Harry and his companions rode on to Downside. He intended, should May not have returned, to leave Julia there, and go in search of the mad woman. An undefined fear seized him that something might have happened to May. On reaching the house, Harry threw himself from his horse. Miss Jane, in a state of great agitation, was at the front door directing Susan to summon the gardener, that he might set off and ascertain what had become of Jacob. Harry fancied that she was speaking of May, and the dread seized him that she had been carried off. At that moment he caught sight of her as she came out of the drawing-room, and forgetting everything else, he sprang forward and pressed her to his heart, as he exclaimed-- "Thank heaven you are safe, May! what has happened?" "Jacob was attacked while defending me from some men on horseback, and I fear they have carried him off, as they failed to capture me," she answered, making no very great effort to release herself, though she saw that Julia's eyes were fixed on her. Harry, however, recollecting that others were present released her, and having learned more particulars, had no doubt, coupling them with what he heard from Mad Sal, that Jacob had really been carried on board some vessel off the coast. "We must do our best to recover him." "Oh yes, do," exclaimed May. "Had it not been for him, I should probably have been carried away." "Headland, will you accompany me?" asked Harry. "We will go to Adam Halliburt, who has a craft, in which we can pursue the vessel his son has been carried on board. When we get to the beach we shall probably ascertain what craft she is, as she cannot have got far." Headland at once agreed to do as Harry proposed, and leaving Julia with the Miss Pembertons, they rode down to the fisherman's cottage. They found Adam at the door, Mad Sal having just before left him; but the information she had given had been in such incoherent language, that not till Harry and his friend arrived did he comprehend what had happened. "It must be the doing of that scoundrel Miles Gaffin," he exclaimed, "as his lugger is the only vessel lying off the mill. Ah, there she stands under all sail away from the coast," looking through his glass. "I saw a boat go off to her just now, but I little thought my Jacob was aboard. The villains cannot have the heart to hurt him, yet it's hard to say what they won't do. Oh Jacob, my boy, my boy," and Adam lifted up his eyes to heaven, as if for protection for his son. Directly Harry spoke of the possibility of recovering him by going in pursuit, he exclaimed-- "Yes, to be sure, sir; the _Nancy_ is as fast a craft as any, and there will be plenty of lads to go off with us." Headland, meantime, was looking seaward. "What is that craft out there?" he asked, "she looks to me like a cutter." Adam lifted his glass.