At that moment the hall door bell rang a loud peal. Taking his lamp Headland went downstairs, hoping to find that Harry had returned. As no servant had appeared, he commenced withdrawing the bolts. Not being accustomed to the operation, he was some time about it. "Bear a hand, let me in as fast as you can," said a voice. It was Harry's. He spoke in a hurried and excited tone. Headland succeeded at last, and Harry staggered in, looking very pale. There was blood on his coat-sleeve and down his side. "My dear fellow, what has happened?" exclaimed Headland. "I have been attacked by highwaymen or ruffians of some sort, and though I beat them off, one of them sent a bullet through my side, and another gave me an ugly slash with a hanger. Thanks to my good steed, and a stout stick I carried instead of my whip, I kept them at bay till I got clear away." "Come to your room at once then, and have your hurts looked to; you seem weak from loss of blood." "I am somewhat faint, and shall be glad of some refreshment if we can rouse up the butler; but I do not wish to alarm my mother and Julia by making any disturbance in the house." Headland having helped Harry to his room, received his directions where to find the servants, and went in search of them without waiting to hear more of his adventures. "Thieves and robbers in the house! I'll be after them anon," exclaimed Boodle, the old butler, from within, giving sundry grunts and groans while trying to arouse himself. Directly afterwards he made his appearance with night-cap on head, his breeches just slipped on supported by a single brace, and his feet in slippers, while in one hand was a blunderbuss and the other held a candle. "You will find no thieves to fight with," said Headland, smiling at his appearance. "We only want you to bring a bottle of wine as a cordial, and afterwards to obtain some bandages from the housekeeper. Call some one to take Mr Harry's horse, and come as soon as you can." Headland hurried back to Harry's room. "I believe I have only received flesh wounds of no great consequence, and shall soon be all to rights," said Harry. "Had we not better send off for a surgeon," asked Headland, "though I will do my best in the meantime." "He or the messenger might be shot at on his way," answered Harry. "Your doctoring will be quite sufficient for the present, and we shall see how I feel in the morning." Boodle soon appeared with the wine. He almost let the bottle drop as he saw the blood on Harry's dress. "Dear, dear! what has happened, Mr Harry?" he asked with a look of horror. "Nothing of consequence," answered Harry. "Shall I call up her ladyship and Sir Ralph and Mrs Trimmings?" "Pray, my good Boodle, do nothing of the sort; just get what Captain Headland requires, and then turn in and go to sleep again. We sailors, you know, are accustomed to this sort of thing."