"Find you?" I repeated. "'Twas by pure chance that I saw you come in, not knowing who and what you were. But what brought you in hither?"
"To look for you, knowing that you were somewhere about in these parts. Our business is of a stern nature. Look behind you."
Ranged along the bulkhead of the cabin were several musketoons, pistols, boarding-pikes, and heavy swords known to seamen as cutlasses, while two swivel guns completed the armoury. In addition to Granville, Firestone, and myself, there were ten lusty seamen, all Cornishmen of the good old sea stock, crowded into the little cabin, their bronzed, bearded faces gleaming with zeal and intelligence.
"Turned pirate to build up the fortune of your home, Ralph?" I asked jocosely.
"Nay, lad, nay. 'Tis an affair of duty and honour. In short, we hope to have His Majesty aboard the Emma Farleigh or her consort, the Three Brothers, within a couple of days. Dost remember his futile attempt to escape during the spring?"
"Ay," I replied. "Seeing that I had a hand in it."
"Then fie on you for a bungler, Humphrey. But to continue the story of our plans. The Three Brothers lies in Newtown River, within an hour's ride of Carisbrooke. Thither we will repair, and joining hands, there will be sufficient men to surprise the castle and effect a rescue. Then hey for France! Wilt join with us?"
"There is no need to ask me," I replied. "But will it be an' easy task, think you? Colonel Hammond, I hear, has been removed. He was ordered to Windsor but yesterday week, and Colonel William Sydenham has been given the charge of His Majesty's person."
"Sydenham? I know him to be a red-hot fanatic," remarked Firestone; "and, moreover, a thorough soldier, though he be a rebel. Our task is rendered doubly difficult."
"Nevertheless, we must see the thing through," added Ralph resolutely. "Now, Humphrey, if you have any preparations to make, hurry on with them, for we must needs be at the rendezvous without undue delay."