Pushing through the throng, I gained a spot near Dassell and the Mayor, and added two more eyes to those already fixed upon the ships, which had now come to anchor in the bay. "Well, well, what make you of it now?" I heard the Mayor ask Dassell anxiously. "Rank mischief," snapped the deputy. "What’s to be done, then?" "Naught can be done, sir. The time for doing has gone by. Had I had my way, the scoundrels should have answered long ago, or been the heavier by some cannon-balls. But now it is too late. We can do naught save watch." The Mayor groaned aloud; the councillors behind him stared like frightened sheep; but no one had a helpful word to offer. And so we stood and watched; watched till our eyeballs ached; watched till the sinking sun caught all three vessels in a dazzling glare and made them stand out black as ink, like things of ugly fate. Then, just on sunset, we heard a great commotion on the ships; the ring of sharply-given orders, the hurried tread of feet upon the decks, the creak of pulleys--all these reached us clearly across the smooth, still waters. As for seeing, the glare of sun was all too blinding, and the ships too far away, for us to make out anything beyond a dim, blurred mass of swiftly-moving forms which showed above the bulwarks. "What is it, think you, Dassell?" asked the Mayor in a fearful, gusty whisper. "Lowering boats on the off side, I fancy, sir," replied the deputy, as calm as though he had been speaking of the weather. "Boats!" gasped Gregory Alford, raising his hands. "Boats! What! do you mean to say they’re going to land?" "I fancy so," said Dassell. "Nay, I am certain sure of it!" he added, raising his voice and pointing. "Hark! here they come!" Even as he spoke we heard the splash of many oars; and presently five great boats laden with men, and with the captured King’s boat following, drew from behind the ships. At first they seemed to be making for the Cobb itself, but passing that by they swung round to the west of it and headed straight for shore. On seeing this we all ran pell-mell down to the sea. Heavens! how the shingle flew beneath our feet, and what a breathless, anxious crowd it was which gathered near the water! Verily, it seemed as if all Lyme stood waiting. Men, women, children, young and old were there, yet scarce a word was spoken; all eyes were fixed upon those sweeping oars, which brought we knew not what towards us. There was silence on the water, too--no sound save the creak and splash of oars; and I have oft thought since, when standing on that fateful spot, that perchance some dread presentiment of future ill hung over both the comers and the watchers!