CHAPTER XIV[ToC]
SOME INTERESTING ENCOUNTERS
Rowing about on the night of Lady Day, 1813, a six-oared boat, which had been launched from the Custom House cutter Lion, was on the prowl in that bay which extends all the way from Dungeness to Folkestone. When the watchers in this craft were off Hythe, and only about a quarter of a mile from the shore, they saw coming along over the dark waters a lugsail boat with foresail and mizzen making towards Dymnchurch, which is just to the west of Hythe. It was about an hour before midnight, and as this suspicious craft did not come near to the Lion's boat the latter rowed towards her and hailed her.
"What boat is that?" they asked.
"A Folkestone boat," came back the answer.
Thereupon John Wellar, a deputed mariner in the Customs boat, shouted to the lugger to heave-to, for he guessed what the game was.
"Heave-to!" roared the lugger's master. "We'll see you d——d first!"