They went back over the cliffs. They had just crossed the chine when a big figure suddenly loomed up to the left, appearing from the zigzag path leading down to the shore. There was no time to avoid a meeting; indeed, so suddenly had the man appeared from round a bend in the path that unless he and the boys had started back simultaneously there must have been a collision. The moonlight shone full in the face of the big man, and Jack recognized him even as Arthur whispered: "I say! old Gudgeon!" Gudgeon recognized the boys at the same moment. "Oh, Mr. Hardy, sir!" he said, "you put me in quite a flutter. And you, too, Master Bastable; well to be sure! As if I had not had enough flutters for one night! Did you hear a boat, sir?" "Saw it, too." "There now! I was kept up late attending to some lambs" ("Pretty old mutton!" thought Jack.), "and I thought I heard people moving, and I came out, and I was sure I saw a boat putting out to sea. It gave me quite a start. Perhaps it was some of those smugglers—a rough lot. But gracious me! ’tis very late for two young gentlemen to be out; your good mother would be in a terrible flutter, Master Bastable, if she knew." "I say, are you going to tell her?" "I have to consider my duty, Master Bastable. As to Mr. Hardy, of course he’s a king’s officer, and can keep any hours the king likes to let him. But a boy like you, Master Bastable! Really, Mr. Hardy, sir, I’m surprised at you. But I keep myself to myself, I do, and don’t meddle with no man’s business as don’t concern me. So this time, Master Bastable, I won’t think it my duty to tell your lady mother what I seed this night." "I’m going to tell her myself, and what—" "Avast there!" interrupted Jack, "you ought to be very much obliged to Mr. Gudgeon, you young donkey, for not rounding on you. Good night, Mr. Gudgeon." And he hauled Arthur away. "You young idiot!" said Jack, when they were out of earshot. "You were going to say you would tell your mother all you had seen. We mustn’t on any account let them know what we have found out. That would put them on their guard at once. Better say nothing at all just yet." "All right. But why?" "Because there’s something going on which I don’t understand. De Fronsac may be in it; Gudgeon certainly is; and if they think we know too much it will spoil things. Not a word to any one, mind." "I say, how am I going to get back into your room? I got down the rain-pipe, but I couldn’t climb up it." "Don’t worry yourself, we’ll find a way." On reaching the house they saw that De Fronsac’s windows were shut. Jack quickly swarmed up the pipe and entered his room. In about a minute down came the end of a knotted sheet. Arthur caught it, and in a few minutes was standing beside Jack. The family were seated at the breakfast-table next morning when De Fronsac came in.