Thrusting the letter into her bosom she ran to Margaret’s room, and, bursting into it, told her of the man and his sad message. But of that letter she said nothing. Margaret turned white at the news, then, recovering herself, said:
“I will come and speak with him at once.” And together they went down the stairs.
To Margaret the sailor repeated his story, nor could all her questions shake it. He told her how the mischance had happened, for he had seen it, so he said, and where her father’s hurts were, adding, that although the physician held that as yet he was in no danger of his life, Master Castell thought otherwise, and did nothing but cry that his daughter should be brought to him at once.
Still Margaret doubted and hesitated, for she feared she knew not what.
“Peter should be here within two hours at most,” she said to Betty. “Would it not be best to wait for him?”
“Oh! Margaret, and what if your father should die in the meanwhile? Perhaps he knows better how deep his hurts are than does this leech. If so, you would have a sore heart for all your life. Sure you had better go, or at the least I will.”
Still Margaret wavered, till the sailor said:
“Lady, if it is your will to come, I can guide you to where a boat waits to take you across the river. If not, I must be gone, for the ship sails with the moonrise, and they only wait your coming to carry the master, your father, to the warehouse on shore thinking it best that you should be present. If you do not come, this will be done as gently as possible, and there you must seek him to-morrow, alive or dead.” And the man took up his cap as though to leave.
“I will come with you,” said Margaret. “Betty, you are right; order the two horses to be saddled, mine and the groom’s, with a pillion on which you can ride, for I will not send you or go alone, understand that this sailor has his own horse.”
The man nodded, and accompanied Betty to the stable. Then Margaret took pen and wrote hastily to Peter, telling him of their evil chance, and bidding him follow her at once to the ship, or, if it had sailed to the warehouse. “I am loth to go,” she added “alone with a girl and a strange man, yet I must since my heart is torn with fear for my beloved father. Sweetheart, follow me quickly.”