"Third share, master; just going out now. My mates are waiting yonder." "In the harbour?" "Ay. That's their lantern." "Look here, Perrow," said Vine excitedly, as he held the man tightly by the arm, "you are going fishing?" "Going to have a try, master." "And you will perhaps earn a pound apiece." "If we are lucky. P'r'aps naught." "Perrow," whispered the old man, with his lips close to the man's face, "will you do me a service--a great service?" "Sarvice, sir?--Ay, sure I will." "Then look here. Your boat would sail across to France?" "To France?" said the great bluff fellow, with a chuckle. "Why, didn't some of our mates sail to Spain in a lugger a foot shorter than ours, and not so noo a boot! France, ay, or Spain either." "Then look here; take a passenger over for me to-night; and I'll give you fifty pounds." "Fifty pounds, Master Vine?" "Yes. Be ready; take him safely over, and bring me back word from him that he's safe, and I'll pay you a hundred." "Will you shake hands on that, master?" "You will do it?" "Do it for you, Master Vine? Why, sir, bless you, we'd ha' done it fur five. But if you tempt poor men wi' a big lump o' money like that--Do it? I should think we will." "But your partners?" said Louise excitedly. "Never you mind about them, miss. I'm cap'n o' our boot. Where's our passenger? Lor', miss, don't do that." The man started, for Louise had caught his rough hand and kissed it. "I'll soon bring him to you," said the old man, with his voice trembling; "but look here, my man--you must ask no questions, you will not be put off, you will not refuse at the last moment?" "Look here, Master Vine, sir," said the man stolidly, "I arn't a fool. Hundred pound's a lot o' money, and of course it's to smuggle some one away on the quiet. Well, so be it." "Hah!" ejaculated Vine. "It's to 'blige you as I've knowd for a kind-hearted gent these ever so many years, though there was that bit o' trouble 'bout my brother's lass, as I don't believe took that there money." "No, no, she was innocent," cried Louise. "Thanks for that, miss, and--say, has young Master Harry been up to some game." There was no reply. "Never mind. Don't you speak without you like, Master Vine, sir. Yonder's our boot, and I'll go down to her, and she shall lie off just outside, and I'll wait in our little punt down by the harbour steps. Will that do?" "Yes; and you will trust me to pay you a hundred pounds?" "Trust _you_?" The man uttered a low chuckle. "How long will he be, master?" "I--I don't know. Wait till he comes." "Master Harry?" whispered the man. "Yes." "All right, sir. You trust me. I'll trust you. Night, miss. I'll wait there if it's a week." "Hah!" ejaculated Vine, as the man's heavy step went on before them. "There is a way of escape for him. I am a father, and what I ought to do by my friend pales before that. Now to find him, my child, to find him. He _must_ escape."