e thought of it. I was born on the sea. I played by it as
a child. It is the only thing free under heaven. Of course we will go
by sea. And while our pursuers play hide and seek by road, we shall be
drinking the salt breezes, listening to the music of the waves, and
watching the happy gulls as they wheel round our heads or speed forward
to those we love with tidings of our coming."

And she laughed like a child to whom a holiday is offered, so that we,
had there been a thousand roads, could have chosen no other for her or
ourselves.

Two hours later, as it grew dusk, I lay in a boat beneath the willows,
where the Park sloped down to the river's edge. Thanks to Sir William's
gout, and the absence of the Captain, his guest, no one had taken the
trouble to recognise me and ask me my business. And any one who may
have seen me there would certainly have set me down as waterman to some
visitor at the Hall, waiting my orders.

So indeed I was; and as the moments passed, I grew impatient and
anxious. The tide would scarcely serve us all the way; and should the
Frenchman haul his anchor too early on the morrow, we might find him
gone. Besides, every moment they delayed, the man Laker might perchance
suspect what was afoot and take measures to spoil our escape.

At length they came, Ludar supporting the old nurse, the serving man
carrying a box, the maiden walking quietly in front, as calmly as if she
were taking an evening walk to hear the nightingale sing. Not a word
was spoken as they embarked, or until the boat, with Ludar and me at the
oars, was dropping swiftly down the stream. Then the old woman broke
out in a torrent.

"A plague on all these schoolboy antics!" cried she. "Here be we, at an
hour when honest folk should be abed, slinking down the river like
pirates, with ne'er a pillow to our backs or a covering to our bones--
and for why? What am I to say to my master your father, child, when he
knows of your running thus from your lawful guardian, and committing
yourself to a brace of raw-boned gallow-glasses that ye scarce know the
names of, and for all we know, are bringing us into worse plight than
ever they pretend to save us from? Ochone? glad I shall be to see ye
safe under O'Neill's roof; for since the day I had charge of ye, I never
knew a moment's peace. Are ye not ashamed, hussy? Had ye not lesson
enough among the low 'prentices, that day in the fields, and among the
gallants here at Richmon