588 The Winter Cruise. [ Dee. 
beat to be pursued that put off in the scuffle ; and, as some of the cargo 
is now lying about the rocks here, we must look out for another squall.” 
One of the sailors sustained the still senseless Susan in his arms, while 
the corpse followed, borne by four others on their carbines. 
- « This fun was not expected, Infant Joe,” said one of the men to the 
gigantic figure who carried Susan in one of his arms, with as much ease 
as he would have conveyed a child, and who, in mockery of his immense 
bulk, had been so nicknamed. 
« No,” was the laconic reply. 
« ] think,” continued the other, “ ’twas your pistol settled that poor 
fellow, for he lay in the very point of the woman’s scream when you 
fired.” 
~ © Yes,” said Joe with a grin, “ mayhap it was; and I wish each of 
my bullets could search twenty of ’em at once as surely and as 
quickly.” 
« Halt!” cried the officer who was conducting the party; “if I 
mistake not I perceive a body of men, creeping on their hands and knees, 
at the foot of the cliff. Out with your torches, or we may be fair marks 
for a bullet.” 
- ‘Phe men instantly obeyed, and, at the same moment, discovered their 
progress was interrupted by a gang of armed smugglers, who instantly 
commenced a practical argument for the right of way by furiously 
attacking the blockade. At the first: fire, the ponderous bulk bearing 
the light form of Susan reeled and fell with its burthen on the earth ; 
and a smuggler was seen to rush wildly through the chaos of contending 
beings, hewing his passage with a short broad cutlass, and apparently 
having but one object in view. A retreat of the smugglers, and the con- 
sequent advance of their antagonists, brought him to the spot where 
Susan, still senseless, lay wound in the sinewy arm of the prostrate 
man-of-war’s man. He endeavoured to disengage her from his grasp ; 
and, on placing his hand on her neck, he felt that his fingers were stray- 
ing in warm and still oozing blood. He trembled, and gasped for 
breath :—there were two beings senseless before him—one must be 
seriously wounded, perhaps dying or dead. He dragged Susan from 
her thrall : the action was followed by a groan from the man, who faintly 
rose upon his knees, and made a grasp towards the female with one hand, 
and drawing a pistol from his belt with the other, discharged it at ran- 
dom, and again fell exhausted. The report was heard by some of the 
still contending party, and forms were seen hastening to the spot; but 
the smuggler had safely ascended the cliff with Susan, and sitting on the 
summit, wiped the drops of agony and toil from his brow, and placed 
his trembling hand upon her heart. At the first he could discover no 
pulsation ; he pressed his hand firmer against her side, and with a cry of 
jey sprang upon his feet—he felt the principle of life beat against his 
palm. He again clasped her in his arms, and, with the speed of a hound, 
ran across the fields leading from the edge of the cliffs, darted through 
the church-yard there, till his quick step was heard on the stones of the 
paved street. The inhabitants were at their doors and windows, anxious 
to catch the slightest word that might give them some intelligence of the 
‘conflict ; for the reports of the fire-arms had been heard in the town, and 
all there was anxiety and agitation: but the quick questions were unan- 
swered, the salutes were unnoticed—the form that rushed by them was 
heard to gasp hardly for breath, and they were satisfied that something 
