At any rate, he could not be put to a better use and certainly would not suspect the purpose of the American vessel which, as night was closing in, anchored offshore.

Indeed, no one dreamed that the vessel was the terrible American "pirate," which had thrown the whole country into terror.
Fortunately the night was dark and the men rowed to land without being noticed.

The task was an easy one, for there was no one to resist them.
They walked silently through the darkness to the fine grounds, and, having surrounded the handsome building, the officer in charge of the party presented himself at the door and made known his startling errand.
He was informed that the Earl was absent.

A careful search revealed that such was the fact, and all the trouble of the Americans went for naught.
It was a keen disappointment and the party decided to compensate themselves so far as they could.

The Earl was wealthy and the house contained a great deal of valuable silver plate.