It was the detachment from the other station, which had been waiting, at some little distance along the shore, for the signal from above.
"To the boats, lads," the leader of the smugglers shouted.

"We are caught in a trap." The smugglers rushed to the boats, and James, who was standing by the water's edge, leaped on board with them.

Most of the country people fled at once along the shore, pursued by some of the revenue men, while the others made a rush for the boats.

These had been kept afloat a few yards from the shore.

Grapnels had been dropped over their sterns, and, as the men in charge hauled out the moment the fight began, they were in water shoulder deep when the smugglers scrambled on board.
The revenue men dashed in after them, and strove to hold the boats; but they were beaten off with oars and cutlasses, and the boats were soon hauled out into deep water.