DANVERS CAME DOWN INTO THE HOLD
“How dare you!” cried the Englishman. “How dare you talk so against the king’s government while in the king’s country!”
“I have not stopped at words against the king’s government,” said Ethan proudly.
“No; I’ve heard of the doings of your pirate ship in the channel. But she’ll soon meet her fate. British ships and British tars are in search of her.”
Ethan laughed amusedly.
“You saw what happened to a British ship less than a half hour ago, did you not? The Ranger will not be so easily taken.”
Danvers was a man of violent temper; he could not answer this in the calm manner that he desired; so he turned away without a reply, and gave an order to his men in a low tone. In a few moments the young American and the Irishman were deposited in the bottom of a large skiff, still trussed up with the ropes, and were being rowed toward the Dee, where a small schooner-rigged tender lay. They were lifted on board of this vessel, which toward night made sail out of the harbor and down the coast.
Ethan and Longsword were eased of the ropes, but were at once ironed in the tender’s hold. It was dark there, not a ray of light penetrated anywhere; but they lay and listened to the beat of the channel waters against the sides, and talked in low tones.
“It looks,” said Longsword, gloomily, “as though we two were laid up for the rest of the war. Wid British irons upon our legs and arms things don’t seem very bright, me lad.”