In his absence , at any rate , it fell upon Richard Shelton to command affairs in Shoreby ; and , as he sat at meat , his mind was full of care , and his face heavy with consideration . It had been determined , between him and the Lord Foxham , to make one bold stroke that evening , and , by brute force , to set Joanna free . The obstacles , however , were many ; and as one after another of his scouts arrived , each brought him more discomfortable news . Sir Daniel was alarmed by the skirmish of the night before . He had increased the garrison of the house in the garden ; but not content with that , he had stationed horsemen in all the neighbouring lanes , so that he might have instant word of any movement . Meanwhile , in the court of his mansion , steeds stood saddled , and the riders , armed at every point , awaited but the signal to ride . The adventure of the night appeared more and more difficult of execution , till suddenly Dick 's countenance lightened . `` Lawless ! '' he cried , `` you that were a shipman , can ye steal me a ship ? '' `` Master Dick , '' replied Lawless , `` if ye would back me , I would agree to steal York Minster . '' Presently after , these two set forth and descended to the harbour . It was a considerable basin , lying among sand hills , and surrounded with patches of down , ancient ruinous lumber , and tumble-down slums of the town . Many decked ships and many open boats either lay there at anchor , or had been drawn up on the beach . A long duration of bad weather had driven them from the high seas into the shelter of the port ; and the great trooping of black clouds , and the cold squalls that followed one another , now with a sprinkling of dry snow , now in a mere swoop of wind , promised no improvement but rather threatened a more serious storm in the immediate future . The seamen , in view of the cold and the wind , had for the most part slunk ashore , and were now roaring and singing in the shoreside taverns . Many of the ships already rode unguarded at their anchors ; and as the day wore on , and the weather offered no appearance of improvement , the number was continually being augmented . It was to these deserted ships , and , above all , to those of them that lay far out , that Lawless directed his attention ; while Dick , seated upon an anchor that was half embedded in the sand , and giving ear , now to the rude , potent , and boding voices of the gale , and now to the hoarse singing of the shipmen in a neighbouring tavern , soon forgot his immediate surroundings and concerns in the agreeable recollection of Lord Foxham 's promise . He was disturbed by a touch upon his shoulder . It was Lawless , pointing to a small ship that lay somewhat by itself , and within but a little of the harbour mouth , where it heaved regularly and smoothly on the entering swell . A pale gleam of winter sunshine fell , at that moment , on the vessel 's deck , relieving her against a bank of scowling cloud ; and in this momentary glitter Dick could see a couple of men hauling the skiff alongside .
`` There , sir , '' said XXXXX , `` mark ye it well !
Daniel Dick Foxham Joanna Lawless before evening execution night shipmen