athers!"

The darkness ahead was, indeed, astonishing. Great billows heaved up out
of the blackness, one after another; and one after another the Good Hope
buoyantly climbed, and giddily plunged upon the further side. A thin
sprinkle of snow and thin flakes of foam came flying, and powdered the
deck; and the wind harped dismally among the rigging.

"In sooth, it looketh evilly," said Dick. "But what cheer! 'Tis but a
squall, and presently it will blow over." But, in spite of his words, he
was depressingly affected by the bleak disorder of the sky and the
wailing and fluting of the wind; and as he got over the side of the Good
Hope and made once more for the landing-creek with the best speed of
oars, he crossed himself devoutly, and recommended to Heaven the lives of
all who should adventure on the sea.

At the landing-creek there had already gathered about a dozen of the
outlaws. To these the skiff was left, and they were bidden embark
without delay.

A little further up the beach Dick found Lord Foxham hurrying in quest of
him, his face concealed with a dark hood, and his bright armour covered
by a long russet mantle of a poor appearance.

"Young Shelton," he said, "are ye for sea, then, truly?"

"My lord," replied Richard, "they lie about the house with horsemen; it
may not be reached from the land side without alarum; and Sir Daniel once
advertised of our adventure, we can no more carry it to a good end than,
saving your presence, we could ride upon the wind. Now, in going round
by sea, we do run some peril by the elements; but, what much outweighteth
all, we have a chance to make good our purpose and bear off the maid."

"Well," returned Lord Foxham, "lead on. I will, in some sort, follow you
for shame's sake; but I own I would I were in bed."

"Here, then," said Dick. "Hither we go to fetch our pilot."

And he led the way to the rude alehouse where he had given rendezvous to
a portion of his men. Some of these he found lingering round the door
outside; others had pushed more boldly in, and, choosing places as near
as possible to where they saw their comrade, gathered close about Lawless
and the two shipmen. These, to judge by the distempered countenance and
cloudy eye, had long since gone beyond the boundaries of moderation; and
as Richard entered, closely followed by Lord Foxham, they were all three
tuning up an old, pitiful sea-ditty, to the chorus of the wailing of the
gale.

The young lead