The Lost Middy Part 68

"Glad to see you, Master Aleck," said the man, warmly. "Mr Wrighton here was good enough to bring me along with him to see the old place.

I'm coming to make a long stay, sir, as soon as we're paid off, and-- and--there, I arn't good at talking--about them things," continued the man, huskily, "but G.o.d bless you and the captain, sir, for all you've done for my poor wife and bairns."

"Oh, nonsense! Don't talk about it, Eben," said Aleck, huskily; "but, I say, young man, you nearly made an end of us by not coming back after you'd shut us in. What did you do it for--to kill us?"

"To kill you both, sir? Not me! I on'y wanted to make sure of you for an hour or two till I'd been home and sc.r.a.ped a few things together to take away with me. When I come back the cutter's lads dropped upon me, and I showed fight till a crack on the head knocked all the say out of me for about a fortnit. When I could speak they told me you'd both been found."

"Ahoy!" cried the middy, excitedly. "Here comes your rase chap, old wooden pegs. I'd nearly forgotten him. Does he live here?"

"Oh, yes, he's our gardener and odd man; been with us ever since Dunning ran away. Capital gardener he makes, sailor--digs a patch and then walks down it, making holes with his wooden legs to drop in the potatoes or cabbage plants, before standing on one leg and covering in the earth with the other. Hallo, Tom, what is it?"

"Sarvant, sir," said Tom, pulling his forelock, man-o'-war fas.h.i.+on, to the young officer. "Been showing Eben Megg how the cave was busted up, sir, in the storm. I beg pardon, sir; I've been scouring and swabbing out the boat 'smorning in case you and the luff-tenant wanted to go for a sail."

"To be sure," cried Aleck, eagerly. "Here, we'll go for a run to Rockabie and back, Eben; come and take the helm and show Mr Wrighton how the smugglers could run a boat close in among the rocks. You know; the same as you did that night."

"Ay, ay, sir. Come along, Tom. Shall we go round to the Den gully and fetch her, sir? We could run in up the channel below here, and pick you up? Bodger says the channel's quite clear."

"Do you think you could find your way in, Eben?" said Aleck, with a merry look.

"Find my way in, sir? Ay, sir, if it was black as ink, or with my eyes shut."

THE END.