THE RED LIGHT 171 



Only for a moment did he take his eyes 

 from the dark waters below whilst he ignited 

 the tinder and lit his pipe. Now and again 

 a spark was blown in the direction of the 

 stoats, but they took no more notice of that 

 than of the cry uttered by one of the sleep- 

 ing smugglers. Nothing would drive the bold, 

 ravenous pack away, at least nothing but dawn ; 

 and that was hours and hours distant. 



Suddenly a red light came and went near 

 the foot of the cliffs ; it was a signal from the 

 boat and was answered by the watch with a 

 hoot like that of a screech-owl. Immediately 

 all was stir, the men jumping to their feet 

 and making for the adit that communicated 

 with the cave into which the boat with its 

 load of kegs had already been taken. 



The hare, far from being frightened by the 

 sudden commotion, dogged the steps of the 

 men and sat in a recess in the wall of the 

 tunnel ; the stoats who had followed dared not 

 penetrate there ; so they stood and watched him 

 from the mouth. 



The smugglers worked as if for their lives ; 

 two, by means of a long rope, hauling the kegs 

 from the cave to the adit, whilst the other five 

 carried them to the furzebrake on the hillside 

 and hid them amongst the bushes. 



