.

Sir Daniel was alarmed by the skirmish of the night before. He had
increased the garrison of the house in the garden; but, not content with
that, he had stationed horsemen in all the neighbouring lanes, so that
he might have instant word of any movement. Meanwhile, in the court of
his mansion, steeds stood saddled, and the riders, armed at every point,
awaited but the signal to ride.

The adventure of the night appeared more and more difficult of
execution, till suddenly Dick's countenance lightened.

"Lawless!" he cried, "you that were a shipman, can ye steal me a ship?"

"Master Dick," replied Lawless, "if ye would back me, I would agree to
steal York Minster."

Presently after, these two set forth and descended to the harbour. It
was a considerable basin, lying among sandhills, and surrounded with
patches of down, ancient ruinous lumber, and tumble-down slums of the
town. Many decked ships and many open boats either lay there at anchor,
or had been drawn up on the beach. A long duration of bad weather had
driven them from the high seas into the shelter of the port; and the
great trooping of black clouds, and the cold squalls that followed one
another, now with a sprinkling of dry snow, now in a mere swoop of wind,
promised no improvement, but rather threatened a more serious storm in
the immediate future.

The seamen, in view of the cold and the wind, had for the most part
slunk ashore, and were now roaring and singing in the shoreside taverns.
Many of the ships already rode unguarded at their anchors; and as the
day wore on, and the weather offered no appearance of improvement, the
number was continually being augmented. It was to these deserted ships,
and, above all, to those of them that lay far out, that Lawless directed
his attention; while Dick, seated upon an anchor that was half embedded
in the sand, and giving ear, now to the rude, potent, and boding voices
of the gale, and now to the hoarse singing of the shipmen in a
neighbouring tavern, soon forgot his immediate surroundings and concerns
in the agreeable recollection of Lord Foxham's promise.

He was disturbed by a touch upon his shoulder. It was Lawless, pointing
to a small ship that lay somewhat by itself, and within but a little of
the harbour mouth, where it heaved regularly and smoothly on the
entering swell. A pale gleam of winter sunshine fell, at that moment, on
the vessel's deck, relieving her against a bank of scowling cloud; and
in t