Page:History of Paul Jones.pdf/7

 tracting attention, and exciting much curiosity, as vessels of that description were very seldom seen working up the intricate passage of the Dee. None entertained a suspicion of the true character of the privateer; but the male part of the population looked upon her as a guest equally to be dreaded, for they supposed her to be a ship of war coming up, in order to impress seamen, or others for the navy: On this account, at an early hour, Lady Selkirk (his lordship being fortunately in London at the time) was informed of the arrival of the supposed king's ship; and the men-servants presented their request to her ladyship, for leave to absent themselves, for the purpose of concealment. The privateer, immediately on casting anchor, sent an armed boat ashore, and the crew landing, strolled about, without appearing to have any particular object in view, and after some time took again to their boat, and returned to the privateer. Before, however, the people had recovered from their first alarm, they again observed the boat pushing off for the shore, and in a little time a body of armed men landed on the beach, uninterrupted by the unsuspecting people. They did not now stroll about as before, but in regular order marched directly to the castle, which they immediately surrounded. and then, for the first time, a suspicion of the real character of their visitors was excited. Lady Selkirk and her children were then the only members of the family resident in the castle; her ladyship had just finished breakfast, when she received a summons to appear before the officer commanding the party. She obeyed the summons, with apprehensions of danger, which were not abated on approaching the party, whose ferocious appearance and ragged dress too plainly betokoned their hostile purpose; and as it now appeared that plunder was their chief object, the worst might be expected,