"Push off," she said; and in a moment we were floating down the river, in and out between the ships.
"Give me the tiller," said I.
"No," said Dorothy; "it was my doing that you were brought into peril. Let me steer you out of it."
The number of ships diminished. Before they were about us like the trees of a forest, now they were the trees of an alley down which we passed; and ever the alley broadened and the trees grew scarce.
"I saw you that night at Carlisle," she began, "when you were taken to the castle;" and at that she broke off suddenly and her voice stiffened.
"My kinsman came to you at Carlisle. What did he say?"
"He said that he was charged with the friendliest messages from you."
"Is that all?"
Now, there was something more, but I thought it wise to make no mention of it.
"He did not repeat the messages," was all I said, and she sat up as though her pride was relieved, and for a little we were silent. A ship was anchored some way ahead of us, and a lanthorn swung on its poop.