at Portsmouth were to come over to the cave with what they
could collect and carry about their persons; and, in case of the cutter
sending overland, with the precaution of being in disguise. Of arms and
ammunition there was sufficient in the cave, which Ramsay now felt was
to be defended to the last, until they could make a retreat over to the
other side of the Channel. In half an hour, Nancy was gone, and that
very night had arrived at Portsmouth, and given notice to the whole of
the confederates. Upon consultation, it was considered that the best
disguise would be that of females; and, in consequence, they were all so
attired, and, before morning, had all passed over, two or three in a
boat, and landed at Ryde, where they were collected by Moggy Salisbury,
who alone, of the party, knew the way to the retreat. They walked
across the island by two and three, one party just keeping sight of the
next ahead of them, and arrived without suspicion or interruption,
conducted by Moggy Salisbury, Lazarus the Jew, and sixteen stout and
desperate men, who had remained secreted in the Jew's house, ready to
obey any order, however desperate the risk might be, of their employers.

When they were all assembled at the brow of the precipice, with the
exception of Lazarus, who looked like a little old woman, a more
gigantic race of females was never seen; for, determined upon a
desperate resistance if discovered, they had their buff jerkins under
their female garments. They were soon in the cave, and very busy, under
Ramsay's directions, preparing against the expected attack. Sir Robert
Barclay, with his boat, had been over two days before, and it was not
known when he would return. That his presence was most anxiously looked
for maybe readily conceived, as his boat's crew would double their
force, if obliged to remain there; and his boat would enable them, with
the one brought by Ramsay, to make their escape without leaving one
behind before the attack could be made.

Nancy Corbett, as the reader may have observed, did not return to the
cave with the conspirators. As she was not suspected, she determined to
remain at Portsmouth till the last, and watch the motions of the
authorities.

The cutter did not arrive till the evening of the second day, and the
despatches were not delivered to the admiral till the third morning,
when all was bustle and preparation. Nancy Corbett was everywhere, she
found out what troops were ordere