THE WRECKERS OF ST. AGNES. 363 



I learned afterwards that the gauger alluded to was Knox's half- 

 brother, who was supposed to have met with his death by the hands of 

 his relation, and his body flung down a shaft near the sea, now known 

 by the name of the Gauger's Shaft. What confirmed the suspicion was, 

 that he was known to have frightful dreams about his murdered brother, 

 and some said that he was known to tremble like a child if left alone at 

 night. Be that as it might, however, a ferocious altercation was now 

 proceeding between Knox and a friend of Roberts, who had replied to 

 the other's threats, which appeared likely to proceed to serious conse- 

 quences, had not the attention of all parties been diverted by a loud and 

 continued knocking at the outer door. This seemed so unusual an occur- 

 rence that the host hesitated to unbar, for never was a stranger known 

 to arrive at St. Agnes at such an hour, and on such a night too ; for we 

 heard the rain descend in torrents, and the thunder howling at inter- 

 vals. 



The knocking continued vehemently, and although we were too many 

 to fear any thing like personal danger, yet I could see an evident though 

 undefinable fear spreading throughout the party, sufficiently expressed 

 by their anxious glances. In no one was such an expression more visi- 

 ble than in Knox. It was the result of some superstitious feeling, which 

 the conversation of the night, and the awful storm now raging about 

 them, had called into play. 



The knocking was now fiercer than ever, and the host was at last 

 constrained to unbolt and unbar : the guest, whoever he was, would 

 take no denial. As the door opened, in stalked a tall, weather-beaten- 

 looking man, enveloped in a huge shaggy great-coat, and a broad oil- 

 skin hat on his head. 



" What the devil dost thee mean by this ?" he said, dashing his hat 

 upon the floor, and shaking the rain from his coat like a huge water- 

 dog, " keeping a traveller outside your gates on such a night \" At 

 this moment, during a lull in the storm, was heard a heavy booming 

 sound from the sea. 



" A wrack ! a wrack I" shouted Knox ; and instantly a dozen fellows 

 were on their legs ready to rush forth like thirsty blood-hounds on their 

 prey. " Keep your places, you fools \" cried the stranger, " if she 

 goes ashore, it will be many miles from here, with the wind in this 

 quarter." They all seemed to acknowledge the justice of the remark, 

 by sulkily resuming their places. f< I've heard the guns some time 

 continued the stranger ; " but she has good offing yet, and she may 

 manage to keep off. I'd lay my life she is a foreign craft, they're always 

 in such a plaguey hurry to sing out/' The company had leisure by 

 this time, to seat themselves and resume their pipes. They likewise, 

 seeing he was no ghost, took the liberty of scanning their guest. He 

 was not very remarkable further than being a tall muscular man with 

 short curling black hair, immense bushy whiskers, meeting under his 

 chin, and large black eyes. Altogether it was not an unpleasant coun- 

 tenance. He did not apologize for his intrusion, but called at once for 

 his pipe and his glass. 



" Did you come from Truro side ?" asked Knox. The stranger took 

 a huge whiff, and nodded assent. 



et Who might have brought you across the moors ?" 



" Dost thou think no one can tread the moors but thyself and the 

 louts of St. Agnes ?" 



