As we before observed, it fell nearly calm, and the revenue boats were in chase. Pickersgill watched them as they came up.
"What shall we do," said Corbett,—"get the boat out?"
"Yes," replied Pickersgill, "we will get the boat out, and have the goods in her all ready; but we can pull faster than they do, in the first place; and, in the next, they will be pretty well tired before they come up to us. We are fresh, and shall soon walk away from them; so I shall not leave the vessel till they are within half a mile. We must sink the ankers, that they may not seize the vessel, for it is not worth while taking them with us. Pass them along ready to run them over the bows, that they may not see us and swear to it. But we have a good half hour, and more."
"Ay, and you may hold all fast if you choose," said Morrison, "although it's better to be on the right side and get ready; otherwise, before half an hour, I'll swear that we are out of their sight. Look there," said he, pointing to the eastward at a heavy bank, "it's coming right down upon us, as I said it would."
"True enough; but still there is no saying which will come first,
Morrison; the boats or the fog, so we must be prepared."
"Hilloa! what's this? why, there's a boat coming from the yacht!"
Pickersgill took out his glass.
"Yes, and the yacht's own boat, with the name painted on her bows. Well, let them come—we will have no ceremony in resisting them; they are not in the Act of Parliament, and must take the consequences. We have nought to fear. Get stretchers, my lads, and hand-spikes; they row six oars, and are three in the stern sheets—they must be good men if they take us."
In a few minutes Lord B. was close to the smuggler.
"Boat, ahoy! what do you want?"