less
difficulty than we had expected, we gained the outskirts of the camp.
Instead of returning to Lyme, we kept on towards Charmouth, to a spot
where we had agreed to meet Lancelot. To our infinite satisfaction we
found that he had obtained a horse and left if in Charmouth Wood as
arranged, under charge of a lad who had been directed to stay there
until Mr Harvey appeared, being supplied with food for himself and corn
for the animal.

We would gladly have remained to see the success of our undertaking, but
Lancelot was impatient to get back to relieve the anxiety which his
father and mother would feel when his absence was discovered. We
therefore set off to return to the shore, keeping a look-out to
ascertain that we were not watched.

We had reached the top of the cliffs, and were about to descend, when we
caught sight in the distance of a party of horse galloping towards us.

"They are out on a foraging expedition, probably," observed Lancelot.
"We must get away before they come here, or they will be apt to inquire
our business."

Whether we had been seen or not, it was impossible to say. We, however,
made the best of our way down the cliff; on reaching the bottom we found
Tom waiting for us, and forthwith set to work to launch the boat. We
had scarcely got her into the water when some of the men we had before
seen appeared at the top of the cliffs. They hailed us, and ordered us
to come back.

"Very likely," said Lancelot. "Shove away, Tom. Let them halloo as
long as they like."

We had got out the oars, and the boat was soon in deep water. Dick took
the helm while the rest of us rowed, as there was not wind enough to
fill the sail had we hoisted it.

A voice from the top of the cliff again ordered us to come back, and
presently several shots pattered into the water close alongside.

"Cowards!" exclaimed Lancelot. "Even though they fancy they see a girl
steering, they make no scruple of trying to hit us." The shot only made
us pull the harder. Presently we saw some of the men descending the
cliff, and making towards a boat which lay hauled up on the beach at
some distance.

"They suspect something, and intend to pursue us," observed Lancelot.
"Nevertheless, we have a good start of them, and when we get farther
out, we shall feel the breeze and be able to make sail."

"And maybe the other boat hasn't any oars in her, and if so we can laugh
at them," said Tom.

Lancelot told Dick to steer rig