Monmouth's misadventure. Of course, they could
say they knew nothing of the Duke's movements, and as to the battles
which had been fought, the less said about them the better; they might
be taken for partisans of one side or the other, and all they wanted
just now was to attend to their own affairs, important enough to them,
whatever they might be to others. This answer satisfied the inquirers,
and the travellers got on with less inconvenience than they had
expected. They were not generally very acute persons, or they might
have suspected that Stephen and his brother, who were fine-looking young
men, were not farmers, though Simon, both in his dialect and appearance,
showed his real character. At length the coast was reached. It was one
of those rocky secluded little bays, or coves as they are called, which
abound on the shores of Devonshire; three or four fishermen's cottages
were scattered about on the sides of the cliffs; one was considerably
larger and better built than the rest. In the centre of the bay floated
a boat, or rather a little vessel.

"The probabilities are that that boat belongs to the owner of the
cottage. She is large enough to carry us to France or Holland. If the
owner will let her to us we can procure sufficient provisions."

"Let us inquire then," said Andrew. "Simon and I will stand by the
horses, you will go down to the cottage."

Stephen, agreeing to this, set off, and was soon at the door of the
cottage. A superior-looking seafaring man opened it and bade him enter.

"Does the boat brought up in the bay belong to you, friend?" he asked.

"Yes, and as wholesome a one as ever floated on salt water; she will go
through any amount of sea, always provided she is properly handled."

"Then I should think she is just the craft to suit my two friends and
me. I want to know whether you will let her to us for a couple of weeks
or so."

"Where do you want to go to in her?" asked the old man, eyeing his
visitor.

"To be honest with you, we desire to be put across either to the coast
of France, or should the wind prove favourable, we should prefer running
on to Holland."

The old man eyed Stephen narrowly as he was speaking. "You have some
particular reason, I conclude, for wishing to get off," he remarked.
"It is not merely a pleasure trip you wish to make, and if you go, I
need not expect you to bring the boat back again."

"To be frank with you, we have a particular reason," said