“Do you wish to go on the water, sir?” said the sailor.

“Yes, just so.  Along the Isle of Dogs.”

“And perhaps you have a preference for one boat more than another.  You would like one that sails as rapidly as ——­ "

“Lightning,” interrupted Mordaunt.

“Then mine is the boat you want, sir.  I’m your man.”

“I begin to think so, particularly if you have not forgotten a certain signal.”

“Here it is, sir,” and the sailor took from his coat a handkerchief, tied at each corner.

“Good, quite right!” cried Mordaunt, springing off his horse.  “There’s not a moment to lose; now take my horse to the nearest inn and conduct me to your vessel.”

“But,” asked the sailor, “where are your companions?  I thought there were four of you.”

“Listen to me, sir.  I’m not the man you take me for; you are in Captain Rogers’s post, are you not? under orders from General Cromwell.  Mine, also, are from him!”

“Indeed, sir, I recognize you; you are Captain Mordaunt.”

Mordaunt was startled.

“Oh, fear nothing,” said the skipper, showing his face.  “I am a friend.”

“Captain Groslow!” cried Mordaunt.

“Himself.  The general remembered that I had formerly been a naval officer and he gave me the command of this expedition.  Is there anything new in the wind?”

“Nothing.”

“I thought, perhaps, that the king’s death ——­ "

“Has only hastened their flight; in ten minutes they will perhaps be here.”

“What have you come for, then?”

“To embark with you.”

“Ah! ah! the general doubted my fidelity?”

“No, but I wish to have a share in my revenge.  Haven’t you some one who will relieve me of my horse?”

Groslow whistled and a sailor appeared.

“Patrick,” said Groslow, “take this horse to the stables of the nearest inn.  If any one asks you whose it is you can say that it belongs to an Irish gentleman.”

The sailor departed without reply.

“Now,” said Mordaunt, “are you not afraid that they will recognize you?”

“There is no danger, dressed as I am in this pilot coat, on a night as dark as this.  Besides even you didn’t recognize me; they will be much less likely to.”

“That is true,” said Mordaunt, “and they will be far from thinking of you.  Everything is ready, is it not?”

“Yes.”

“The cargo on board?”

“Yes.”

“Five full casks?”

“And fifty empty ones.”

“Good.”

“We are carrying port wine to Anvers.”

“Excellent.  Now take me aboard and return to your post, for they will soon be here.”

“I am ready.”

“It is important that none of your crew should see me.”

“I have but one man on board, and I am as sure of him as I am of myself.  Besides, he doesn’t know you; like his mates he is ready to obey our orders knowing nothing of our plan.”