The gleaming eyes disappeared. Step by step the Frenchman descended. When he was a third of the way down Jack whistled gently. By the time De Fronsac reached the ground Gumley and Comely were one on each side of him. "Evening, sir," said Gumley. "Orders are that you come along wi’ me—and the dog. Watch him, Comely." A deep growl caused De Fronsac to start. "Harmless as a lamb, sir, while you goes steady. Bean’t ’ee, Comely?" The answer was another growl. They moved away, the dog keeping a few inches behind De Fronsac’s heels, Gumley with a naked cutlass walking at his right hand. Even before they were out of sight Jack had returned to the table. There he had noticed a sheet of paper. It was covered with figures—no doubt the message that De Fronsac was preparing to send. "Wonder if there’s time to make it out!" thought Jack. He looked out to sea; there was no signal light. With the aid of his key he scribbled below the figures the corresponding letters, and read: NELSON A SUIVRE VILLENEUVE 9 NAVIRE 2 FREGATE SORTENT DE P MERCREDI BINSEY COVE LUNDI. "A clever villain!" thought Jack. "Who would ever have imagined that a French spy would be mixed up with English smugglers! And I wonder how he gets his information about Nelson’s doings, and the sailings of English convoys? Well, his friends will have rather a different message to-night." He took from his pocket a piece of paper, and made some alterations in the figures he had written in the cabin of the _Fury_. "If they like news of Nelson, they shall have some, invented on the spot!" Every now and then while writing he glanced out to sea to make sure that he did not miss the expected signal. It was nearly an hour after he had completed his message that he caught the three successive flashes. Then he fixed the cardboard, pointed it through the round hole in the curtain, and signaled: NELSON MOURANT A PALERMO NAVIRE BRISE PLAGE FOWEY CONVOI PETITE CHALOUPE BINSEY COVE LUNDI. The message completed, he extinguished the light and descended, removing the steps as he went. The other set had apparently been taken by Gumley. Wrapping up the original dozen he started for his long walk back. He had not gone many paces when he heard hurried footsteps behind. Turning round with a start, his hand on his pistol, he was amazed to hear his name called. "Jack!" The next instant a slight figure sprang toward him. "Oh, Jack! I’m jolly glad, I am! I thought it was you, but couldn’t be sure till you came down. Oh, I _am_ glad!" "Well, don’t make a to-do, youngster. And what brings you out at this time of night?"