up again," said Saint Simon bluntly. "But if one gets
loose the others will follow, and then--"

He stopped short and spread his legs as wide as he could, for the vessel
was beginning to dance in the chopping sea.

"Well, and what then?" cried Denis.

"Our wild-goose journey would be at end, for those horses would go
overboard as sure as we stand here."

"What!" cried Denis excitedly.

"What I have said. My charger is safe to make a dash for the side, and
rise at it; and he'd go over like a skimming bird, and the others would
follow at once."

He had hardly spoken when the skipper of the vessel, a heavy,
sun-tanned-looking man in scarlet cap, high boots and petticoat, came up
to them.

"Look here, young masters," he cried, "I don't often take cattle in my
boat, and when I do I have them slung down into the hold. My deck isn't
a safe place for beasts, and if those three don't break loose before
long I'm no shipman."

"Then what is to be done?" cried Denis hurriedly.

"If the--" He stopped short, for Saint Simon gave him a sharp jerk with
his elbow and continued his speech.

"--Comte's horse were to be lost overboard he'd never forgive us."

"No," said Denis, recovering himself. "Look here, you have plenty of
ropes. Call some of your men to help; we must put slip-knots round
above their hoofs and tie them in different places, so that they
couldn't get away."

"Yes, that's right," said the skipper. "But won't they kick?"

"No," replied Denis; "we can manage that if your men will help."

No time was lost, for the need for doing something grew more and more
evident; and with the young men standing by to calm and caress each
beautiful steed in turn, running nooses were placed round their
fetlocks, and the ropes' ends slipped through ring-bolt and round
belaying pin, to be made fast, so that before half an hour had passed
the horses were thoroughly secured, and stood staring-eyed and
shivering, ready to burst out into a piteous whinnying if the young men
attempted to move away.

It was a rough passage, growing worse hour after hour till nightfall,
and the cares that had come upon them were so onerous that the two young
men were too busy and excited to feel any qualms themselves. Not only
were there the horses, but their companion below made no little call
upon their attention, and in turn they descended into the rough cabin to
see what they could do. But the second time that Saint Simon approached
t