'Twas Edmund Masters, and he explained the situation to Fox in a few words.
"Being an old blackguard above law and order, Jimmy Fox, you give honest men the trouble to teach you manners and explain that you can't starve young women, and treat 'em like dogs and think you're going to have your wicked way with 'em when and how you please. So now your niece will be took away from you for ever, and as she's got no particular wish for you to kiss her 'good-bye,' you can stop here and think over your cowardly sins and cool your heels a bit—till morning, I hope. And this is my best friend, Captain Le Cornu, of The Provider, and the strongest man in the Channel Isles. So now you'll know what it feels like to be in mightier hands than your own, you dirty scoundrel. And if you wasn't so old, I'd give you a dozen of the best before we go."
Then he turned to the other.
"Trice him up, skipper."
In half a shake Jimmy Fox found himself bound hand and foot to the ferry bell post. The bell-pull was knotted high out of his reach and a handkerchief tied pretty tight round his mouth.
Two minute sufficed for this job, because no men knew better than those how to handle rope.
"'Tis a very good bit of Manila hemp," said the captain of The Provider.
"And you can use it to hang yourself when you get free again," added Ted.
Half a minute later they were in the ferry boat and away.
Then it was the turn of Jimmy's lady.