I　took　my　wife　by　the　hand　and　hurried　her　on。　A　hundred　　yards　before　us　ran　the　river；　dark　and　turbulent；　and　between　us　and　it　rose　an　old；　unsafe；　and　abandoned　landing。　Sparrow　laid　his　hand　upon　my　arm。　〃Footsteps　behind　us；〃　he　whispered。
  Without　slackening　pace　I　turned　my　head　and　looked。　The　clouds；　high　around　the　horizon；　were　thinning　overhead；　and　the　moon；　herself　invisible；　yet　lightened　the　darkness　below。　The　sandy　lane　stretched　behind　us　like　a　ribbon　of　twilight；　…　nothing　to　be　seen　but　it　and　the　ebony　mass　of　bush　and　tree　lining　it　on　either　side。　We　hastened　on。　A　minute　later　and　we　heard　behind　us　a　sound　like　the　winding　of　a　small　horn；　clear；　shrill；　and　sweet。　Sparrow　and　I　wheeled　…　and　saw　nothing。　The　trees　ran　down　to　the　very　edge　of　the　wharf；　upon　whose　rotten；　loosened；　and　noisy　boards　we　now　trod。　Suddenly　the　clouds　above　us　broke；　and　the　moon　shone　forth；　whitening　the　mountainous　clouds；　the　ridged　and　angry　river；　and　the　low；　tree…fringed　shore。　Below　us；　fastened　to　the　piles　and　rocking　with　the　waves；　was　the　open　boat　in　which　we　were　to　embark。　A　few　broken　steps　led　from　the　boards　above　to　the　water　below。　Descending　these　I　sprang　into　the　boat　and　held　out　my　arms　for　Mistress　Percy。　Sparrow　gave　her　to　me；　and　I　lifted　her　down　beside　me；　then　turned　to　give　what　aid　I　might　to　the　minister；　who　was　halfway　down　the　steps　…　and　faced　my　Lord　Carnal。
  What　devil　had　led　him　forth　on　such　a　night；　why　he；　whom　with　my　own　eyes；　three　hours　agone；　I　had　seen　drunken；　should　have　chosen；　after　his　carouse；　cold　air　and　his　own　company　rather　than　sleep；　when　and　where　he　first　spied　us；　how　long　he　had　followed　us；　I　have　never　known。　Perhaps　he　　could　not　sleep　for　triumph；　had　heard　of　my　impending　arrest；　had　come　forth　to　add　to　the　bitterness　of　my　cup　by　his　presence；　and　so　had　happened　upon　us。　He　could　only　have　guessed　at　those　he　followed；　until　he　reached　the　edge　of　the　wharf　and　looked　down　upon　us　in　the　moonlight。　For　a　moment　he　stood　without　moving；　then　he　raised　his　hand　to　his　lips；　and　the　shrill　call　that　had　before　startled　us　rang　out　again。　At　the　far　end　of　the　lane　lights　appeared。　Men　were　coming　down　the　lane　at　a　run；　whether　they　were　the　watch；　or　my　lord's　own　rogues；　we　tarried　not　to　see。　There　was　not　time　to　loosen　the　rope　from　the　piles；　so　I　drew　my　knife　to　cut　it。　My　lord　saw　the　movement；　and　sprang　down　the　steps；　at　the　same　time　shouting　to　the　men　behind　to　hasten。　Sparrow；　grappling　with　him；　locked　him　in　a　giant's　embrace；　lifted　him　bodily　from　the　steps；　and　flung　him　into　the　boat。　His　head　struck　against　a　thwart；　and　he　lay；　huddled　beneath　it；　quiet　enough。　The　minister　sprang　after　him；　and　I　cut　the　rope。　By　now　the　wharf　shook　with　running　feet；　and　the　backward…streaming　flame　of　the　torches　reddened　its　boards　and　the　black　water　beneath；　but　each　instant　the　water　widened　between　us　and　our　pursuers。　Wind　and　current　swept　us　out；　and　at　that　wharf　there　were　no　boats　to　follow　us。
  Those　whom　my　lord's　whistle　had　brought　were　now　upon　the　very　edge　of　the　wharf。　The　marshal's　voice　called　upon　us　in　the　name　of　the　King　to　return。　Finding　that　we　vouchsafed　no　answer；　he　pulled　out　a　pistol　and　fired；　the　ball　going　through　my　hat；　then　whipped　out　its　fellow　and　fired　again。　Mistress　Percy；　whose　behavior　had　been　that　of　an　angel；　stirred　in　her　seat。　I　did　not　know　until　the　　day　broke　that　the　ball　had　grazed　her　arm；　drenching　her　sleeve　with　blood。
  〃It　is　time　we　were　away；〃　I　said；　with　a　laugh。　〃If　your　reverence　will　keep　your　hand　upon　the　tiller　and　your　eye　upon　the　gentleman　whom　you　have　made　our　traveling　companion；　I'll　put　up　the　sail。〃
  I　was　on　my　way　to　the　foremast；　when　the　boom　lying　prone　before　me　rose。　Slowly　and　majestically　the　sail　ascended；　tapering　upward；　silvered　by　the　moon；　…　the　great　white　pinion　which　should　bear　us　we　knew　not　whither。　I　stopped　short　in　my　tracks；　Mistress　Percy　drew　a　sobbing　breath；　and　the　minister　gasped　with　admiration。　We　all　three　stared　as　though　the　white　cloth　had　veritably　been　a　monster　wing　endowed　with　life。
  〃Sails　don't　rise　of　themselves！〃　I　exclaimed；　and　was　at　the　mast　before　the　words　were　out　of　my　lips。　Crouched　behind　it　was　a　man。　I　should　have　known　him　even　without　the　aid　of　the　moon。　Often　enough；　God　knows；　I　had　seen　him　crouched　like　this　beside　me；　ourselves　in　ambush　awaiting　some　unwary　foe；　brute　or　human；　or　ourselves　in　hiding；　holding　our　breath　lest　it　should　betray　us。　The　minister　who　had　been　a　player；　the　rival　who　would　have　poisoned　me；　the　servant　who　would　have　stabbed　me；　the　wife　who　was　wife　in　name　only；　…　mine　were　strange　shipmates。
  He　rose　to　his　feet　and　stood　there　against　the　mast；　in　the　old　half…submissive；　half…defiant　attitude；　with　his　head　thrown　back　in　the　old　way。
  〃If　you　order　me；　sir；　I　will　swim　ashore；〃　he　said；　half　sullenly；　half　…　I　know　not　how。
  〃You　would　never　reach　the　shore；〃　I　replied。　　〃And　you　know　that　I　will　never　order　you　again。　Stay　here　if　you　please；　or　come　aft　if　you　please。〃
  I　went　back　and　took　the　tiller　from　Sparrow。　We　were　now　in　mid…river；　and　the　swollen　stream　and　the　strong　wind　bore　us　on　with　them　like　a　leaf　before　the　gale。　We　left　behind　the　lights　and　the　clamor；　the　dark　town　and　the　silent　fort；　the　weary　Due　Return　and　the　shipping　about　the　lower　wharf。　Before　us　loomed　the　Santa　Teresa；　we　passed　so　close　beneath　her　huge　black　sides　that　we　heard　the　wind　whistling　through　her　rigging。　When　she；　too；　was　gone；　the　river　lay　bare　before　us；　silver　when　the　moon　shone；　of　an　inky　blackness　when　it　was　obscured　by　one　of　the　many　flying　clouds。
  My　wife　wrapped　her　mantle　closer　about　her；　and；　leaning　back　in　her　seat　in　the　stern　beside　me；　raised　her　face　to　the　wild　and　solemn　heavens。　Diccon　sat　apart　in　the　bow　and　held　his　tongue。　The　minister　bent　over；　and；　lifting　the　man　that　lay　in　the　bottom　of　the　boat；　laid　him　at　full　length　upon　the　thwart　before　us。　The　moonlight　streamed　down　upon　the　prostrate　figure。　I　think　it　could　never　have　shone　upon　a　more　handsome　or　a　more　wicked　man。　He　lay　there　in　his　splendid　dress　and　dark　beauty；　Endymion…like；　beneath　the　moon。　The　King's　ward　turned　her　eyes　upon　him；　kept　them　there　a　moment；　then　glanced　away；　and　looked　at　him　no　more。
  〃There's　a　parlous　lump　upon　his　forehead　where　it　struck　the　thwart；〃　said　the　minister；　〃but　the　life's　yet　in　him。　He'll　shame　honest　men　for　many　a　day　to　come。　Your　Platonists；　who　from　a　goodly　outside　argue　as　fair　a　soul；　could　never　have　been　acquainted　with　this　gentleman。〃
  The　subject　of　his　discourse　moaned　and　stirred。　The　minister　raised　one　of　the　hanging　hands　and　felt　for　the　pulse。　〃Faint　enough；〃　he　went　on。　〃A　little　more　and　the　King　might　have　waited　for　his　minion　forever　and　a　day。　It　would　have　been　the　better　for　us；　who　have　now；　indeed；　a　strange　fish　upon　our　hands；　but　I　am　glad　I　killed　him　not。〃
  I　tossed　him　a　flask。　〃It's　good　aqua　vit‘；　and　the　flask　is　honest。　Give　him　to　drink　of　it。〃
  He　forced　the　liquor　between　my　lord's　teeth；　then　dashed　water　in　his　face。　Another　minute　and　the　King's　favorite　sat　up　and　looked　around　him。　Dazed　as　yet；　he　stared；　with　no　comprehension　in　his　eyes；　at　the　clouds；　the　sail；　the　rushing　water；　the　dark　figures　about　him。　〃Nicolo！〃　he　cried　sharply。
  〃He's　not　here；　my　lord；〃　I　said。
  At　the　sound　of　my　voice　he　sprang　to　his　feet。
  〃I　should　advise　your　lordship　to　sit　still；〃　I　said。　〃The　wind　is　very　boisterous；　and　we　are　not　under　bare　poles。　If　you　exert　yourself；　you　may　capsize　the　boat。〃
  He　sat　down　mechanically；　and　put　his　hand　to　his　forehead。　I　watched　him　curiously。　It　was　the　strangest　trick　that　fortune　had　played　him。
  His　hand　dropped　at　last；　and　he　straightened　himself；　with　a　long　breath。　〃Who　threw　me　into　the　boat？〃　he　demanded。
  〃The　honor　was　mine；〃　declared　the　minister。
  The　King's　minion　lacked　not　the　courage　of　the　body；　nor；　when　passionate　action　had　brought　him　naught；　a　certain　reserve　force　of　philosophy。　He　now　did　the　best　thing　he　could　have　done；　…　burst　into　a　roar　of　laughter。　〃Zooks！〃　he　cried。　〃It's　as　good　a　comedy　as　ever　I　saw！　How's　the　play　to　　end；　captain？　Are　we　to　go　off　laughing；　or　is　the　end　to　be　bloody　after　all？　For　instance；　is　there　murder　to　be　done？〃　He　looked　at　me　boldly；　one　hand　on　his　hip；　the　other　twirling　his　mustaches。
  〃We　are　not　all　murderers；　my　lord；〃　I　told　him。　〃For　the　present　you　are　in　no　danger　other　than　that　which　is　common　to　us　all。〃
  He　looked　at　the　clouds　piling　behind　us；　thicker　and　thicker；　higher　and　higher；　at　the　bending　mast；　at　the　black　water　swirling　now　and　again　over　the　gunwales。　〃It's　enough；〃　he　muttered。
  I　beckoned　to　Diccon；　and　putting　the　tiller　into　his　hands　went　forward　to　reef　the　sail。　When　it　was　done　and　I　was　back　in　my　place；　my　lord　spoke　again。
  〃Where　are　we　going；　captain？〃
  〃I　don't　know。〃
  〃If　you　leave　that　sail　up　much　longer；　you　will　land　us　at　the　bottom　of　the　river。〃
  〃There　are　worse　places；〃　I　replied。
  He　left　his　seat；　and　moved；　though　with　caution；　to　one　nearer　Mistress　Percy。　〃Are　cold　and　s