. Charley and his men followed his example. Those
most frequently succeed who bravely face dangers and difficulties--the
timid and hesitating fail. Mr Ludlow dashed on. The smugglers, for
such there could be no doubt that they were, had black crape over their
faces, and most of them wore carters' smock frocks, which still further
assisted to disguise them. This made it yet more evident that they had
collected with evil intentions. There could no longer be any doubt
about the matter when two or three of them stretched out their arms to
stop the horses, but when they saw the pistols levelled at their heads,
most of them sprang hurriedly back again. One, however, more daring
than the rest attempted to seize Mr Ludlow's rein. Fortunately for the
ruffian the magistrate's pistol missed fire, but he dealt the man's
wrist so heavy a blow with the butt-end of his weapon that the smuggler
was glad to let go his hold lest he should have had another such a blow
on his head. Charley laid about him with his thick walking-stick, and
in a few seconds the whole party were out of the reach of the smugglers.
They galloped on, however, without pulling rein till they reached the
Tower.

"Never in the whole course of my life have I been subject to so daring
an outrage, Captain Askew," exclaimed Mr Ludlow, as he dismounted--"It
is more like the doings of ancient days than what we have a right to
expect in the nineteenth century. I dread to hear what has happened to
my boy. Has he reached you safely?"

Stephen, who had just come up from the beach, answered the question for
himself.

"So far the smugglers have gained no advantage over us," observed Mr
Ludlow, addressing Captain Askew. "But with your leave, my good
neighbour, I will take up my abode here with you for a night, that we
may the better consult as to the further steps it may be necessary to
take to put a stop to these proceedings. I have written to Captain
Haultaught, the new inspecting commander of the district, requesting him
to meet me here with two or three of his lieutenants, and it will be
very strange if we cannot manage to get to windward, as you would say,
of these smuggling gentlemen."

Captain Askew could only say that he was happy to put his house at the
disposal of Mr Ludlow and those he thought fit to invite, on a public
matter of so much importance. He had forgiven, and he believed from his
heart, the unfeeling way in which Mr Ludlow had acted towards