"As fine a craft as ever floated has come to her end this night," observed one of them. "Well, lads, there is nothing more to be done, so we will back to our homes and get some of these poor fellows put into warm beds." The captain and two old French people, with two or three more persons, accompanied Mr. Kyffin and Harry to the cottage. As they reached the top of the cliffs, they saw, far and near, the beacon fires bursting forth, and heard the sound of guns firing in the distance. "Why the people must suppose that the French are coming," observed Mr. Kyffin. "Depend upon it that is the idea. We shall have the whole army of volunteers down upon us before long, and when they find that you, captain, and your two old friends are the only invaders, they may be apt to feel rather irate; our safest plan will be to get housed comfortably before they come. It will do the young soldiers no harm to give them some useful exercise. I only hope, should the enemy ever come, that the guardians of our native land may be as wide awake as they appear to be to-night." The cottage was shortly reached. Susan, Harry's old nurse, now grown into a comely matron, acted as housekeeper; a blazing fire in the kitchen soon restored warmth to their limbs, while all the garments which the house could furnish were brought forth to supply them with dry clothes. A steaming hot supper was after this placed on the table, round which Mr. Kyffin's guests thankfully assembled. "Well, Harry, you wish to know the news I have brought, I doubt not," said the captain, when at length he was sufficiently recovered to find the use of his tongue. "Had you not come down to-night to assist in saving me and these two country people of mine, in all human probability your friend Captain Everard would not have recovered possession of Stanmore. I am thankful to say, after much risk and anxiety, I succeeded in getting a copy of the marriage certificate which was of such importance, and to make security doubly sure, I brought over these two old people who were witnesses to his father's marriage." "How can he ever repay you sufficiently?" said Harry; "I must set out immediately to let him know the result of your mission." "No, no, my dear boy, you have gone through sufficient fatigue to-night," said Mr. Kyffin. "You must do no such thing. The captain will not be the worse for spending another night without knowing that he can regain his property, and to-morrow morning we will go in due form, when, perhaps, as the gale last night must have blown away all your fever, you may be admitted into the presence of Mistress Mabel." Harry's countenance lighted up with pleasure at this suggestion of his guardian. "Do you think she will see me?" he exclaimed. "She will not deem me unworthy to appear in her presence?"