"Never you fear, they'll guess that," said Ben, trying to set Dick's mind at ease on the subject. "It doesn't do to think about home or anything of that sort when we are out on a cruise. Cheer up, lad! cheer up!" A fresh breeze was blowing from the north-west. The stars were shining brightly out of a clear sky, and the lugger, close hauled, was passing the Needle rocks, which could be dimly seen rising out of the dark water like huge giants on the lee beam, while astern were visible the lights on Hurst point now brought into one. The lugger having rounded the western end of the Isle of Wight, the helm was put up, the yards squared away, the flying topsails and big squaresail set, and she stood across Channel, bounding lightly over the dancing seas. A craft with a fast pair of heels alone could have caught her. Her hardy crew remained on deck, for all hands might at any moment have been required for an emergency, either to shorten sail, or to alter her course, should a suspicious vessel appear in sight. All night long the lugger kept on her course, steering westward of south. "I say, Ben, how do the Frenchmen treat us if we go on shore, seeing that we and they are fighting each other?" asked Dick. "Never you fear; we shan't go on shore, except it may be at night, in company with friends. You will soon see how we manage things," was the answer. The lugger made such good way, that when morning dawned, the coast of France was seen close aboard. No vessels of any description were in sight. As she got closer in, the French flag was hoisted, and other flags were got ready for making signals. Dick heard the skipper talking to three men whom he had not before observed, and whom he now discovered to be Frenchmen. He asked Ben who they were. "One of them is to act as captain, the other two as his mates. They will go on shore and arrange about getting our cargo shipped. They won't take long, as it will be all ready. If we have another favourable night, we may run it, and it will be up in London before a week is over." A bright look-out was kept in every direction. As no suspicious sail appeared, the _Nancy_ stood on. The signal which she made was answered from the shore. "All right," said Ben; "no fear of interruption for the present." The topsails were lowered, and under the foresail and mizzen she glided on into a small harbour between rocks of sufficient height to hide her short masts from the view of any craft passing outside. The crew of the _Nancy_ appeared on deck, dressed as much as possible like French seamen, while they wisely kept their tongues quiet, so that their true character might not be suspected.