Evening star., 1924-09-26
Continued from Yesterdays Starr


o'clock. The rest. under yourself,
with me for guide, will ride to the
top of the cliff which overhangs the
village from the east and there leave
the horses. The informer tells me
there is sheep-track leading down
from there and they picket the top
of it-and old man with a gun to fire
If he hears anything. That pickle
Will have to be silenced."
who's going to do that?" the cor
net inquired.
can do it. He was a great poacher
before he got religion
And them
Then we'll creep. single file. down
the sheeptrack. muster behind the
pilchard sheds and rush the landing
the goods should be ashore by then.
trust that meets with your approx
al, sir?"
The cornet nodded. sobered. ut
does-you seem to be something of a
tactician. Mr.. er
Curral.''
Il served foreign with Lord Mark
kerr's Regiment of Horse Guards,
sir" said the riding officer, picking
up his whip.
Carmichaers jaw dropped. Horse
Guards. Abroad One
of us. Dash my CUTS. man, why
didn't you say so before?"
You didn't ask me. sir" said Cur
raj, and sucked his whip.
H.
Uncle Billy Clemo sat behind a rock
at the top of the sheep-path and
wished to Heaven the signal would go
up. A lantern run three times to the
truck of the f1ag-pole was the signal
that the horses were away and the
pickets could come in. Then he would
be rewarded with 2 shillings and a drop
OF hot toddy at the kiddlywink-and so
to bed
He concentrated his thoughts on the
hot toddy. imagined it tickling be-
witchingly against his palate, waiting
delicious fumes up his nostrils, gripping
him by the throat trickling. drop by
drop, through his chilled system, warm
and comforting, trickling down to his
very toes. He would be happy then. He
had been on duty since 80 ; it was now
after 10 and perishing cold. The wind
had gone round suddenly to the north
east and was gaining violence every
minute. Before dawn it would be blow
ing full gale. Uncle Billy was pro-
foundly thankful he was not a horse
leader. While Penhale and company
were buffeting their way over the moors
he would be in bed. praise Cod full of
toddy. In the meanwhile it was bitter
cold. He shifted his position somewhat
so as TO get more under the lee Of the
rock, and peered downward to see how
they were getting on. He could not see
much. The valley was a pit OF dark
ness. A few points OF light marked
the position Of the hamlet. window
lights only. The fisher folk knew
their own place rats know their
holes, and made no unnecessary show
of lanterns. stranger would have
imagined the hamlet slept; in reality
it was humming like hive.
A dim half-moon of foam marked
blank darkness again
Uncle Billy, knowing what to look
for and where to look. made out a
slightly darker blur against the outer
murk-the lugger riding I'd moor
ings, main and mizzen set She was
plunging goodish bit, even down
there under shelter of the cliffs.
Uncle Billy reckoned the boats crew
must be earning their money pulling
in against wind and ebb, and once
more gave thanks he was not as
other men.
the high land, bending the Eorse
plumes before it, rattling the dead
brambles, rustling the grass. Some
thing stirred among the brambles,
something living. He picked up his
old Brown Bess. A Whit of scent
crossed his nostrils. pungent. cling
ing. He put the Bess down again
Fox. He was bitter cold, especially
as to the feet. He was widower
and his daughterinlaw kept him
short in the matter of socks He
SfonH
and stamped the turf till he got
some warmth back in his toes, sat
down again and thought about the
hot toddy. The lugger was still
there. lunging at her moorings. They
were a plaguy time landing a few
kegs! Jacky's George would have
finished long before-these boys!
Whew. it was cold up thereI
The gales voice was rising to a
steady scream; it broke against
Uncle Billy's rock as though it had
been a wave. Shreds of dead bracken
and grass whirled overhead The
outer darkness, which was the sea,
showed momentary winks of gray
breakers When the wind lulled for
a second. a deep melancholy bay, like
that of some huge beast growing
for meat, came rolling in from the
southwest-the surf on the Twelve
Apostles.
There we're STRINGS and snappings
in the brambles. That plaguy fox
again, thought Uncle BiIly-or else
His fingers were numb now.
He put the Bess down beside him,
blow on his hands. thrust them well
down in his pockets and snuggled
back against the rock. The lugger
would slip mornings soon whether
she had unloaded or not, and then
toddy, scalding his throat, trickling
down to his :.
Something heavy dropped on him
from the top of the rock. knocking
him sideways, away from the gun.
pinning him to the ground: hands.
big and strong as brass, took him
round the throat, drove cruel thumbs
into his jugular, strangling him.
Got him, joe" said voice.
Bring rope and gag quick- He
got no hot toddy that night.
LII.
That the lot?' the lugger captain
beloved.
Aye" answered his mate.
Cast off that shore boat then and
Aye, aye. Pull clear, you: look
lively.'
The Gamecock's crew jerked their
oars into the pins and dragged the
gig out Of harms way
The moorings buoy splashed over
board, the lugger, her mainsaiI
backed. came round before tho wind
and was gone.
Give way" said Anson; '-the
winds getting up a fright" He
turned to Ortho. You'll have a
trip tonight =. rather you nor
me-"
Ortho spat clear of the gunwale.