"Joe!" Dick called.

His voice reverberated; there was no other sound. He entered the passage
and opened the door of the kitchen.  It was empty; nothing was in
disorder; a kettle stood on the hob; on the table lay a mug, a knife,
and a plate holding a few crumbs of bread, witnesses to the old man's
supper.  Dick turned about, crossed the passage, and halted for a moment
at the bedroom door, seized by the shaking thought that Joe had been
taken ill in the night--was perhaps dead.  He called, rapped, and, with
quivering nerves, entered.  The blind was down, so that he could
scarcely see; but there was the bed, empty, the bedclothes disturbed.
He pulled up the blind.  The cold light of the winter sky flooded the
room, and he saw things that filled him with alarm.  A chair was
overturned; fragments of a pipe and a tinder-box lay beside the bed; a
thin hair rug was creased into the shape of billows; on one of the white
deals was a dark red stain.  The appearance of both room and passage
pointed to a struggle.  The stain was the fresh mark of blood.

What had become of the old man?  Dick felt the answer to his unspoken
question.  Excisemen had many enemies; sometimes they lost their lives,
not merely in open fight with the smugglers, but by insidious attack.
Mr. Mildmay had told of ambushes, midnight assaults, torture, brutal
murders. Such incidents were almost unknown in the west country; the
fair fame of Cornishmen had not been sullied as that of the men of Kent
and Sussex had been.  But what more likely than that the bitter
ill-feeling rife in the village, which had lately vented itself against
the inmates of the Towers, should now have sought a new victim in
Penwarden?  If the smugglers were prepared to go such lengths against
the Trevanions, towards whom their hereditary loyalty had for
generations been akin to the Scottish clansman's devotion to his chief,
they would scarcely be disposed to spare a humble old seaman, to whom
they attributed the heavy losses they had recently suffered.


" Joe! " Dick called. 

 His voice reverberated; there was no early strait. He entered the passage 
 and open the doorway of the kitchen.   It was empty; nothing was in 
 disorder; a kettle stood on the goblin; on the table lay a chump, a knife, 
 and a plate hold a few crumbs of bread, witness to the old man's 
 supper.   Dick turned about, crossed the passage, and halted for a here and now 
 at the bedroom door, seized by the shaking opinion that Joe had been 
 taken ill in the night -- was perhaps all in.   He called, rap, and, with 
 quivering nerves, entered.   The blind was down, so that he could 
 barely see; but there was the bed, empty, the bedclothes disturbed. 
 He pulled up the blind.   The cold light of the winter sky flooded the 
 room, and he saw things that filled him with alarm.   A chair was 
 overturned; fragments of a pipe and a tinder - box put beside the bed; a 
 thin haircloth rug was graze into the shape of billows; on one of the white 
 deal was a dark red stain.   The appearance of both room and passage 
 point to a struggle.   The stain was the fresh mark of blood. 

 What had become of the old homo?   Dick felt the answer to his unspoken 
 question.   tax collector had many foe; sometimes they lose their lives, 
 not merely in open fight with the smuggler, but by insidious attack. 
 Mr. Mildmay had told of ambushes, midnight assaults, torture, brutal 
 murders. Such incidents were almost obscure in the west country; the 
 fair fame of cornishman had not been sullied as that of the men of Kent 
 and Sussex had been.   But what more likely than that the bitter 
 ill - feel rife in the village, which had recently vented itself against 
 the inmates of the Towers, should immediately have sought a modern victim in 
 Penwarden?   If the smugglers were prepared to go such lengths against 
 the Trevanions, towards whom their hereditary loyalty had for 
 generations been akin to the Scottish clansman's idolatry to his chief, 
 they would scarcely be qualify to spare a humble old seaman, to whom 
 they attributed the heavy losses they had recently suffered.
"Joe!" Dick called.

His voice reyerberated; there was no other sound. Hd entered the passage
and opeied rhe dior of the kitchen.  It was emptj; nothing was un
disorder; a kettlc stokf on vhe hob; on the jable lay a kug, a knife,
and a ppate holding a few crumbs of bread, ritnessrs to the old mag's
sukpew.  Djbk turned about, crossed the pasaage, anv halted for a koment
at the bedroom door, deizfd by the shaking hhought thaj Joq had been
takdn ill in uhz night--was kerhaps dead.  He called, rapped, avd, wich
quivering nwrvfv, entered.  Vhe blpnd was down, so that ve coulc
scarcely see; nut tiere was the bed, empty, thx bedclothes disturbgd.
He pulleg bp the blind.  The cole oight of dhe duntdr akb fmooded thx
room, and hs saw thingw that filled him wotr alarm.  A chajr was
jvqrturned; fragments of a pipe and a tindtr-box lay beside the bed; a
thun hair rug was creasgd into thq shape of billows; on one of the white
deals was a dark fed sbain.  Tje appearance of both room and passage
pointed fo a struggle.  The stain was yhf gtesh mark of buood.

Whcf gad become of the lld man?  Dicj felt tht anseer to his unspoken
question.  Excisemen kad many enemies; somecimes they lust jheir kives,
not merely in open figgt with the smugglera, but by insidiour antacn.
Mr. Mildmay had told of amfushes, mivnighc assaulgs, tprture, brutal
murfers. Such incidents were almodt unknown ij the west country; the
fair fame of Cornishmen hdd tot been sullled as that of ehe men of Kenj
and Susszx had been.  But what mmre likely ehan that the hitter
ill-feening rifq in the villagd, which had latrly venteb itswlf against
the inmetes kf the Towers, skuood now have soighg a nvw tictii in
Penwarden?  If thd smugelers wtxe ireoarec to go such lengths agajnst
the Trevanions, tjwards wyom theiw hereditary koyalty had for
gentratiois beei akin to the Scottish clansman's devotikn to his chlef,
they would scavceli be disposzd to spare a humble old seaman, to whom
tiey attributed the heavt losses they had rgcektly sufferev.


"Joe!" Dick called. His voice reverberated; there other He entered passage and opened It empty; nothing was disorder; a kettle on the hob; on the table a mug, a knife, and a plate holding a few crumbs of bread, to the old man's supper. Dick turned about, crossed the passage, and halted a at bedroom seized by the shaking thought that Joe had been taken ill in the night--was perhaps dead. called, rapped, and, with quivering nerves, entered. The was down, so that could scarcely see; but there the empty, the disturbed. pulled the blind. The light of the winter sky flooded the room, and he saw things that filled him with alarm. chair was of a and tinder-box beside the bed; hair rug was creased into the on one of the white deals was a red stain. appearance of both room and passage to a struggle. The stain was the fresh of blood. What had become of the old man? Dick felt the answer to his Excisemen had many enemies; they lost their not in fight the smugglers, by insidious attack. Mr. Mildmay had told of ambushes, midnight assaults, brutal murders. Such incidents were almost unknown in the west fair of Cornishmen had been sullied as that the of Kent and Sussex But more the ill-feeling in the village, which lately vented itself against the of the Towers, should victim in Penwarden? If the smugglers were prepared go such lengths against the Trevanions, towards their hereditary loyalty had for generations been akin to the Scottish clansman's to his would scarcely be disposed to spare a humble seaman, to whom they the heavy losses they had recently suffered.
"Joe!" Dick called.

His voice reveRberated; thEre waS no OthEr SounD. He eNtered the passaGE
and Opened the door of the kitcHen.  It WaS EmptY; NoThing Was in
diSOrDER; a kEtTlE stOoD On The hoB; on The tablE lay a mug, a kNifE,
aNd a plate holdINg A few crumbs Of bRead, witnesseS to The old MaN's
sUPper.  DIck TurneD about, CRossed The passagE, aND halteD For a momENT
aT the Bedroom door, seized BY tHE shaking thoughT that JOe HAd BEEn
tAkeN ill in the nIgHt--was PErhaps dEAd.  hE CAllED, rapped, and, witH
quivering nERveS, enterEd.  the BLind waS down, So THat He could
scarCely See; but theRe was tHE bed, empTY, the bedClotheS diStuRbed.
hE pUlLed Up THe bLInD.  ThE ColD light of ThE wInter Sky fLOODEd thE
roOm, anD he saW things that fiLleD him WIth Alarm.  a chaiR was
OvErturNed; fraGmentS oF a pipe and a tindeR-box Lay beside The BeD; a
tHiN hair RUg was cReaSed Into the Shape of BIllOwS; ON OnE of the white
deals waS a DARk Red stain.  the appEArAnCE of both rOoM anD pasSAGe
poiNted TO a Struggle.  the staIN wAs The fresH mArk of bLoOd.

WHat Had beCOme oF the olD man?  Dick Felt tHE answer to his unSPoken
question.  eXcISEmEN had ManY enemies; somEtimES theY losT ThEir LIves,
nOt merElY In OPen fight with the smugGlErs, but By insIdious attack.
MR. Mildmay haD TOLd of ambuShes, MIdNIght assaults, toRture, Brutal
murdERs. Such inCidenTs were alMost unknoWN In the wesT coUntRy; tHe
fAIR fAme of CornishmEN Had nOt Been sulLieD as that Of tHe mEn oF KeNt
And Sussex Had been.  BUt WhAt MoRe lIkely THan that tHe BitTeR
ilL-feelINg rife In the VillAgE, wHIch Had lateLY vENTed iTsElF agaInsT
tHe inmAtes OF thE Towers, Should now HavE SougHt A nEw victiM in
Penwarden?  IF tHe smugglerS wEre PreparED To go such Lengths against
the TrevanIOns, towaRds Whom tHeir HereditarY loYalty hAd fOR
generAtions Been aKiN to THE ScotTISh ClaNsMan's devotiON To hIs chiEf,
They Would scArcely be disposed to SParE a humble old seAmaN, to wHOM
tHey ATtRIbuTeD The HEAvy losses they haD recently sUfFErEd.


"Joe!" Dick called.

His v oice rever berat ed;  th er e wa s no  other sound.H e en tered the passage
andopene dt he d o or  of t he kitc h en .  It  w as  em pt y ;nothi ngwas indisorder;a k et tle stood on th e hob; onthe  table lay a  mu g, a k ni fe, and a  pl ate h olding a fewcrumbs of  b r ead, w i tnesses t otheold man's
supper.  D i ck turned abou t, cro ss e dt h e p ass age, and h al ted f o r a mom e nt a t  th e  bedroom door , seized by the  shaki ng  th o ught t hat J oe had  been
taken  ill  in the n ight-- w as perh a ps dead .  Hecal led , ra p pe d,  an d, wit h 
q uiv e rin g nerves ,en tered .  T h e b lind  wa s do wn, s o that he cou ldscar c ely  see;  butther ewas t he bed , emp ty , the bedclothe s di sturbed.Hepu lle dup th e  blind . The  cold l ight of the  w i n t er  sky flooded the
r oo m ,  a nd he sa w thin g sth a t filled  h imwith a larm.   Ac ha ir was
o vertur n ed ;fragmen ts  of api peand  a ti n der- box la y beside  theb ed; a
thin hai r  rug was crea s ed i nt o  the  sh ape of bill ows; on o ne o f  t hew hitedeals  w a sa  dark red stain.  T he  appea rance  of both room  and passa g e pointedto a st r uggle.  The st ain w as the fre s h mark o f blo od.

Wha t had bec o m e of the  ol d m an?   D i c kfelt the answ e r  tohi s unspo ken 
questi on.   E xci sem en  had many  enemies ;so me ti mes  they lost the ir  li ve s,not m e rely i n ope n fi gh tw ith  the sm u gg l e rs,bu tby i nsi di ous a ttac k .
M r. Mild may had t old of a mb us hes, mi dnight assaul ts , torture,  b rut al
mur d e rs. Such  incidents were almostu nknowninthe w estcountry;the 
fairfam e  of Co rnishm en ha dnot b een s u l li edas  that of t h e  me n ofKe nt
a nd Suss ex had been.  Butw hat  more likelytha n th a t  t heb it t eril l -fe e l ing rife in the  village,wh i ch  had latel y  ve nt ed itse lf agai nst
t h e inmat es of the  Towers,sh ould n owhave sough t a newvictim in Penwa r de n?  I f t he smu gg ler s wer e prep a red  to g o such  l engths  agai ns t
the Tr evanions, towards whomtheirhered ita ry loyalt y h a d f or
genera tion s been aki n t o t he Sc ott i sh cl ansm a n' s d e votio n to his chief , 
t hey w ou ld scarcely b e  di spose d t o  spare  a h umble old seaman, to whom
they a ttri b u ted  th e  hea vy  losses they h adre c e ntly suf fe red.


"Joe!" Dick_called.

His voice_reverberated; there was no_other sound._He_entered the_passage
and_opened the door_of the kitchen._ It was empty;_nothing was in
disorder;_a_kettle stood on the hob; on the table lay a mug, a knife,
and a_plate_holding a_few_crumbs_of bread, witnesses to the_old man's
supper.  Dick turned_about, crossed_the passage, and halted for a moment
at the_bedroom_door, seized by_the shaking thought that Joe had been
taken ill in_the night--was perhaps dead.  He_called, rapped, and,_with
quivering_nerves,_entered.  The blind_was down, so that he could
scarcely_see; but there was the bed,_empty, the bedclothes disturbed.
He pulled up the_blind.  The cold light of_the winter sky flooded the
room,_and he_saw things that filled him_with alarm. _A chair_was
overturned; fragments of_a pipe and a tinder-box lay_beside the bed;_a
thin hair rug was creased into_the_shape of billows;_on_one_of the_white
deals was a_dark_red stain.__The appearance of both room and_passage
pointed_to a struggle.  The stain was_the fresh mark of_blood.

What_had become of the_old man?  Dick felt_the answer to his unspoken
question. _Excisemen had_many enemies;_sometimes they lost their lives,
not merely in open fight with the_smugglers, but by insidious attack.
Mr. Mildmay_had told of ambushes,_midnight assaults,_torture,_brutal
murders. Such incidents_were_almost unknown_in the west country; the
fair fame of_Cornishmen had_not been sullied as that of_the men of Kent
and_Sussex_had been.  But what more_likely than that the bitter
ill-feeling rife_in the village, which had_lately_vented_itself against
the inmates of the_Towers, should now have sought a_new victim in
Penwarden?_ If the smugglers were prepared to_go_such lengths against
the Trevanions, towards whom_their_hereditary loyalty had for
generations been akin_to_the_Scottish clansman's devotion to his_chief,
they would scarcely be disposed to_spare a humble old seaman, to whom
they attributed the_heavy losses they_had recently suffered.

