New-York tribune., 1903-06-18
CHAPTER XII.
FALL AMONG sMUGGLBRs.

cllfI opposite showed, LHe l45HI VI TIE many
stars. it's dull outline above; yet felt that the
whole beach had suddenly become crowded with
peopIe-that they were moving stealthily about
me, whispering, picking their way among the
loose stones. hunting ne. and yet hushing their
voices as though themselves afraid
At first you may be sure-awakened as was
from sleep-I had no doubt but that this unseen
band of folk was after me. All that followed my
awakening passed so quickly that cannot sepa-
rate dreams now from guesses. nor apprehen-
sions from realities. do remember, however
that whereas the soldiers from whom had run
had been on foot, my first fears were Of pur-
suit by cavalrymen, and therefore it seemed
likely that some sound of horses trampling
must have set them in train; but now, though
strained my ears, they detected nothing Of the
sort-only a subdued murmur. as of human
voices, down by the waters edge. and now and
again the cautious crunch of a footstep upon
shingle. Even this had not heard but for the
extreme quiet of the sea under the offshore
wind
Gradually, by the light Of the stars, I sepa-
rated from the surrounding shadows that Of a
whole mass Of people inset and darkly crowded
there: and then-almost as I guessed their busi-
ness-the cliff above me shot up fame. and
their forms and their dismayed, upturned faces
stood out distinct in the glare Of it.
Loose the horses and clearP' yelled some one.
and another voice deep and wrathful, began TO
curse, but was drowned by a stampede OF hoofs
upon the shingle. Straight forth from the sea
or SO It locked to me-some twenty or thirty
naked horses without rider. bit or bride, broke
from the crowd and came plunging UP the beach
at gallop. They were met by roar from the
cove head. and with that line of glittering he'll
NETS and cuirasses sprang out of the night and
charged past me.
'Dragoonsi Dragoons!
AS the yell reached me from the waterside,
and the men there scattered and ran. saw the
shock Of the double charge, the fame overhead
lighting up every detail Of it The riderless
horses though they broke and swerved, neither
turned tail nor checked their pace, but came
through the dragons water through gate
the men either vain1y hacking at them with
their sabres or as vainly leaning from their sad
dies and attempting to grip the brutes GRIP
there was none to be had. These were SNUG
glers' horses, clipped to the skin, with houshed
names and tails. and bodies sleek with soft soap
Nor did the dragons waste more trouble upon
them. but charged forward, and down upon the
crowd at the waters edge.
And as they charged I saw-but could not be-
Iieve-that on q sudden the crowd had vanished
A moment before they had been josting, shout
ing. cursirg. They were gone now like ghosts
The light still hared overhead It showed no
boat beyond the cove only the troopers reaching
right across It in an irregular line. as each man
had been able to check his horse. the most OF
them on the verge Of the shingle. but many
foundering girth deep. and one or TWO even
swimming. The riding officer. who had followed
them was bawling and pointing with his whip
toward the clif-at what. could not tell
had no time to wonder, for an unhOly din
broke out on the same instant. at the heao OF
the beach A couple Of the smugglers' horses
had been hurled over by the dragons impact
and Law. hurt beyond recovery, lashing out
across the shingle with their heels. A third mad
gone down under a sabre cut, but had staggered
up and was lobbing after his comrades AT
painful canter. they had traversed the neavy
sbingIe. reached the harder stones at the cove's
head and were sailing away at stretched galIop'
uben a volley rang out from the shadow OF the
cliff there and the scream of more than one
mingled with fresh shouting. At that moment
and lust before the flame above me sank ana
died almost as swiftly as 1t had first shot up d
soI5ier-not a dragoon but a man in red coat
.nd white breeches-ran forward and sprang at
+ba qir+h Of the wounded horse, which had
stumbled again. He did the wise thlng-1or d
single girth was this horses only harness. DuI
whether he caught it or not I could not tel
Ten or a dozen soldiers followed 10 feip hlin-
AID +be next instant total darkness shut down
on the whole scene
T. did not last long. The redcoats. 1t turned
ont. had brought lanterns. and now, at shouIeo
- 4-o,, their commanding officer. answering
the call of the dragon officer below Desan u
1,e~b+ them. They meant, I doubted not to make
q strict search of the cove; and If they dld-rnS
cave befng but a shallow one-there was no nope
B,,t inst then dismounted trooper
r,a -,,rnine I'D the beach, his sCabbard scrap
irz +be shingle as he went by, and his nrst
,,o-ds axnlained the mystery of the crowds dis
appearance
.evvhere.s your officer commandingr" he
nanted 1.-THE devils have got away into the
next cove through kind Of hole IN the cIlH-a
kind of archway, so far as We make out
THEY'VE blocked ii with stones and posted three
or four men there, threatening sudden death
Rv their own account they're armed. Major
r,Ike's holding them to pariey. and wants the
loan of a lantern. while you, sir' niarch your
men round and take the gang in the rear. Tney
reckon they've none but US TO deal WIN
The infantry officer grunted that he under
stood. sent the trooper back with a lantern. and
quietly formed up and marched off his company
From nv hiding place 1 caught scraps OF the
marley at the lower end of'the beach. or rather
of Major Dilke's share in ii. for the smugglers
answered him through tunnel. and 1 could
only hear their voices mumbling in response 10
the threats which he flung forth or the wide
night He was in no sweet temper. having been
cheated OF rich haul, for the fare had. OF
course warned away the expected boat and
supposed that some Of the redcoats had been
dispatched at once 70 search the headland for
the man who lit It Revenge was now the
majors game. and. by his tone. he meant 10
have IL