“Nonsense, I mean some quills.”

“So do I, Miss Lilly; but if you want them dead, I shall bring them in my pocket—­if alive, I shall bring the goose under my arm.”

“I only want the quills, Nancy,” replied Lilly, laughing.

“And I think I shall want the feathers of them before I’m at the top,” replied Nancy, looking up at the majestic cliff above her.  “Good-bye, Miss Lilly.”

Nancy Corbett again filled her handsome mouth with bread, and commenced her ascent.  In less than a quarter of an hour she had disappeared over the ridge.

Chapter XVII

In which there is a great deal of plotting, and a little execution.

We will follow Nancy Corbett for the present.  Nancy gained the summit of the cliff, and panting for breath, looked round to ascertain if there was any one in sight, but the coast was clear:  she waited a minute to recover herself a little, and then set off at a brisk pace in the direction of the hamlet of Ryde, which then consisted of a few fishermen’s huts.  It was an hour and a-half before she gained this place, from whence she took a boat, and was safely landed at the Point.  The fisherman who brought her over was an old acquaintance of Nancy’s, and knew that he would have to remain to take her back, but he was well paid for his trouble, and it was a lucky day for him when Nancy required his services.  The Yungfrau had rounded St Helen’s, and was standing into Spithead, when Nancy landed, and the first door at which she knocked was at the lodgings of Moggy Salisbury, with whom she was well acquainted, and from whom she expected to be able to gain information.  On inquiry, she found that Moggy had not come on shore from the cutter, which had sailed during the night very unexpectedly.

This information pleased Nancy, as Moggy would in all probability be able to give her important information, and she took up her quarters in Moggy’s apartments, anxiously awaiting her arrival, for Nancy was not at all desirous to be seen.  In due time the cutter was again anchored in the harbour, and the first order of Mr Vanslyperken’s was, that Moggy Salisbury should be sent on shore, which order was complied with, and she left the vessel, vowing vengeance upon the lieutenant and his dog.  The informer also hastened into a boat, and pulled on shore on the Gosport side, with a very significant farewell look at Mr Vanslyperken.  Moggy landed, and hastened, full of wrath, to her own lodgings, where she found Nancy Corbett waiting for her.  At first she was too full of her own injuries, and the attempt to flog her dear darling Jemmy, to allow Nancy to put in a word.  Nancy perceived this, and allowed her to run herself down like a clock; and then proposed that they should send for some purl and have a cosy chat, to which Moggy agreed, and as soon as they were fairly settled, and Moggy had again delivered herself of her grievances, Nancy put the requisite questions, and discovered what the reader is already acquainted with.  She requested, and obtained a full description of the informer, and his person was too remarkable, for Nancy not to recognise immediately who it was.