“That will do very well, sergeant.  It is just seven o’clock now.  If Lieutenant Adcock is in when you get there you ought to be back, well, before ten.  It’s about four miles by road.  I would borrow a couple of heavy sticks if I were you.  I don’t think it at all likely there will be any occasion to use them, but it is just as well to be prepared.  If, when you get near the village, or on your way back, you come across any one who questions you inquisitively, and seems to you to be a suspicious character, I authorize you to make him prisoner and bring him over with you.  Knock him down if he attempt resistance.  You may as well take a pair of handcuffs with you and a short coil of rope.  The object of the rope is, that if you capture any one on your way to the village you had better handcuff him, gag him, and tie him up securely to a tree or some other object at a distance from the road, and pick him up as you come back.  I need hardly say that you are not to go into any house in the village, not to speak to any one beyond what is absolutely necessary.”

“I understand, sir, and you can rely upon me to carry out your orders.”

“You had better fetch Hogan in here, sergeant.  Tell him what he has to do before you bring him in, then we can see the disguises on you both; and it’s better for you to start from an inn, where people are going in and out, than from one of the houses where you are quartered.”

The landlord returned with the disguises almost immediately after the sergeant had gone out, and in a few minutes the latter came in with Hogan.  The greatcoats were put on, the hats substituted for military caps, and with the collars of the coats turned up and the addition of two heavy sticks, the disguise was complete, and the two smart soldiers would pass anywhere as peasants.

“You had better take your gaiters off, sergeant.  You look too neat about the feet; although that would not be noticed unless you went into the light.  Here is the letter, put it carefully inside your jacket.  There, now, I think you will do.”

It was nearly ten when the two soldiers returned.  “Here’s a letter sir, from the revenue officer.  He quite understands what is wanted, and will have a boat off the cliffs at daybreak with a well-armed crew.  He does not know where the cutter is at present.  She touched there two days ago, sailing west.”

“You met no suspicious characters, sergeant?”

“No, sir.  We spoke to no one until we got to the village, beyond asking a woman which was the turning from the main road.  There didn’t seem to be a soul about in the village, and we had to wait about some time before I could get hold of a boy to tell me which was the revenue officer’s cottage.  I left Hogan outside when I went in; but he saw no one, nor did any one speak to us on our return beyond one or two men we met passing the time of night, which Hogan answered.”

“All the better, sergeant.  The great object is secrecy.  Now, leave these things here and put on your caps again.  If you go to the bar the landlord has orders to give you a glass of grog each.  Don’t say a word as to where you have been, Hogan, but get back to your quarters.  When you have had your grog, sergeant, look in again before you go.”