knew the shrewd habits of the
gentlemen she had to deal with, who, well used to this sort of pastime,
had already posted themselves at every outlet from the premises.

'Bring the lantern,' shouted the fellow who held her. 'Why--'tis a girl!
I half thought so--Here is a way in,' he continued to his comrades,
hastening to the foot of the ladder which led to Bob's room.

'What d'ye want?' said Bob, quietly opening the door, and showing himself
still radiant in the full dress that he had worn with such effect at the
Theatre Royal, which he had been about to change for his mill suit when
Anne gave the alarm.

'This gentleman can't be the right one,' observed a marine, rather
impressed by Bob's appearance.

'Yes, yes; that's the man,' said the sergeant. 'Now take it quietly, my
young cock-o'-wax. You look as if you meant to, and 'tis wise of ye.'

'Where are you going to take me?' said Bob.

'Only aboard the Black Diamond. If you choose to take the bounty and
come voluntarily, you'll be allowed to go ashore whenever your ship's in
port. If you don't, and we've got to pinion ye, you will not have your
liberty at all. As you must come, willy-nilly, you'll do the first if
you've any brains whatever.'

Bob's temper began to rise. 'Don't you talk so large, about your
pinioning, my man. When I've settled--'

'Now or never, young blow-hard,' interrupted his informant.

'Come, what jabber is this going on?' said the lieutenant, stepping
forward. 'Bring your man.'

One of the marines set foot on the ladder, but at the same moment a shoe
from Bob's hand hit the lantern with well-aimed directness, knocking it
clean out of the grasp of the man who held it. In spite of the darkness
they began to scramble up the ladder. Bob thereupon shut the door, which
being but of slight construction, was as he knew only a momentary
defence. But it gained him time enough to open the window, gather up his
legs upon the sill, and spring across into the apple-tree growing
without. He alighted without much hurt beyond a few scratches from the
boughs, a shower of falling apples testifying to the force of his leap.

'Here he is!' shouted several below who had seen Bob's figure flying like
a raven's across the sky.

There was stillness for a moment in the tree. Then the fugitive made
haste to climb out upon a low-hanging branch towards the garden, at which
the men beneath all rushed in that direction to catch him as he dropped,
say