to the jutting out of the rocks, the land path was the shortest; and this way lay by the water-side at an angle right below the cliff to which Hepburn’s steps were leading him.  He knew that on this long level field path he might easily be seen by any one following; nay, if he followed any one at a short distance, for it was full of turnings; and he resolved, late as he was, to sit down for a while till Kinraid was far enough in advance for him to escape being seen.  He came up to the last rock behind which he could be concealed; seven or eight feet above the stream he stood, and looked cautiously for the specksioneer.  Up by the rushing stream he looked, then right below.

‘It is God’s providence,’ he murmured.  ‘It is God’s providence.’

He crouched down where he had been standing and covered his face with his hands.  He tried to deafen as well as to blind himself, that he might neither hear nor see anything of the coming event of which he, an inhabitant of Monkshaven at that day, well understood the betokening signs.

Kinraid had taken the larger angle of the sands before turning up towards the bridge.  He came along now nearing the rocks.  By this time he was sufficiently buoyant to whistle to himself.  It steeled Philip’s heart to what was coming to hear his rival whistling, ’Weel may the keel row,’ so soon after parting with Sylvia.

The instant Kinraid turned the corner of the cliff, the ambush was upon him.  Four man-of-war’s men sprang on him and strove to pinion him.

‘In the King’s name!’ cried they, with rough, triumphant jeers.

Their boat was moored not a dozen yards above; they were sent by the tender of a frigate lying off Hartlepool for fresh water.  The tender was at anchor just beyond the jutting rocks in face.

They knew that fishermen were in the habit of going to and from their nets by the side of the creek; but such a prize as this active, strong, and evidently superior sailor, was what they had not hoped for, and their endeavours to secure him were in proportion to the value of the prize.

Although taken by surprise, and attacked by so many, Kinraid did not lose his wits.  He wrenched himself free, crying out loud: 

’Avast, I’m a protected whaler.  I claim my protection.  I’ve my papers to show, I’m bonded specksioneer to the Urania whaler, Donkin captain, North Shields port.’

As a protected whaler, the press-gang had, by the 17th section of Act 26 Geo. III. no legal right to seize him, unless he had failed to return to his ship by the 10th March following the date of his bond.  But of what use were the papers he hastily dragged out of his breast; of what use were laws in those days of slow intercourse with such as were powerful enough to protect, and in the time of popular panic against a French invasion?

‘D—­n your protection,’ cried the leader of the press-gang; ’come and serve his Majesty, that’s better than catching whales.’