“Let’s see—­ten minutes past ’leben,” said Joan, looking at the clock.  “I don’t see how ’tis possible for ’em to venture in ’fore wan, ’less ’tis to Yallow Rock, and they’d hardly try that.  What do ’ee say, Eve?  Shall we run up out to cliff, top o’ Talland lane, and see if us can see any signs of ’em?”

“Oh do, Joan!”

And, throwing their cloaks over them, off they set.

“Here, give me your hand,” said Joan as they reached the gate and entered upon the path which Eve had last trod with Adam by her side.  “I knaw the path better than you, and ’tis a bit narrow for a pitch-dark night like this.  Take care:  we’m come to the watter.  That’s right.  Now up we goes till we get atop, and then we’ll have a good look round us.”

Thus instructed, Eve managed to get on, and, stumbling up by Joan’s side, they quickly reached the narrow line of level which seemed to overhang the depths below.

“We couldn’t see them if they were there,” said Eve, turning to Joan, who was still peering into the darkness.

“No, ’tis blacker than I thought,” said Joan cheerily:  “that’s ever so much help to ’em, and—­Hooray! the fires is out!  Do ’ee see, Eve?  There ain’t a spark o’ nothin’ nowheres.  Ole Jonathan’s hoaxed ’em fine this time:  the gawpuses have sooked it all in, and, I’ll be bound, raced off so fast as wind and tide ’ud carry ’em.”

“Then they’re sure to come now?” said Eve excitedly.

“Certain,” said Joan.  “They’ve seed the fires put out, and knaw it means the bait’s swallowed and the cruiser is off.  I shouldn’t wonder a bit if they’m close in shore, only waitin’ for the tide to give ’em a proper draw o’ water, so that they may send the kegs over.”

“Should we go on a bit farther,” said Eve, “and get down the hill by the Warren stile?  We might meet some of ’em, perhaps.”

“Better not,” said Joan.  “To tell ’ee the truth, ’tis best to make our way home so quick as can, for I wudn’t say us ’ull have ’em back quicker than I thought.”

“Then let’s make haste,” exclaimed Eve, giving her hand to Joan, while she turned her head to take a farewell glance in the direction where it was probable the vessel was now waiting.  “Oh, Joan! what’s that?” For a fiery arrow had seemed to shoot along the darkness, and in quick succession came another and another.

Joan did not answer, but she seemed to catch her breath, and, clutching hold of Eve, she made a spring up on to the wall over which they had before been looking.  And now a succession of sharp cracks were heard, then the tongues of fire darted through the air, and again all was gloom.

“O Lord!” groaned Joan, “I hope ’tain’t nothin’s gone wrong with ’em.”

In an instant Eve had scrambled up by her side:  “What can it be? what could go wrong, Joan?”

But Joan’s whole attention seemed now centred on the opposite cliff, from where, a little below Hard Head, after a few minutes’ watching, Eve saw a blue light burning:  this was answered by another lower down, then a rocket was sent up, at sight of which Joan clasped her hands and cried, “Awn, ’tis they! ’tis they!  Lord save ’em!  Lord help ’em!  They cursed hounds have surely played ’em false.”