The whole affair was a great surprise to Henry and his friends, when they saw such a string of people advancing, with such shouts and imprecations; they could not, for the life of them, imagine what could have excited such a turn out among the ordinarily industrious and quiet inhabitants of a town, remarkable rather for the quietude and steadiness of its population, than for any violent outbreaks of popular feeling. “What can Mr. Chillingworth be about,” said Henry, “to bring such a mob here? has he taken leave of his senses?” “Nay,” said Marchdale; “look again; he seems to be trying to keep them back, although ineffectually, for they will not be stayed.” “D——e,” said the admiral, “here’s a gang of pirates; we shall be boarded and carried before we know where we are, Jack.” “Ay ay, sir,” said Jack. “And is that all you’ve got to say, you lubber, when you see your admiral in danger? You’d better go and make terms with the enemy at once.” “Really, this is serious,” said Henry; “they shout for Varney. Can Mr. Chillingworth have been so mad as to adopt this means of stopping the duel?” “Impossible,” said Marchdale; “if that had been his intention, he could have done so quietly, through the medium of the civil authorities.” “Hang me!” exclaimed the admiral, “if there are any civil authorities; they talk of smashing somebody. What do they say, Jack? I don’t hear quite so well as I used.” “You always was a little deaf,” said Jack. “What?” “A little deaf, I say.” “Why, you lubberly lying swab, how dare you say so?” “Because you was.” “You slave-going scoundrel!” “For Heaven’s sake, do not quarrel at such a time as this!” said Henry; “we shall be surrounded in a moment. Come, Mr. Marchdale, let you and I visit these people, and ascertain what it is that has so much excited their indignation.” “Agreed,” said Marchdale; and they both stepped forward at a rapid pace, to meet the advancing throng. The crowd which had now approached to within a short distance of the expectant little party, was of a most motley description, and its appearance, under many circumstances, would cause considerable risibility. Men and women were mixed indiscriminately together, and in the shouting, the latter, if such a thing were possible, exceeded the former, both in discordance and energy. Every individual composing that mob carried some weapon calculated for defence, such as flails, scythes, sickles, bludgeons, &c., and this mode of arming caused them to wear a most formidable appearance; while the passion that superstition had called up was strongly depicted in their inflamed features. Their fury, too, had been excited by their disappointment, and it was with concentrated rage that they now pressed onward.