“Thank you,” said Ethan. Then nodding toward the Lascar he continued, “And so we took a prisoner?”
“Yes,” smiled the officer, “and rather an important one, too; he will tell you many things that will surprise you.”
Siki raised himself upon one elbow and broke in.
“But, what will be the good if you don’t act? You must hurry. The dispatch will be in England in two days if the wind is good.”
“What do you mean?” asked Ethan.
“I mean that Fochard is even now preparing to cross the channel to deliver the papers to Danvers.”
The man spoke English now; and upon hearing his words Longsword asked quickly:
“Why did ye attack us last night?”
“To get the ring. It was not until I was brought here that I saw what a cunning trick that rascal played upon me. He had the dispatch in his pocket; he feared that we meant to attack him; so he planned this thing of the ring on the moment, and so threw me off the right track. While my men and I were following you, he was, maybe, on the way to Brest.”
“Just as I thought, sure!” exclaimed Longsword. “He used us as decoys to draw off the hounds when they were closing in on himself.”