Cutlass and Cudgel Part 71

I'm too little and too fat."

"No, that's not it," said Archy boldly; "they think you do the work so well that they will not remove you from the station."

"No," said the lieutenant sadly; "it's because I am so stout. I shall never be lifted now."

Mr Brough was wrong, for two years later he was appointed to a frigate, and his first efforts were directed to getting Archy Raystoke and Ram berths in the same s.h.i.+p, where a long and successful career awaited them.

But with that we have at present nought to do. This is the chronicle of the expedition of the _White Hawk_ to crush the smuggling on the Freestone Sh.o.r.e, the most famous place for the doings of those who set the King's laws at defiance.

It was some ten years later, when one of His Majesty King George's smartest frigates was homeward bound from the East Indies, where her captain had distinguished himself by many a gallant act, that, as she was making for Portsmouth, with the tall white cliffs of the Isle just in sight, a tall handsome young officer went to the side, where a sun-browned seaman was standing gazing sh.o.r.eward, shading his eyes with his hand.

"Why, Ram," said the officer; "looking out for the scene of some of your old villainies?"

"No, sir," said the man, touching his cap. "I was wondering whether my old mother was down on the cliff yonder, looking after the cows."

"The cows!" cried the young lieutenant. "Ah, to be sure. Remember the cow falling off the cliff, Ram?"

"Ay, sir, that I do. But look yonder, sir. You could make out the shelf on the big cliff if you had your gla.s.s. Remember our tussle there?"

"To be sure I do," said Lieutenant Raystoke, sheltering his eyes in a very deceptive fas.h.i.+on, for he was trying to make out the old grove of trees amidst which stood the Hoze.

"Mr Raystoke!"

"Captain calling you, sir," said a rugged-looking sailor, with a very swarthy face, that looked as if it would be all the better for a wash, but only seemed.

"All right, d.i.c.k, my man," said the young officer; and he hurried to where a plump, rosy little man stood in full post-captain's uniform.

"Ah, there you are, Mr Raystoke," said the captain, handing the lieutenant his gla.s.s. "I've been sweeping the sh.o.r.e, and it brought back old days. Look there; you can easily make out the range of cliffs.

That highest one is where you and Mr Gurr were at the burning out of the smugglers ten years ago. How time slips by!"

"Yes, sir," said Lieutenant Archy Raystoke, returning the gla.s.s; "that's where the wasps' nest was destroyed."

Then to himself,--

"I wonder whether Celia will be glad to see me."

She was: very glad indeed.