You saw them enter with the lantern, saw them shift a cider press,
uncover the floor, and there beneath, in a dry well, were barrels upon
barrels of spirits, and crouched among them was a man whom you all knew
at once--Laney's brother, Tom. That, Cousin Dick, was Jim Faddo's
revenge. Tom Doane had got refuge with him till he should reach his
brother, not knowing Lancy was to be coast-guard. Faddo, coming back from
Mablethorpe, told Tom the coast-guards were to raid him that night; and
he made him hide in this safe place, as he called it, knowing that Lancy
would make for it.
"For a minute after Tom was found no man stirred. Tom was quick of brain
and wit--would it had always been put, to good purposes!--and saw at once
Faddo's treachery. Like winking he fired at the traitor, who was almost
as quick to return the fire. What made you do it I know not, unless it
was you hated treachery; but, sliding in at the open door behind the
coast-guards, you snatched the lantern from the hands of one, threw it
out of the open door, and, thrusting them aside, called for Tom to follow
you. He sprang towards you over Faddo's body, even as you threw the
lantern, and, catching his arm, you ran with him towards the dyke.
"'Ready for a great jump!' you said. 'Your life hangs on it.' He was even
longer of leg than you.
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