h? No, but as
they came nearer, and she was roused so as to catch sight of the scarlet
coat, she beckoned and gesticulated with all her might; and as they
approached Sir Amyas recognised her as his mother's maid.

"You will be in time yet," she cried breathlessly. "Oh! take me in, or
you won't know the ship!"

So eager and terrified was she, that but for the old steersman's
peremptory steadiness, her own life and theirs would have been in much
peril, but she was safely seated at last, gasping out, "The _Red Cloud_,
Captain Karen. They've been gone these ten minutes."

"Aye, aye," gruffly responded Green, and the oars moved rapidly, while
Loveday with another sob cried, "Oh! sir, I thought you would never
come!"

"You sent the warning?"

Yes, sir, I knew nothing till the morning, when my Lady called me up. I
lie in her room, you know. She had given orders, and I was to take the
sweet lady and go down the river with her to Mrs. Darke, the perfuming
woman my Lady has dealings with about here hair and complexion. There
I was to stay with her till--till this same sea-captain was to come and
carry her off where she would give no more trouble. Oh, sir, it was too
much--and my Lady knew it, for she had tied my hands so that I had but
a moment to scribble down that scrip, and bid Syphax take it to you. The
dear lady! she said, 'her God could deliver her out of the mouth of the
lion,' and I could not believe it! I thought it too late!"

"How can we thank you," began Betty; but she was choked by intense
anxiety, and Jem Green broke in with an inquiry where the ship was
bound for. Loveday only had a general impression of the West Indies, and
believed that the poor lady's destined spouse was a tobacconist, and as
the boat was soon among a forest of shipping where it could not proceed
so fast, Green had to inquire of neighbouring mariners where the _Red
Cloud_ was lying.

"The _Red Cloud_, Karen, weighs anchor for Carolina at flood tide
to-night. Shipper just going aboard," they were told.

Their speed had been so rapid that they were in time to see the boat
alongside, and preparations being made to draw up some one or something
on board. "Oh! that is she!" cried Loveday in great agitation. "They've
drugged her. No harm done. She don't know it. But it is she!"

Sir Amyas, with a voice of thunder, called out, "Halt, villain," at the
same moment as Green shouted "Avast there, mate!" And their boat came
dashing up alongside.