oars pulled rapidly out to sea. The men who had borne the prisoner watched the receding boat until it was lost to sight, then trudged off toward the village. The other two had already disappeared. Jack wished he could have seen who they were, but the man nearest him had been all the time in shadow, and the others had been too far away to be recognized. "I say, Jack," said Arthur, "what shall you do?" "That’s just what I’m wondering. If I’d only got a few men here I’d go down to the village and demand an explanation of this strange business, in the king’s name. But if I went alone I’d make a fool of myself." "I’d go with you." "Then there’d be two fools instead of one. They could knock us on the head and send us to join that bundle on the boat. I wonder who he is. Surely they haven’t decoyed De Fronsac here and carried him off to the Monster!" "He wouldn’t like that, would he?" "Well, we can’t do anything at present. We’d better get back." "Shall you tell father?" "Don’t know. I’ll tell you that to-morrow morning."