ason for so wishing.
For Miss Kit, as soon as ever she discovered the vile plot which had
been practised on her, had retired to her cabin, and held every one on
board the _Scheldt_ at arm's-length except her maid, refusing to see
Martin, of the skipper, or any one, and fortifying herself like a
beleaguered garrison. Her cabin had a private companion ladder by which
she could reach the deck without passing through the men's quarters, and
after the first day or so, the poop was yielded to her as her own
territory without protest.

How was I to communicate with her now? I must if possible prevent her
incarceration in the convent, from which I knew escape would be
difficult.

I retired below and hastily scrawled on a piece of paper the following
note:--

"Miss Kit,--The half-drowned man who was taken on board yesterday was he
who writes this, and who is ready to die for you. You are to be carried
in a coach to-night to the Convent of the Carmelite Nuns. Make all the
delay possible before you consent to go, and so give me time to get
beforehand on the road, where I will find means to take you to a place
of safety.--Your devoted--

"Barry Gallagher."

This paper I folded, and returned on deck in the hope of finding some
means of getting it into my lady's hands.

Just as I passed the cook's galley, I came upon Norah, the maid, coming
out with a tray on which was a little bottle of wine and a plate of
biscuits. As we suddenly met, the tray slipped from her hand and fell
to the floor, spilling the contents of the bottle and scattering the
biscuits.

"Ach, but you're clumsy!" exclaimed the damsel.

It was on the point of my tongue to return the compliment in her own
language; but I remembered myself, and with a Frenchman's politeness
begged ten thousand pardons.

"Permit that I assist you to make good the damage, mademoiselle," said
I.

This mollified her, and she bade me hold the tray and pick up the
biscuits while she went for another bottle of wine.

When she returned, nothing would content me but that I should carry the
tray for her to the door of her lady's cabin, which she graciously
permitted, with a coquettish glance at Martin as we passed him on deck.

My agitation, if I betrayed any, was not all due to the fascinations of
Miss Norah, and Martin had no cause to be jealous on that score. The
truth was, that between the two top biscuits on the dish I had slipped
my little note!

"_Merci bien_, mons