"I want a word with you without, Master Arblaster," returned Dick; "and

here is what we shall talk of." And he showed him a gold noble in the

glimmer of the firelight.

The shipman's eyes burned, although he still failed to recognise our

hero.

"Ay, boy," he said, "I am with you. Gossip, I will be back anon. Drink

fair, gossip;" and, taking Dick's arm to steady his uneven steps, he

walked to the door of the alehouse.

As soon as he was over the threshold, ten strong arms had seized and

bound him; and in two minutes more, with his limbs trussed one to

another, and a good gag in his mouth, he had been tumbled neck and crop

into a neighbouring hay-barn. Presently, his man Tom, similarly secured,

was tossed beside him, and the pair were left to their uncouth

reflections for the night.

And now, as the time for concealment had gone by, Lord Foxham's followers

were summoned by a preconcerted signal, and the party, boldly taking

possession of as many boats as their numbers required, pulled in a

flotilla for the light in the rigging of the ship. Long before the last

man had climbed to the deck of the Good Hope, the sound of furious

shouting from the shore showed that a part, at least, of the seamen had

discovered the loss of their skiffs.

But it was now too late, whether for recovery or revenge. Out of some

The Black Arrow