CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
Archy Raystoke was fast asleep, dreaming about being once more on board the cutter, with the sun shining full in his eyes, because he was lying on the deck, right in everybody's road, and Gurr the master was scolding him for it in a way which was very disrespectful to an officer and a gentleman, while the men grouped around grinned.
He was not surprised, for somehow Mr Brough was not there, and Gurr had assumed the command of the cutter, and was playing the part of smuggler and pirate, and insulting him, whom he addressed again: "Get up!" Archy leaped to his feet, and saw at a glance that it was not the sun, but the light of a lanthorn shining in his eyes, while, before he could do more than realise that several men were standing close to him, half of a sack was drawn-down over his head and shoulders, and a thin rope was twisted round and round his arms, fastening him securely, and only leaving his hands free.
"What are you going to do ?" he shouted, after a vain struggle to free himself, and his voice sounded muffled and thick through the heavy sack.
"Pitch you off the cliff if you make so much as a sound," said a gruff voice by his car.

"Keep quiet, and you won't be hurt." The lad's heart beat heavily, and he felt hot and half suffocated.
"Do you want to smother me ?" he said.

"Can't breathe." "Slit the back of the sack, lad," said the same gruff voice, and there was a sharp cutting noise heard, as a breathing-hole was cut right up behind his head.
"Now, then, bring him along." His hand was grasped, and, as he felt himself led over ground that was quite familiar now, he knew that he was on the way to the entrance.
Were they going to take him out, and set him free?
No; if they had been going to do that, they would not have blindfolded his eyes.
Yes, they would, for, if they were going to set him free, they would do so in a way that would place it beyond his power to betray their secret store.
Quick immatured thoughts which shot through him as he was led along, and he knew directly after that it was only fancy.

Of course.

He could show the lieutenant where the opening was in the cliff, and by knowing that it would be easy to track out the land entrance.
"No," said the midshipman to himself sadly; "they are going to take me and imprison me somewhere else, for they must now know that I was holding communications with that girl." "Now then, steady!" said a voice, as he felt that the cool air was coming down on to his head, and he breathed it through the thick sacking.