l wear out the knees of my breeches in no time, if I'm to be kept
in here long," he said, as he was in the act of making a run and a jump
for another look out; but he stopped short just in the act, for he
fancied he heard the rattle of a key, and directly after he knew he was
not deceived, for there was a heavy step, then another, and then a key
was placed in the big door.

"Well, this is being made a prisoner, and no mistake. Hallo, handsome!"
he cried aloud, as the forbidding-looking man addressed by Sir Henry as
Allstone entered the place with another looking little more amiable, and
both were bringing something in the shape of food.

"What?" said the man surlily.

"I said `Hallo, handsome!'" cried Hilary. "Have you come to let me
out?"

The man uttered a low hoarse chuckle, which sounded like a laugh, but
his face did not move a muscle, and he looked as if he were scowling
heavily.

"We'll carry you out some day, my young buck," he said, "feet foremost.
There's a little burying-ground just outside the place here."

"Thank you," replied Hilary. "Is that meant for a joke?"

"Joke? No, I never joke. Here I've brought you something to eat, and
you won't get any more till to-morrow."

He set the rough tray he carried on the floor, and the man who was with
him did the same, after which they both stood and stared at the
prisoner.

"Send him away," said Hilary suddenly, and he pointed to the fresh man.

"What for?"

"I want to talk to you."

Allstone gave his head a jerk and the man went outside. "Look here,"
said Hilary, "how long are you going to keep me here?"

"Till the skipper is tired of you, I suppose, or till Sir Henry's gone."

"And then you'll let me go?"

"Oh, yes," said the man grimly. "We shall let you go then."

There was another hoarse chuckle, which appeared very strange, for it
did not seem to come from the man, who scowled at him in the same heavy,
morose way.

"Oh! come! you're not going to frighten me into the belief that you can
kill me, my man," cried Hilary. "I'm too old for that."

"Who's to know if we did?" said the fellow.

"Why, you don't suppose that one of his majesty's officers can be
detained without proper search being made. You'll have the crew of my
ship over here directly, and they'll burn the place about your ears."

"Thankye," said the man. "Is that all you want to say?"

"No. Now look here; I'll give you five guineas if you'll let me go some
time to