"Excuse me," the Captain answered. "I am acting on trustworthy information. The Riding Officer here, Mr. Smellie--" But here Mr. Smellie himself interposed brusquely. "You can stow this bluster, Hymen. I've cornered you, and you know it. The flares in the offing yonder came from two preventive boats. Back-door and front I have you, as neat as a rat in a drain; so you may just turn that lantern of yours on the cargo, own up, and sing small." "To resume our conversation, Captain Arbuthnot," the Major went on. "Upon what information are you and your men taking a part, uninvited, in this evening's--er--proceedings? You must understand, sir, that I put this question as a magistrate." "To be frank, sir, I am warned that under cover of a feigned attack between your two corps an illicit cargo was to be run here to-night. The Riding Officer's information is precise, and he tells me he is acquainted with the three boats in which the goods have been brought over." "And more by token, there they are!" exclaimed Mr. Smellie, pointing to three small lugger-rigged craft that lay moored some six or eight fathoms outside the long-boats, with mainmasts unstepped, sails left to lie loose about deck with an artful show of carelessness, and hulls suspiciously deep in the water. He dismounted, caught up a lantern, and scanned them, chuckling in his glee. "See here, Captain, the rogues had their gang-planks out and ready. Now, wait till I've whistled in the preventive crews, and inside of ten minutes you shall see what game these pretty innocents were playing." He blew his whistle, and a whistle answered from the offing, where the flares continued to blaze. "Excuse me again," said the Major, ignoring the interruption and still addressing himself to Captain Arbuthnot, "but this is a very serious accusation, sir. If, as you surmise--or rather as your informant surmises--these boats should prove to be laden with contraband goods, the men undoubtedly deserve punishment; and I am the less likely to deprecate it since they have compromised me by their folly. For me, holding as I do the King's commission of the peace, to be involved, however innocently, however unconsciously--" "Ay," struck in Mr. Smellie again, "it's a devilish awkward business for you, Hymen. But you won't improve it by turning cat-in-the-pan at the last moment, and so I warn you. Come along, lads!" he called to the preventive crews. "We have 'em right and tight this trip. See the three luggers, there, to port of ye?" "Ay, ay, sir!" "Tumble aboard, then, and fetch us out a sample of their cargo." There was a pause. Save for the jingling of the chargers' bits and now and again the clink of scabbard on boot, silence--dead silence-- held the beach. Aboard the boats the preventive men could be heard rummaging. "Found anything?" called out Mr. Smellie. "Ay, ay, sir!" "What is it?" "Casks!"