"There's no saying what will happen when I once begin to move," said Mrs. Polwhele: "but I'll risk it. For I don't mind telling you that one of my legs went to sleep somewhere near St. Austell, and 'tis dreadfully uncomfortable." So out she was fetched and climbed in beside her husband. "But what was it that upset you?" he asked, as they started again. Mrs. Polwhele laid her cheek to his shoulder and sobbed aloud; and so by degrees let out her story. * * * * * "But, my love, the thing's impossible," cried Parson Polwhele. "There's no Frenchman in Cornwall at this moment, unless maybe 'tis the Guernsey merchant[3] or some poor wretch of a prisoner escaped from the hulks in the Hamoaze." [Footnote 3: Euphemistic for "smugglers' agent."] "Then, that's what these men were, you may be sure," said Mrs. Polwhele. "Tut-tut-tut! You've just told me that they came across the ferry, like any ordinary passengers." "Did I? Then I told more than I know; for I never saw them cross." "A couple of escaped prisoners wouldn't travel by coach in broad daylight, and talk French in everyone's hearing." "We live in the midst of mysteries," said Mrs. Polwhele. "There's my parcels, now--I packed 'em in the Highflyer most careful, and I'm sure Jim the Guard would be equally careful in handing them out--you know the sort of man he is: and yet I find a good dozen of them plastered in mud, and my new Moldavia cap, that I gave twenty-three shillings for only last Tuesday, pounded to a jelly, quite as if someone had flung it on the road and danced on it!" The poor soul burst out into fresh tears, and there against her husband's shoulder cried herself fairly asleep, being tired out with travelling all night. By-and-by the Parson, that wanted a nap just as badly, dozed off beside her: and in this fashion they were brought back through Falmouth streets and into the yard of the Crown and Anchor, where Mrs. Polwhele woke up with a scream, crying out: "Prisoners or no prisoners, those men were up to no good: and I'll say it if I live to be a hundred!" * * * * * That same afternoon they transhipped the parcels into a cart, and drove ahead themselves in a light gig, and so came down, a little before sunset, to the Passage Inn yonder. There, of course, they had to unload again and wait for the ferry to bring them across to their own parish. It surprised the Parson a bit to find the ferry-boat lying ready by the shore and my grandfather standing there head to head with old Arch'laus Spry, that was constable of Mawnan parish. "Hullo, Calvin!" the Parson sings out. "This looks bad--Mawnan and Manaccan putting their heads together. I hope there's nothing gone wrong since I've been away?" "Aw, Parson dear," says my grandfather, "I'm glad you've come--yea, glad sure 'nuff. We've a-been enjoying a terrible time!" "Then something _has_ gone wrong?" says the Parson.