ring at the
door, and how he had effected an entrance: but the Captain listened
inattentively.

"Your Excellency," he said, interrupting the narrative and turning on the
Governor, "I really think these men will give us little sport here."

"They are going to be extremely ill," said His Excellency, "and that
presently."

"I had better send them ashore."

"Decidedly; and before they recover. Also, if I might advise, I would not
be too hasty in knocking off their handcuffs."

"We are short-handed," mused Captain Suckling; "but really the situation
will be a delicate one unless we weigh anchor at once."

"You will be the laughing-stock of all the ships inside the Wight, and the
object of some indignation ashore."

"There is nothing to detain us, for doubtless I can pick up a few recruits
at Falmouth. . . . But what to do with these men?"

"May I suggest that I have not yet dismissed my shore-boat?"

"The very thing!" Captain Suckling gazed overside, and then southward
towards the Wight, whence a light sea-fog was drifting up again to envelop
us.

"I never thought," he murmured, "to be thankful for thick weather to weigh
anchor in!"

He turned and stared pensively at the line of prisoners who had staggered
one by one to the bulwarks, and leaned there limply, their resentment lost
for the time in the convulsions of nature.

"It seems like taking advantage of their weakness," said he pensively.

"It does," agreed His Excellency; "but I strongly advise it."

A moment, and a moment only, Captain Suckling hesitated before giving the
order. . . . Then in miserable procession the strong men were led past us
to the ladder, each supported by two seamen. The gangway was crowded, and
my inches did not allow me to look over the bulwarks: but I heard the
boatswain knocking off their irons in the boat below, and the objurgating
voice of the man in the pearl buttons.

"Give way!" shouted someone. I edged towards the gangway and stooped; and
then, peering between the legs of my superior officers, I saw the boat
glide away from the frigate's side. Our friends lay piled on the
bottom-boards and under the thwarts like a catch of fish. One or two
lifted clenched fists: and the boatmen, eyeing them nervously, fell to
their oars for dear life.

As the fog swallowed them, someone took me by the ear.

"Hullo, young gentlemen," said His Excellency, pinching me and reaching
out a hand for Hartnoll, who evaded him, "it seems