"By George!" muttered Lancaster. "We're done for now!"
"Lancaster," said the master, "is there any officer of the Guard at all like me in appearance?"
"There's Captain Talbot, his gear exactly fits you."
"Good. The destroyer will steer close down now. Ride up to her, say Captain Talbot sends you, that Brand's at the Palace, and we've used his secret signal to lure the yacht. The destroyer's to wait out of sight until Captain Talbot gives orders to attack."
The trooper dashed away up the slope.
"When I raise my hand," the master shouted after him, "ride straight for my yacht."
The warship was slanting down, she sheered barely clear of the housetops, and then hung poised above the trees by the Tower moat.
And now drawing rein after a furious gallop, the trooper faced the suspended warship, so close that his horse reared up in terror.
"Captain Talbot's compliments," he yelled. "Help us to capture Brand's yacht. Lie low and wait!"
"Where's Mr. Brand?" cried the destroyer circling round the terrified horse like an eagle round a mosquito, the faintest airs from the river just whispering under her aeroplanes, and barely strong enough to give her steerage way.