Year: 1877




retired, and wishing to spepd the re-
mainder of my lite in quiet, had remoy.
ed to this isolated place. thinking
could here best find the rest / needed
My family consisted of myself and
wife. having buried our only child When
che was two months old The neigh.
bors, knowing NE to be a doctor. would
frequently call on me TO attend thelr
sick, which | was wont to do out O,
charity, never asking pay for my ser.
vices; had l done so | would not have
much. as the majority Of them were
poor fishermen.


| At the time at which / write, the
/ whole south coast Of England from
Lands End 10 the Isle of Wight, was
infested by daring bands of s,nugglers
The rocky coast sbounded in numerous
caves, where they could secrete them.
selves and their goods until an oppor-
tunity was offered to dispose of them
IN the interior. In the neighborhood
OF Bridport there was particular gang
under the leadership of young man
named Ben Darlingtos, but called hy
his comrades Dare -devil Ben. The
excise-Inen and coast guard had been
alter him for a long time, but could
never get hold of him. although they
had come very near it several times
lie owned little schooner called the
Petrel, and there ~ not vessel
owned by the Government that was
fast enough to oyertake him.


One night in the month of December.
when the wind was howling outside
and the snow coming down thick and
fast. l was sitting in my study nearly
asleep, thinking of the storm and the
poor unfortunates who might be ex.
posed to its fury, when | was reused
from my Fevery 10y loud knocking at
the door. On opening it, bcheld n
man all muflled up. He told me there
was person at the Sailors Rest. a
tavern in the village, who had fallen
from a horse and hurt his shoulder. and
that the landlord had sent for me.
Bidding him to wait, went into the
house. and telling my wife where | was
going. put on my great coat, got my
instruments. and told him was re ady


We had gone about two hundred
yards from my house, when suddenly
three men sprang from the roadsi lie,
and before / could resist, q handkcr-
chief was put to my mouth to prevent
me from making any outcry. They then
told me that if | kept quiet no harm
would come to me. but if attempted
to give any alarm. they would kill me,
putting the cold barrel of pistol to
my temple by way of emphasis. They
then took me IN the shore where n boat
being in waiting. We all got IN, and
after we were in our place and pushed
off from the shore, they removed the
gag. first making me promise not to
give any alarm. When the gag was
removed asked them what they meant
by this outrage. when they answered
that their captain, Daredevil Ben, had
that day been shot in the shoulder in
conflict with the coast-guard. and they
were afraid he would die If the wound
was rot attended to. Knowing l was
the only person within twenty miles
who could help him. and rupposing l
would not come of my own free will,
they had taken this method to make
me come. did not like the manner in
which they had treated me. but being
powerless said nothing.


As soon we as were away from the
shore, the man in the stern, who seemed
tn be a sort of leader. told me would
have to be blindfolded. to keep me
from seeing which way we went Having
no other alternative. consented. After
rowing for about an hour. through a
very rough surf, We stopped, and l
heard the boat hit what supposed was
a rock. They proceeded to get out, and
one of them lifted me up and carried
me ashore. l was then told that had
TO climb ladder. When | got to the
top, l stood on what supposed to be
a broad platform. Twas led through q
long and narrow passage way. and
when. l stopped, the banda2e was re-
moved from my eyes and | found my
self in large cave.


The appear .nce of the room, for such
il looked like. WA enough to awe u
braver rerson than l. The ceilings and
sides were hung with cutlasses and pis-
tolls, while from the ceiling was sus-
pended lamp which sent faint glim-
mcr through the apartment. All
around me could see ropes and blocks
which be,okentd the home Of followers
of the sea- About forty men were sit
ting around. smoking and talking. In
one corner saw . sight which made
me open my eyes. Upon couch Of old
sails, coats aad cloth. was stretched the
form of young man, and kneeling by
his side was beautiful girl The ap
pesrance Of the couple struck me at
once. The young man seemed u be
about twenty-five years of age. and
rather prepossessing in appearance. He
gas about six feet high and very mus
/ cular. The expression Of his face was
one of extreme pain. The girl was a
brunette of about eighteen years. and
looked as if she might belsng to we'll
to-do family. Upon my entrance into
the room she looked up. My guide
pointed to the couch, telling me. there
is your pv,ient. do what You can fol
him. Save him il you can, for your life
depends oil it. II you kill him you
must also die.


walked over 20 the couch, kneli
down. and soon ascertained the nature
Of the wounc. lie had been shot IL
the fleshy part of the shoulder by I
speut-ball which was now resting OF
the shoulder blade. and had partly
shattered the bone As soon ss | hsc
looked. the girl said.-"Oh. good sir.
know YOU are Christian gentleman