“I see,” said the officer, glancing at the ship’s armament, and turning pale, “I am your prisoner.”
“No—my guest,” responded Paul, winningly. “Pray, let me relieve you of your—your—cane.”
Thus humorously he received the officer’s delivered sword.
“Now tell me, sir, if you please,” he continued, “what brings out his Majesty’s ship Drake this fine morning? Going a little airing?”
“She comes out in search of you, but when I left her side half an hour since she did not know that the ship off the harbor was the one she sought.”
“You had news from Whitehaven, I suppose, last night, eh?”
“Aye: express; saying that certain incendiaries had landed there early that morning.”
“What?—what sort of men were they, did you say?” said Paul, shaking his bonnet fiercely to one side of his head, and coming close to the officer. “Pardon me,” he added derisively, “I had forgot you are my guest. Israel, see the unfortunate gentleman below, and his men forward.”
The Drake was now seen slowly coming out under a light air, attended by five small pleasure-vessels, decorated with flags and streamers, and full of gaily-dressed people, whom motives similar to those which drew visitors to the circus, had induced to embark on their adventurous trip. But they little dreamed how nigh the desperate enemy was.
“Drop the captured boat astern,” said Paul; “see what effect that will have on those merry voyagers.”