“No, not quite.”
“He must have had as many lives as a cat, then,” said Ned. “What does the surgeon say?”
“That, perhaps, by a miracle he may recover.”
“The devil!” said Garnet. “Why, you’ll have to fight him over again.”
“Without the headsman or hangman cheats me,” said Ned, laughing; “but there’s no telling what may happen. Drive on, Bob; be lively, my lad.”
Bob whipped his horses, and soon drove up to the palace yard.
“Halt!” said the hoarse voice of the sentinel, as the carriage approached.
Bob saw the sentinel lower his musket at him, and he pulled up his horses on the instant.
In a moment an officer advanced to the carriage door, and, in rather a sharp, impertinent manner, demanded to know who and what they were, and the business they came upon at such an unreasonable hour.
“Our names you are at liberty to know, sir,” said Ned, “but not our business. We are naval officers in his majesty’s service; our errand is of the greatest importance, and brooks no delay.”