In the King's Name Part 17

"I know that I am speaking like a loyal officer of the king, Sir Henry, and that if I did my duty I should arrest you at once on a charge of high treason."

"And get my head chopped off, eh, Hilary? Rather comical that would be, my boy, for a prisoner to arrest his visitor, and keep him in prison with him; but how would you manage to give him up to the law?"

Hilary bit his lip. Certainly it did seem laughable for him, a prisoner, to talk in such a way as that, and he felt vexed, and looked uneasily at his visitor; but he brightened up directly as he felt that he had shown his loyalty to the king he served.

"So you believe in the Dutchman, Hilary?"

"I don't understand you, Sir Henry," said the young man.

"I say you believe in the Dutchman--the man you call George the Second-- the Pretender."

"I do not believe in the Pretender," exclaimed Hilary quickly.

"Don't quibble, my boy," said Sir Henry smiling. "You call my sovereign the Pretender, and that is what I call the man you serve. Good heavens, boy! how could you devote your frank young life to such a service?"

Hilary had finished all he wanted of the chicken, and he sat and gazed in the baronet's face.

"Well," said the latter, "what are you thinking?"

"I was thinking, Sir Henry, how much better it would be if we were both to speak out frankly. Now, what do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" said Sir Henry thoughtfully.

He stopped and remained thinking.

"I'll tell you what you mean, Sir Henry, if you like," said Hilary.

"You have come here now, secure in your power, if you like to call it so, and you are going to try and win me over by soft words to join the other cause."

"Indeed!" exclaimed Sir Henry, changing his ground. "I did not say anything to make you think such a thing as that."

Hilary saw that he had made a mistake, and he, too, withdrew his argumentative position.

"Perhaps I am wrong then," he said.

"Presumably, Hilary. Why, my good boy, of what value would you be to us? I said what I did only out of compa.s.sion."

This nettled Hilary, who, boylike, had no little idea of his importance in the world.

"Oh, no, my dear boy, I only felt a little sorry; and as to being in my power, really I have no power whatever here. I am, as I told you, only a visitor."

"On the Pretender's business," said Hilary sharply.

"I did not say so," replied Sir Henry quietly. "But come, suppose we two enemies, in a political sense, leave off fencing and come, down to the matter of fact. Hilary, my boy, I am very grateful to you for your reticence the other day. You saved my life."

"I am very glad I served you, Sir Henry; but I hope I shall never be placed in such a situation again. If I am, sir, I shall be obliged to give you up."

"From a stern sense of duty," said Sir Henry laughing. "Well, now I want to serve you in turn, Hilary. What can I do for you?"

"Have me immediately set at liberty, Sir Henry."

"Ah! there you ask an impossibility, my boy. You know what you are supposed to have discovered?"

"Yes."

"And if you are set at liberty you will of course bring the _Kestrel_ abreast of a certain part of the sh.o.r.e and land your men?"

"Of course."

"Then is it likely, my dear boy, that these people here will give you the opportunity? No; I am ready to help you in remembrance of old days; and if you will give your word of honour as a gentleman not to go more than five hundred yards in any direction from this old place I dare say I can get for you that length of tether."

"I'm to promise not to escape?"

"Most decidedly; and if you do I dare say I can manage for your life to pa.s.s far more agreeably than in your close quarters on board the cutter, with a peremptory, bullying officer."

"Lieutenant Lips...o...b.. is my officer, and a gentleman, Sir Henry."

"Lieutenant Lips...o...b.. is your officer, and he is no gentleman, Hilary Leigh," said Sir Henry warmly. "But we will not discuss that. As I was saying, I daresay I can manage to make your life pa.s.s pretty pleasantly here. Adela will be your companion, and you can be boy and girl together again, and spend your time collecting and fishing and boating on the little river. It will be pleasant for both of you. All you will have to do will be to hear, see, and say nothing. Better still--don't hear, don't see, and say whatever you like. I will take care that a snug room is provided for you, and you will have your meals with us.

Now what do you say?"

"What is to become of my duty to my ship?"

"A prisoner of war has no duties."

"But I am not a prisoner of war, Sir Henry."

"Indeed, my boy, that you are, most decidedly. You and yours make war on the gentlemen who fetch brandy and lace from the French coast."

"And followers of the Pretender," said Hilary sharply.

"I accept your correction, my boy--and followers of his most gracious majesty King Charles Edward."

"Stuff!" cried Hilary.

"Every man according to his lights, my boy. But as I was saying, your people make war against these people, and they generally act on the defensive. Sometimes they retaliate. This time they have taken a prisoner--you."

"Yes, hang them!" cried Hilary.

"No, no," laughed Sir Henry, "don't do that. No yardarm work, my boy.

You see we do not offer to hang you; on the contrary, I offer you a comfortable happy life for a few months on parole."

"A few months!" cried Hilary.

"Perhaps a year or two. Now what do you say?"

"No!" cried Hilary quickly.

"Think, my boy. You will be kept a very close prisoner, and it will be most unpleasant. We want to use you well."