“What’s the trouble?” demanded Lord Hastings, approaching a group of sailors, who stood at the rail, firing into the water.
One of the men stepped forward.
“It’s that traitor. Hardy, sir,” he replied.
“Hardy!” exclaimed Lord Hastings. “What about him?”
“He has escaped, sir.”
“What!”
“Yes, sir.”
“But I ordered him put in irons and carefully guarded.”
“And he was, sir. I can vouch for that.”
“Then how did he escape?”