"For Heaven's sake, Flora," he said, "unhand me; this is a time for action."
"But, Henry, Henry, hear me."
"Presently, presently, dear Flora; I will yet make another effort to arrest the headlong flight of Varney."
He shook her off, perhaps with not more roughness than was necessary to induce her to forego her grasp of him, but in a manner that fully showed he intended to be free; and then he sprang through the same aperture whence Varney had disappeared, just as George and Mr. Marchdale arrived at the door of the summer-house.
It was nearly morning, so that the fields were brightening up with the faint radiance of the coming day; and when Henry reached a point which he knew commanded an extensive view, he paused, and ran his eye eagerly along the landscape, with a hope of discovering some trace of the fugitive.
Such, however, was not the case; he saw nothing, heard nothing of Sir Francis Varney; and then he turned, and called loudly to George to join him, and was immediately replied to by his brother's presence, accompanied by Marchdale.
Before, however, they could exchange a word, a rattling discharge of fire-arms took place from one of the windows, and they heard the admiral, in a loud voice, shouting,—
"Broadside to broadside! Give it them again, Jack! Hit them between wind and water!"
Then there was another rattling discharge, and Henry exclaimed,—
"What is the meaning of that firing?"