THE ** JANE " RUNS A CARGO. 295 



" It is the Jane ! " exclaimed my kinsman, as he 

 bounded up the bank to gain the summit of the hillock. 

 I did not comprehend exactly what the affair was which 

 created such powerful emotions among my companions ; 

 but when I reached the height, a scene of extreme 

 interest was presented. 



Between the Black Rock and the island of Devilawn, 

 a cutter was opening the bay, and standing from the 

 westward under a press of canvas. She carried a spank- 

 ing breeze in, and, as her course was two points off the 

 wind, her sails drew, and she came up *' hand over hand." 

 The approach was evidently expected, for from every 

 nook and inlet rowboats were being launched — the whole 

 population poured forth from the mountain villages — 

 and the coast, as far as the eye could reach, was 

 in marvellous commotion. Nothing could be more 

 beautiful and picturesque than the appearance of the 

 smuggler. The sunshine fell upon her snowy canvas, 

 a private signal fluttered from the mast-head, and a 

 union-jack was flying at the peak, while, occasionally, 

 a sheet of broken foam sparkled round her bows, as she 

 held her onward course gallantly, 



"And walked the water like a thing of life." 



In a few minutes after her having been first discovered, 

 boats were pulling from the shore in all directions, while 

 the cutter closed the land fast. When abreast the 

 Ridge Point, she suddenly rounded-to, handed her 

 gaff top-sail, hauled up the main-tack, and waited for 

 the boats. 



" I cannot go on board," said my kinsman, with a 

 heavy sigh, " being, alas ! like Master Robert Shallow, 

 ' a poor esquire of this county, and one of the King's 



