nt. A lamp was lit and fixed in the
shrouds to mark the vessel clearly from the shore; one of the wine
pieces in the hold was broached, and a cup of excellent Gascony emptied
to the adventure of the evening; and then, while one of the outlaws
began to get ready his bow and arrows and prepare to hold the ship
against all comers, the other hauled in the skiff and got overboard,
where he held on, waiting for Dick.

"Well, Jack, keep me a good watch," said the young commander, preparing
to follow his subordinate. "Ye will do right well."

"Why," returned Jack, "I shall do excellent well indeed, so long as we
lie here; but once we put the nose of this poor ship outside the
harbour--See, there she trembles! Nay, the poor shrew heard the words,
and the heart misgave her in her oak-tree ribs. But look, Master Dick!
how black the weather gathers!"

The darkness ahead was, indeed, astonishing. Great billows heaved up out
of the blackness, one after another; and one after another the _Good
Hope_ buoyantly climbed, and giddily plunged upon the farther side. A
thin sprinkle of snow and thin flakes of foam came flying, and powdered
the deck; and the wind harped dismally among the rigging.

"In sooth, it looketh evilly," said Dick, "But what cheer! 'Tis but a
squall, and presently it will blow over." But, in spite of his words, he
was depressingly affected by the bleak disorder of the sky and the
wailing and fluting of the wind; and as he got over the side of the
_Good Hope_ and made once more for the landing-creek with the best speed
of oars, he crossed himself devoutly, and recommended to Heaven the
lives of all who should adventure on the sea.

At the landing-creek there had already gathered about a dozen of the
outlaws. To these the skiff was left, and they were bidden embark
without delay.

A little farther up the beach Dick found Lord Foxham hurrying in quest
of him, his face concealed with a dark hood, and his bright armour
covered by a long russet mantle of a poor appearance.

"Young Shelton," he said, "are ye for sea, then, truly?"

"My lord," replied Richard, "they lie about the house with horsemen; it
may not be reached from the land side without alarum; and Sir Daniel
once advertised of our adventure, we can no more carry it to a good end
than, saving your presence, we could ride upon the wind. Now, in going
round by sea, we do run some peril by the elements; but, what much
outweighteth all, we have a chance to ma