! Save me!"

"Damn you for a whining hound! What do you mean by rushing in like
this?" roared the officer addressed, who I marked wore a naval
uniform.

During the babel of explanations which followed from the terrified
creature, I was by no means easy in my mind, for I could not but
think the frigate was stationed there for a purpose that touched
me more nearly than smuggling, and certainly King's officers were
not the company I should have chosen. But hesitation would have
been the height of folly. I advanced assuredly, and addressing the
company, said:

"Gentlemen, your pardon, for I am afraid that I am really more to
blame than this poor man, who it appears was only preventing an
unintentional breach of the law on my part. The truth is, I am most
anxious to cross over to Harwich to-night, and had no thought to
meet with any obstacle in my design, least of all that I should be
taken for a smuggler."

There was a laugh at this, and he whom the inn-keeper had addressed
as Captain Galway said, roundly enough:

"Thank God, sir, his Majesty's officers have still something above
the excise to look after!"

"Then, sir," I replied, though his words confirmed me in my suspicion,
"I have but this moment paid for a bottle of our host's best; we
can discuss it with your leave, and it may serve as footing for my
interruption."

There were bows on all sides at this, and my gentleman introduced
himself as Captain Galway, commanding the _Triumphant_, now riding
at anchor in the bay, and his friends as Major Greenway and Captain
Hargreaves, of the 32d Regiment. In turn I introduced myself as
Mr. Johnstone, for I was determined to have done with Mr. Simpkin,
come what might.

"Ah!" drawled Captain Hargreaves, "one of the Johnsons of Worcester?"

"No," I answered, shortly; "mine is the Border family, but I come
direct from London."

Much to my relief, our host now made his appearance with the wine,
and put an end to this uncomfortable questioning. His sample proved
excellent; so good that I doubted if even the smuggling story might
not have some foundation, and so exact was it to Captain Galway's
palate that before we had made an end of the second bottle he swore
by all his gods, whose seats appeared to be chiefly in those parts
which served for his most important corporate functions, that I
should be put across the water though he had to do it himself.

So far everything seemed to run exactly to my liking; but when at