[figure description] Page 091.[end figure description]

THE young sailor passed along the narrow
ledge, with the activity of a chamois, and
suddenly stood in presence of the boat's
crew.

All hands went to their hats.

“Welcome, Captain!” said one whose tone
was that of an officer; “you see we obey orders.
I was growing uneasy.”

“Thanks, Dargonne! Well, the time has
arrived. The affair will take place to-night.
Come ashore, order the men to follow us. I
see they are armed, as I ordered. Direct them
to make no noise and come on quickly, keeping
us in sight.”

Lientenant Dargonne, a small wiry-looking

[figure description] Page 092.[end figure description]

personage, elad in plain clothes, like the men,
turned and communicated Earle's orders.

The men silently stepped from the boat:
attached it to a splintered rock by a chain, and
followed Earle and Dargonne, who passed back
along the narrow path by which Earle had
come.

Reaching the slope of the headland again
toward the interior, Earle went to the thicket
in which he had tethered his horse, untied the
animal, led him by the bridle, and, followed
by the sailors, made a circuit so as to avoid
Oldport, and approached Westbrooke Hall.

“The moment has come now, my dear Dargonne,”
he said to his companion, “to tell you
my project. I have not done so before, in obedience
to orders. A few words will explain
everything. France and England are at war.
In America the war has been barbarous, they say,
on the part of England, and it seems growing
as barbarous here. The English admiralty
have issued orders to their cruisers to descend
upon the French coast, whenever an opportunity
offered, and carry off persons of position and
influence to be held as hostages. This policy
has been adopted in obedience to the wishes of
the English party in power, and this party is

[figure description] Page 093.[end figure description]

led in Parliament by Viscount Cecil, who made
a violent oration urging the policy I speak of.
His oration was reported in the English journals;—
these were transmitted to His Majesty, King
Louis; in consequence, the cruisers of His
Majesty have received orders to retort by descending
upon the English coast and carrying
off any persons of rank and importance whom
they can lay their hands on.”

Dargonne made a sign that he understood
perfectly.

“Blow for blow! That is only fair,” he
said.

“Entirely fair, my dear Dargonne; and now
to come to the work before us. When I received
the general order to land at any point I
thought proper on the English coast for the
object in view, I decided to visit the coast of
Pembrokshire, hoping to seize the Viscount
Cecil himself. I had already visited this coast,
as you know; and the viscount's large estates
lay near Oldport. I might find him at home
after Parliament, and that would be superb.
So I came, but soon found that the viscount
was still in London; then I planned the seizure
of a cousin of his, Sir Murdaugh Westbrooke.
I visited Westbrooke Hall to reconnoitre, and

[figure description] Page 094.[end figure description]

did so. Then the attack would have been
made—it should have been—but I have been
weak, Dargonne! No more of that—it is over!
I am Earle the sailor again, and will act like
him. I was to have made my attack on Westbrooke.
Hall to-night my object being to carry
off the baronet, the viscount's cousin. But
suddenly an immense piece of good fortune has
happened to us. The viscount himself has
arrived!”

“Viscount Cecil?”

“Himself—to-night.”

“The man who set the whole policy against
France in motion!”

“The very man. And think—we shall seize
him to night! He is at Westbrooke Hall!”

Dargonne clucked his tongue in a rapturous
manner.

“Magnificent!” he exclaimed.

“Is it not?” said Earle, his eyes sparkling with
joy. “Such an opportunity to win rank and
distinction is seldom offered to a privateersman.”

“Not in one hundred years, Captain! It is
splendid—unheard of. Viscount Cecil—not
only a Lord, but the man His Majesty hates!
We will be presented—thanked, at court. Jean
Bart will be forgotten!”

[figure description] Page 095.[end figure description]

Earle made a gesture checking his companion.

“The work is not done; we may fail,” he
said.

“Fail?”

“May not succeed in seizing his lordship and
the baronet, for I aim to secure both. All
human affairs are doubtful.”

“This must succeed! What are the obstacles?
Are there retainers to meet our cutlasses—
dogs to alarm them?”

“Fortunately no dogs. The only one was
poisoned to-night and will not be able to announce
our approach. And as to retainers, they
are few. The viscount, and possibly the baronet,
will, however, make resistance.”

“A trifle.”

“Let us undervalue nothing, Dargonne. I
have succeeded and failed; but if I fail now, it
will be after exhausting every effort. The viscount
is at Westbrooke Hall—there it is through
the opening in the trees yonder! We will approach
without noise, and enter either by surprise
or escalade. If the viscount is captured, he will
be mounted on this horse—the baronet on
another from his own stables,—and they will
be conducted rapidly to the boat, thence to the

[figure description] Page 096.[end figure description]

corvette; and we will make sail for France,
and be out of sight of the coast by daylight.”

They had reached the wall of the park.
Earle threw the bridle of his horse over a bough
in a sheltered nook, and at one bound cleared
the wall, followed by Dargonne and the sailors.

As he did so, a shadow glided from beneath
an oak. At one bound Earle seized the shadow—
it was the gypsy.

“You hurt my throat, brother,” said the
gypsy.

“Ah, it is you! How did you come here?”

“I followed you, brother,” returned the vagabond
coolly; “and if you are willing, I will
help you in your work.”

Earle reflected for an instant. It was plain
that the gypsy had no motive to prove false to
him; and the presence of the men made it impossible
for him to escape and give the alarm if
he wished to do so.

“It is well, brother,” said Earle; “follow me
and obey my directions.”

The gypsy fell back to the ranks of the
sailors.

“See that the men make no noise now, Dargoune,”
said Earle, “and above all, that no firearms
are used. The attack will be made from

[figure description] Page 097.[end figure description]

the rear of the house, to prevent resistance and
an alarm. Let every one preserve silence and
follow me.”

As he spoke, they came to the desolate-looking
expanse immediately in front of Westbrooke
Hall.

p517-103

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