travelling to the coast. There would be a little delay before the Earl
discovered the useless nature of the papers which he had been at such
expense to acquire, but after the discovery there was no doubt in my
mind that he would move upon Brede as quickly as horses could carry
his men, so I insisted upon pressing on to Rye that night, and we
reached the town late with horses that were very tired. It was a long
distance for a man of the age of Father Donovan to travel in a day,
but he stood the journey well, and enjoyed his supper and his wine
with the best of us.

We learned that there was no boat leaving for France for several days,
and this disquieted me, for I would have liked to see Father Donovan
off early next morning, for I did not wish to disclose my project to
the peace-loving man. I must march on Brede next day if I was to get
there in time, and so there was no longer any possibility of
concealing my designs. However, there was no help for it, and I
resolved to be up bright and early in the morning and engage a dozen
men whom I could trust to stand by me. I also intended to purchase
several cartloads of provisions, so that if a siege was attempted we
could not be starved out. All this I would accomplish at as early an
hour as possible, get the carts on their way to Brede, and march at
the head of the men myself; so I went to bed with a somewhat troubled
mind, but fell speedily into a dreamless sleep nevertheless, and slept
till broad daylight.

CHAPTER XXXII

I found Rye a snug little town, and so entirely peaceable-looking that
when I went out in the morning I was afraid there would be nobody
there who would join me in the hazardous task of taking possession of
the place of so well-known a man as the Earl of Westport. But I did
not know Rye then as well as I do now: it proved to be a great resort
for smugglers when they were off duty and wished to enjoy the innocent
relaxation of a town after the comparative loneliness of the
sea-coast, although, if all the tales they tell me are true, the
authorities sometimes made the sea-shore a little too lively for their
comfort. Then there were a number of seafaring men looking for a job,
and some of them had the appearance of being pirates in more
prosperous days.

As I wandered about I saw a most gigantic ruffian, taking his ease
with his back against the wall, looking down on the shipping.

"If that man's as bold as he's strong," said I to myself, "and