Winefred: A Story of the Chalk Cliffs

by S. Baring-Gould

'You must not go back,' exclaimed Winefred. 'Indeed you must not; the soldiers are on the road from Musbury.'

'Then forward.'

'That will not do. The coastguard in force are watching at Heathfield Cross.'

The men were silent.

After some consideration, in a dead silence, Jack said, 'There is but one course open. We must creep along the lanes to Hay and Buckland, and stow our goods wherever we can.'

'Do you think that possible? I suspect that they are drawing in from east and west, and have taken the precaution to stop all the earths to the north.'

Winefred knew by the voice that the man who spoke was David Nutall, to whom she had taken the captain's letter.

'I know they will have done that,' she said. 'I heard them say as much. They intended drawing a net round you, and leaving you no way of escape save over the cliffs into the sea.'

Again an anxious silence ensued.