"Your highness, do you wish the long boat sent for you, or will you come in one of your own boats?" added De Chemerant; "and since your highness is interested in this miserable rascal, his pardon is assured." "Make haste, noble duke----" "Come as you wish, James--our James--but come at once!" "Yes, come," said Mortimer, "or we will do as this rascal in green cassock and pink stockings; we will leap into the water like a band of wild ducks, to be the sooner with you." "No imprudence, no imprudence, my old friends," said Monmouth, who sought to gain time since the Gascon disappeared. At last Captain Ralph came to say a word in the ear of the prince; the latter gave a new order in a low voice and with a radiant air. "Your highness, they are about launching the long boat," said De Chemerant, who was burning with impatience to see the duke on board. "It is useless, sir," said the duke. Then, addressing himself formally to the noblemen with an accent of profound emotion: "My old friends, my faithful companions, farewell, and forever farewell, I have sworn by the memory of the most admirable martyr to friendship, never to take part in civil troubles which might deluge England with blood; I will not break my oath. Farewell, brave Mortimer, farewell good Dudley, farewell valiant Rothsay; it breaks my heart not to embrace you for a last time. Forget this my appearance. Henceforth let James of Monmouth--be dead to you as he has been to all the world for five years! Again farewell, and forever farewell!" Then turning toward his captain, the duke cried quickly in a sonorous voice: "Set all sails, Ralph!" At these words Ralph seized the helm; the sails of the brigantine, already prepared, were hoisted and trimmed with marvelous rapidity. Thanks to the breeze and her galley oars, the Chameleon was under way before the passengers of the frigate had recovered from their surprise. The brigantine, in moving off, kept in the direction of the stern of the frigate in order not to be exposed to her guns. It is impossible to paint the rage of De Chemerant, the despair of the noblemen, in seeing the light vessel rapidly increasing the distance between them. "Captain," cried De Chemerant, "set all sail; we will overhaul this brigantine; there is no better sailer than the Thunderer." "Yes, yes," cried the peers, "board her!" "Let us capture our duke!" "When we have him we will force him to place himself at our head!" "He will not refuse his old companions!" "My boys, two hundred louis to drink the health of James of Monmouth if we overtake this waterfly," cried Mortimer, addressing the sailors, and pointing to the little vessel. The Chameleon soon found herself beyond reach of the guns of the frigate. She quitted the direction she had first taken, and in place of keeping close to the wind, altered her course.