curl up in rapid succession; the mass of water threatened to overwhelm
the rushing craft, but she was manipulated with such fine seamanship
that only the spray lashed over her in smothering clouds. Suddenly
orders were given to stand by to lower the sail, and in another minute
the helm was put down to bring the boat head to sea and wind. The sail
was lowered, oars shipped, and she was manoeuvred stern on to the
beach. As soon as she struck, a rush to help was made by those who had
watched with feverish anxiety the passage through the broken water,
lest the frail craft should be overturned and all aboard drowned. A
rope was bent on to the stern, and the crowd quickly hauled the coble
away from the heavy surf into safety. At this point, an elderly
gentleman, tall, with a long, shaggy beard and bushy grey hair, which
might have been a wig, rode up on a brown mare. His appearance and
demeanour stamped him with the characteristics of a real old country
gentleman, who put on what sailors would call an insufferable amount
of "side." He promptly introduced himself to the officer as the Lord
of the Manor, giving his name as Crawshaw.

The naval man gave his as Thomas Turnbull, and explained that he was
sent to organize some system of resistance to the smuggling that was
being carried on along that part of the coast. Mr. Crawshaw
volunteered assistance, and hinted that the task would be rendered all
the more arduous as he would not only have the smugglers to deal with,
but their accomplices, the fisher-folk and farmers. After a few weeks'
experience, it was quite obvious that the squire was right, and in
view of this, Thomas Turnbull sent for his wife and six children, and
settled down to his work in real earnest.

The intimation that the new-comer was a religious man, and could
preach and pray, soon spread through the villages, and large numbers
flocked to see and hear him. Many came out of pure curiosity, and some
to mock and jeer, but these seldom succeeded in setting at defiance
the great power that was behind the preacher. He was of commanding
presence; his face, as some of the villagers used to say, was good to
look at, and the message that he delivered to his audience came with
irresistible force, which broke the spirit of some of the most
determined obstructers, and turned many into friends, and a few even
into saints. The fisher-folk did not take kindly to him, and so strong
was their opposition that they threatened m