hut suddenly sprang to his feet and shouted, "Who goes there?" He had
apparently been placed as sentry, but had joined in the potations going on
inside, and had forgotten to look round from time to time to see that none
were approaching.

At his challenge the whole party rushed forward, and as they reached the
hut the men from within came scrambling out, sword in hand. For two or
three minutes there was a sharp fight, and had the constables been alone
they would have been defeated, for they were outnumbered and the pirates
were desperate.

The heavy clubs of the armourers decided the fight. One or two of the band
alone succeeded in breaking through, the rest were knocked down and bound;
not, however, until several severe wounds had been inflicted on their
assailants.

When the fray was over, it was found that nine prisoners had been captured.
Some of these were stunned by the blows which the smiths had dealt them,
and two or three were badly wounded; all were more or less injured in the
struggle. When they recovered their senses they were made to get on their
feet, and with their hands tied securely behind them were marched between a
double line of their captors off the marsh.

"Thanks for your services," the justice said when they had gained the place
where they had left their horses. "Nine of my men shall tie each one of
these rascals to their stirrups by halters round their necks, and we will
give them a smart run into Richmond, where we will lodge them in the jail.
Tomorrow is Sunday; on Monday they will be brought before me, and I shall
want the evidence of Master Walter Fletcher and of those who were in the
boat with him as to what took place on the river. Methinks the evidence on