We scoured down the avenue, crossed the road beyond, and, striking into the countryside, cut crisply across the frozen fields to the cliff-top; then down, helter-skelter, to the shore.
A great ship lay at an anchor close in, with her sails hauled up in brails. It was the Tiger. Her captain’s boat lay beached above the breakers; and her crew walked up and down, to keep them warm. My brother stepped to the coxswain, “’Tis I, John,” said he, as he got his breath; and, to the rest, he said: “Back to the ship, men! Our plans are at a head! All’s ready! I’ll make all your fortunes, my jolly boys!”
“Ay, ay, sir! ay, ay!” But he bade them hush, and hasten with the boat. Thereupon, turning to me, “Get you back to the Manor!” says he.
“No; I go with you,” said I.
He looked me up and down: “Tut, tut, d’ye know where we’re bound? For the South Sea, and on none of the King’s business either!”
“You’re going to steal the ship!” said I; but they were shoving off the boat, and, before ever he could answer, or I take thought, we found ourselves aboard and rolling over the waves. Soon there fell a great barking of dogs from the direction of the Manor; whereupon my brother did urge the rowers to greater effort. A few moments after we reached the ship.
We went aboard at the gang-way. There stood a big, black-bearded fellow, who passed on board in the style of the Quartermaster. My brother spoke a word in his ear, and the man nodded.
“All have joined, Ouvery?” asked Dick.
“Ay, but the master and Surgeon Burke be aboard. They went not ashore with the rest.”
“’Sdeath!” said Dick with his teeth, “where are they, then?”