, if not made to change his opinion, was so much
impressed as to agree at least to take the whole subject once again into
consideration.

"Another thing I wish you to do, skipper, which is to give me a passage
in your sloop to Athenbury. You spoke of running round there for
repairs soon, and I would rather go by sea than by that snorting
railway. Will you do it?"

"With pleasure, lad."

"Thank'ee; now I'll bid you good-night. You may depend upon it that you
won't be disturbed again by a band," said Gildart, laughing.

"I know that," replied Haco with a grin; "it's my opinion they've had
enough of me for one night. But won't ye stop an' share the
four-poster, lad? It's big enough, an' we'll soon repair the damage to
its bottom-timbers. There's a knuckle o' ham too, an' a flask o'
claret. I brought it with me, 'cause I never drink nothin' stronger
than claret--vang ordinair they calls it in France. What say you;
you'll stop?"

"No, thank'ee, skipper, much obliged, but I've business on hand
elsewhere. Good-night, old boy."

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT, ENDING IN A LONG CHASE.

One day, not long after his arrival at Athenbury, Kenneth Stuart was
seated in Colonel Crusty's drawing-room, awaiting the summons to dinner.

Pretty Bella sat beside him, endeavouring to get up a flirtation--for
Bella was an inveterate flirt. Besides being pretty, she was sprightly
and full of life--a giddy gay thing, much addicted to that dangerous
practice of fluttering round improprieties with cheerful recklessness.
She was one of those human moths whose wings, alas! are being constantly
singed, sometimes burned off altogether.

Kenneth was not so stern as to object to a little of what the world
calls innocent flirtation, but he did not like Bella's style of
procedure; for that charming piece of wickedness made it her aim in life
to bring as many lovers to her feet as she could, and keep them there.
She never had too many of them, never tired of conquering them. In the
language of pugilists, "One down another come on," was her motto.

She had just floored a captain of dragoons, who was expected that day to
dinner, and was now engaged at her fortieth round with Kenneth; but he
was too strong for her--at least she began to suspect so, and felt
nettled.

"I never met with such a provoking man as you," said Bella, pouting;
"you _promised_ to go round by Simpson's and bring me a bouquet, and now
you tell