Page:In the Roar of the Sea.djvu/112

 104 "What, sir?"

"I thought I trod on something 1 like cloth. Have you a light?"

"No, sir! Horne has the dark lantern."

"I suppose it is nothing. What is all that dark stuff there?"

"I'll see, sir," said Wyvill, stopping, and groping with his hand. "By George, sir! it's naught but fuzz."

" Very well, Wyvill—a word between us. I know that if you have the chance you intend to send a bullet into Coppinger. I don't blame you. I won't say I wouldn't do it—unofficially—but looky' here, man, if you can manage without a bullet—say a blow with the butt-end on his forehead and a roll over the cliffs—I'd prefer it. In self-defence of course we must use fire-arms. But there's some squeamish stomachs, you understand; and if it can come about accidentally, as it were—as if he'd missed his footing—I'd prefer it. Make it pleasant all around, if you can."

"Yes, sir; leave it to me."

" It oughtn't to be difficult, you know, Wyvill. I hear he's broke one arm, so is like to be insecure in his hold climbing the cliffs. Then no questions asked, and more pleasant, you know. You understand me?"

"Yes, sir; thank you, sir."

Then they went on, and were lost to sight and to hearing. For some minutes Judith did not stir. She lay, recovering her breath; she had hardly ventured to breathe while the two men were by her, the Captain with his foot on her skirt. Now she remained motionless, to consider what was to be done. It was of no further use her going on to Pentyre Glaze. Coppinger had left it. Wyvill, who had been planted as spy, had had seen him with his carriers defile out of the lane with the asses that were to bring up the smuggled goods from the shore.

She dare not take the path by which on the preceding afternoon she had descended with Jamie to the beach, for it was guarded by the Preventive men.

There was but one way by which she could reach the shore and warn Coppinger, and that was by the chimney of the cave—a way dangerous in daylight, one, moreover, not easy to find at night. The mouth of the chimney opened upon a ledge that overhung the sea half-way