ere 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 may be 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 ordered to embark on the expedition, and she
was acquainted with some of the officers, as well as the sergeants and
corporals; an idea struck her which she thought she could turn to
advantage. She slipped into the barrack-yard, and to where the men were
being selected, and was soon close to a sergeant whom she was
acquainted with.

"So, you've an expedition on hand, Sergeant Tanner."

"Yes, Mistress Corbett, and I'm one of the party."

"I wish you joy," replied Nancy, sarcastically.

"Oh, it's nothing, Mistress Corbett, nothing at all, only some smugglers
in a cave; we'll soon rout them out."

"I've heard a different a