The reader is already aware of the practice existing at this time of actually rowing contraband across from France to England in large boats pulling four or more oars.  As one who have myself rowed a craft most of the way from Calais to Dover in a flat calm, I cannot altogether envy the smugglers their job.  However, on May 11, 1818, Captain Hawtayne, commanding H.M.S. Florida, was cruising in the English Channel on the look-out for contraband craft.  Evidently he had received certain information, for at eight o’clock that evening he ordered Mr. Keith Stewart, master’s mate, to man one of the ship’s boats and to intercept any boat that might leave the French coast that looked at all of a suspicious nature.

This order was duly obeyed.  A galley was observed some time before, which had no doubt aroused Captain Hawtayne’s suspicions.  This galley had been seen to come out of Calais harbour and to be rowed towards the westward.  But she must have spotted the Florida, for she very shortly put back.  But before long Mr. Stewart’s boat fell in with another craft—­a long white galley named the St. Thomas.  This was now about 1 A.M., and for a time the St. Thomas had the impudence to pretend she was a French police boat.  When descried she was about five or six miles to the N.N.W. of Cape Blanc Nez, and was steering to the westward.  The night was dark, for the moon had disappeared behind a cloud as Mr. Stewart’s boat came up alongside and hailed the strange craft.  He began by asking what boat she was.  The steersman replied by inquiring what boat Mr. Stewart’s was.  The latter answered that it was the King’s boat.

At that time the St. Thomas’s sails were up, and now Mr. Stewart ordered the steersman to lower them.  He made no answer, but, turning round to his crew exhorted them to pull quickly, saying, “Give way, my boys, give way.”  Thereupon the smugglers cheered and pulled as hard as they could.  Mr. Stewart again ordered the steersman to lower sail, adding that should he fail to do so he would fire at him.  But this did not awe the St. Thomas.  “Fire and be damned,” answered the steersman.  “If you fire, I will fire.  We are as well armed as you are.”  Stewart held his hand and did not fire, but ordered his men to pull closer.  Coming alongside, he addressed the steersman, saying it was absolutely essential that he should examine the St. Thomas and that he knew they were Englishmen, adding that he was unwilling that there should be any bloodshed by firing into the boat.

[Illustration:  “Fire and be damned.”]

With this the Florida’s boat pulled up on the other’s quarter, and the bowmen hooked on with the boat-hook.  The St. Thomas’s steersman knocked the boat-hook away and threatened to shoot the bowman if he did not let go.  For a short time thereafter the boats separated and drifted apart.  But a second time his Majesty’s boat pulled up alongside, and Mr. Stewart jumped forward into the bows and ordered one of his own men to stand by ready to accompany him on board.  The steersman of the other, however, was determined, and resisted Stewart’s attempt, at the same time presenting a pistol and threatening to shoot the officer if he advanced one step further.