contained his
wares, and threw himself at his length on the bed, intending to go to
sleep. He had not lain there very long when the door opened and some
person looked in, and placing something on the table retired again,
bolting the door. In a short time several people came into the larger
room, most of whom Peter knew by their heavy tread were men in large
boots.

"Well! Mother Herring, do you promise us success in our venture, we've
been waiting long enough for it?" said one of the new comers in a gruff
voice.

"If you do as I bid you this time you will succeed," answered an old
woman, whom by her cracked, harsh voice, Peter, even had she not been
named, would at once have recognised. "But, as I before told you, if
you want to make all secure, get hold of the son of old Ludlow. He
dotes on the boy, and you would have the father in your power, if you
could get hold of the son."

"So we should, long ago, if it hadn't been for blind Peter;
howsomedever, we can keep him quiet for some time."

"I mind the time before the captain came to the Tower, the matter was
much more easier than it now is," said an old man, whom Peter knew as a
daring smuggler all his life. "That was a first-rate place, I believe
you."

"Then why not get rid of the captain and his family?" croaked out old
Mother Herring; "what business has he to come interfering with people's
rights?"

"More easily said, Mother Herring, than done," exclaimed another of the
party. "The captain is a tough old bird, not to be driven from his
perch in a hurry."

"Ha! ha! ha! May be I'll put you up to a trick or two, my sons, that'll
make the place too hot to hold him," croaked out the old woman. "Just
you be guided by me, and all will go right, depend on that;" and she
gave way to a fit of laughter which almost choked her.

Peter did not hear more of consequence just then, but he had heard
enough to show him that the smugglers were prepared to run a cargo of
contraband goods on the coast, and in case of failure they wished to get
young Stephen Ludlow into their power, that they might make terms with
his father. Had it not been for Peter, who had been long aware of their
object, they might ere this have accomplished it, and he now guessed
that they had discovered that it was owing to him that they had not
hitherto succeeded. At length Peter, being very tired from his long
walk, to sleep. He had a notion that the people in the next room were
taking