he bridal outfit under the directions of that Sally Pentreath who
had been no less assiduous in the preparation of swaddling clothes and
the like on the eve of Rosamund's appearance in this world.

At the very hour at which Sir John was leading his company to table Sir
Oliver Tressilian was setting foot ashore not a mile away.

He had deemed it wiser not to round Pendennis Point. So in the bay above
Swanpool on the western side of that promontory he had dropped anchor
as the evening shadows were deepening. He had launched the ship's two
boats, and in these he had conveyed some thirty of his men ashore. Twice
had the boats returned, until a hundred of his corsairs stood ranged
along that foreign beach. The other hundred he left on guard aboard. He
took so great a force upon an expedition for which a quarter of the
men would have sufficed so as to ensure by overwhelming numbers the
avoidance of all unnecessary violence.

Absolutely unobserved he led them up the slope towards Arwenack through
the darkness that had now closed in. To tread his native soil once
more went near to drawing tears from him. How familiar was the path he
followed with such confidence in the night; how well known each bush and
stone by which he went with his silent multitude hard upon his heels.
Who could have foretold him such a return as this.

Who could have dreamt when he roamed amain in his youth here with dogs
and fowling-piece that he would creep one night over these dunes a
renegade Muslim leading a horde of infidels to storm the house of Sir
John Killigrew of Arwenack?

Such thoughts begot a weakness in him; but he made a quick recovery
when his mind swung to all that he had so unjustly suffered, when he
considered all that he came thus to avenge.

First to Arwenack to Sir John and Rosamund to compel them to hear the
truth at least, and then away to Penarrow for Master Lionel and the
reckoning. Such was the project that warmed him, conquered his weakness
and spurred him, relentless, onward and upward to the heights and the
fortified house that dominated them.

He found the massive iron-studded gates locked, as was to have been
expected at that hour. He knocked, and presently the postern gaped, and
a lantern was advanced. Instantly that lantern was dashed aside and Sir
Oliver had leapt over the sill into the courtyard. With a hand gripping
the porter's throat to choke all utterance, Sir Oliver heaved him out to
his men, who swiftly gag