No: I had not been spied.

She was pointing straight for the shore.

But what should take a long-boat, manned (as I made out) by a dark crowd of rowers and passengers, at this hour to this deserted spot?
Why was she not putting-in for Cawsand, around the point?
And did she carry the water-guard?
Was this Tucker's boat after all, or another?
Still treading water, I heard her nose take the ground, and presently the feet of men shuffling, as they disembarked, over loose stones: then a low curse following on a slip and a splash.

"Who's that talking ?" a voice inquired, quick and angry.

"Sergeant! Take that man's name." But apparently the sergeant could not discover him.
The footfalls grew more regular and seemed to be mounting the cliff, along the base of which, perhaps a hundred yards from shore, the tide was now sweeping me.