sed his resolution by every means in his power to put down the
smugglers. The horses were soon ready, and the lieutenant and the two
midshipmen, led by the mounted exciseman who had brought the
information, set off by a road which would lead them to the westward of
Milford. The excise officer informed the lieutenant that a messenger
had been despatched to obtain the assistance of a party of dragoons
stationed at Lymington, and that a small body of sea-fencibles,
belonging to the district, were hurrying on towards the expected scene
of action. With the aid of the lieutenant's own men, a sufficient force
would thus, it was hoped, be collected to seize the goods should they be
landed, while the boats on the station were despatched to try and
capture the lugger herself before she had completely discharged her
cargo. The exact spot where it was intended the lugger should run her
cargo was unknown, but it was supposed that it would be somewhere
between Hurst and Christchurch. The cliffs here are of considerable
height, rising above a narrow beach, and, continually crumbling away,
exhibit numerous fossil remains. In some places they are broken by
narrow gullies, which, sloping up gradually from the shore to the downs
above, afford easy pathways up which both men and loaded animals can
climb without much difficulty.

Since information had first been received of the intended run from a
treacherous confederate of the smugglers, preparations for their capture
had been carried on with the greatest possible secrecy and rapidity. It
was important to prevent the smugglers' associates on shore from
discovering that the revenue men were approaching.

Lieutenant Hilton having reached his station, summoned eight of his own
men to accompany him. Here the midshipmen were provided with pistols
and cutlasses. Their services were likely to be of use, as it was
certain the smugglers would muster in large numbers. The horses were
left at the station, while the lieutenant and his party proceeded to the
spot where the sea-fencibles were posted, waiting for any information
they might receive to guide their future proceedings.

It was in a hollow, surrounded by trees and brushwood, and about half a
mile or so from the sea-shore. The night, as had been expected, was
very dark, the wind a moderate breeze, blowing from the north-west. Not
a word was spoken above a whisper, for fear lest their position should
be discovered by any passing a