But all was still as they neared the town, still with the silence of death. No one could have told that there were watchers by the ferry, where a rough boat was used for crossing from side to side of the harbour; that two boats were waiting, and that Duncan Leslie was patrolling the short arm of granite masonry that ran down to the tower-like building where the harbour lantern burned. "Hist!" whispered Louise, for there was a step some little distance away, but it ceased, and as she looked in its direction, the cliffs seemed to tower up behind the town till a black, jagged ridge cut the starry sky. "Let's go back," said her father, huskily. "I fancied I heard a boat stealing along the harbour; we cannot see the lugger light from here." "George!" came from out of the darkness ahead. "Yes, Luke!" was whispered back sharply, and the old man came up. "Seen anything of him?" "No. Have, you?" "Not a sign. I sent one of the fishermen up to the police to see what he could find out, and--" "Uncle!" panted out Louise, as she left her father to cling to the old man. "Poor little lassie! poor little lassie!" he said tenderly, as he took her and patted her head. "No news, and that's good news. They haven't got him, but they're all out on the watch; the man from London and our dunderheads. All on the watch, and I fancy they're on the look-out close here somewhere, and that's what keeps him back." Louise uttered a low moan. "Ah, it's bad for you, my dear," said Uncle Luke, whose manner seemed quite changed. "You come with me, and let me take you home. We don't want another trouble on our hands." "No, no," she said firmly, "I cannot leave him." "But you will be ill, child." "I cannot leave him, uncle," she said again; and going back to her father, she locked her fingers about his arm. "Hi! hoi! look out!" came from a distance; and it was answered directly by a voice not a hundred yards away. A thrill of excitement shot through the little group as they heard now the tramp of feet. "I knew it," whispered Uncle Luke. "He's making for the harbour now." "Ah!" gasped Vine, as he almost dragged Louise over the rugged stones. "Stop where you are," said Uncle Luke, excitedly; and he placed something to his lips and gave a low shrill whistle. It was answered instantly from the other side of the harbour. "Leslie's on the look-out. Yes, and the men with the boat," he whispered, excitedly, as another low whistle was heard. Then there was a few moments' silence, as if people were listening, followed by steps once more, and a quick voice exclaimed from out of the darkness, "Seen him?" Neither of the group answered, and a man stepped up to them and flashed the light of a lantern quickly over them before closing it again.