e none can spy ye while you slip underneath it; but I'll fetch a
glance round, to make sure. Underneath it you'll be safe, and I'll
drive 'ee past the sailors, and send 'em on here to search."

"You develop apace. But perhaps you'll admit a flaw in your scheme.
What on earth induced you to imagine I should trust you?"

"Man, I reckoned all that. My word's naught. But 'tis your one
chance--and I would kneel to 'ee, if by kneelin' I could persuade 'ee.
We'll fight it out after; bring your pistols. Only come!"

The stranger slipped on his other shoe, then his waistcoat and jacket,
whistling softly. Then he stepped to the chimney-piece, took down his
pistols, and stowed them in his coat-pockets.

"I'm quite ready."

Zeb heaved a great sigh like a sob; but only said:--

"Wait a second while I see that the coast's clear."

In less than three minutes the stranger was packed under the
evil-smelling weed, drawing breath with difficulty, and listening, when
the jolting allowed, to Zeb's voice as he encouraged the mare.
Jowters' carts travel fast as a rule, for their load perishes soon, and
the distance from the coast to the market is often considerable.
In this case Jessamy went at a round gallop, the loose stones flying
from under her hoofs. Now and then one struck up against the bottom of
the cart. It was hardly pleasant to be rattled at this rate, Heaven
knew whither. But the stranger had chosen his course, and was not the
man to change his mind.

After about five minutes of this the cart was pulled up with a scramble,
and he heard a voice call out, as it seemed, from the hedge--

"Well?"

"Right you are," answered Young Zeb;

"He's in the front room, pullin' on his boots. You'd best look slippy."

"Where's the coin?"

"There!" The stranger heard the click of money, as of a purse being
caught. "You'll find it all right."

"H'm; best let me count it, though. One--two--three--four. I feels it
my dooty to tell ye, young man, that it be a dirty trick. If this
didn't chime in wi' my goodwill towards his Majesty's service, be danged
if I'd touch the job with a pair o' tongs!"

"Ay--but I reckon you'll do't, all the same, for t'other half that's to
come when you've got en safe an' sound. Dirty hands make clean money."

"Well, well; ye've been dirtily sarved. I'll see 'ee this arternoon at
the 'Four Lords.' We've orders to sail at five, sharp; so there's no
time to waste."

"Then I won't detain '