Everything depended now on whether the lugger was captured.

If so, James would have to stand his trial for being concerned in the fight on the beach, and, as two of the revenue men had been killed, his sentence might be a heavy one.
If she got away, all would be well.

They would doubtless hear by letter from Jim, and it would be better that he should not return at present to Sidmouth, but should at once take up his residence in London, and commence his studies there.
He met the squire just as the latter was starting for Sidmouth.
"Well, Wilks, we began to think that you were lost," he said, cheerfully.

"Aggie was downstairs to lunch, and was mightily offended that you should not be there at her first appearance.
"But you look tired and fagged.

Has anything gone wrong ?" "Things have gone very wrong, squire." And he related to his friend all the news that he had gathered, and his conviction that James Walsham was on board the lugger.
"This is a pretty kettle of fish," the squire said irritably.