hen proceeded to the Church Cliffs, to the west of
the town, from which lovely spot, as they walked up and down, they could
observe the vessels. Here they found a number of persons, who all
offered various surmises as to the character of the strangers. Among
the persons present were the Mayor and other authorities of the town.
The former suggested that a gun should be fired to recall the boat,
when, it was thought, if she had been retained for any particular
reason, a friendly signal would be made.

"An excellent idea, Mr Mayor," answered another member of the
Corporation. "But to confess the truth, we have not a grain of powder
to fire a musket; we must wait patiently till the boat comes back."

The day passed by, till towards evening the post arrived. On this the
Mayor and several of the Corporation hurried to the post-house. The
post had brought a weekly _News-Letter_, in which it was stated that
three ships had lately sailed from a port in Holland, and were supposed
by the English ambassador to be bound either for England or Scotland,
and that the Duke of Monmouth was aboard.

"What if those three ships out there are those spoken of!" exclaimed the
Mayor. "We shall have an invasion, rebellion, and much fighting in
these parts. My friends, we must call out the borough militia, we must
oppose the landing, we must turn the tide of war from our own town to
some other part of the coast."

This speech was highly applauded by the loyal part of the inhabitants.
The drum was immediately beat to summon the lieges to defend the town.
A very few answered to the call; instead of doing so, their Captain
mounted his horse, and galloped off to carry the information to London.
The Mayor, finding that he had gone, with several other members of the
Corporation quietly slipped out of the town, and in a short time the
whole place was in a state of confusion. No one had been able to say
what was about to take place. Seven boats were now seen approaching the
beach west of the Cob. Roger and Stephen went down to meet them.

"Come," said Stephen, "let us go down and meet them. We shall soon know
all about the matter."

"But, surely, you will not join them whether the Duke is there or not,
till you understand what are their intentions," said Roger.

"If the Duke comes, as I believe he will, to oppose the Papists and
establish civil and religious liberty, I am bound to aid him with my
life's blood," answered Stephen, enthusi