A rich voice sounded close at hand. "Where are you, sir? They answer the signal right enough." Beauvallet put the lady quickly behind him; the boatswain came to them, peering through the darkness. What followed passed as a dream for Dominica. There was a furtive light dipping and shining on the mainland; she escaped below decks, and saw her baggage borne away, and heard the bustle of a boat being prepared. Don Manuel sat ready, wrapped about in a fur-lined cloak, but shivering always. "He hath compassed it," Don Manuel said in quiet satisfaction. "He is a brave man." Master Dangerfield came to fetch them in a little while; he gave an arm to Don Manuel, spoke words of cheer, but cast a regretful eye towards my lady. They came up on deck and found Beauvallet by a rope-ladder. Below, bobbing on the ink-black water, a boat waited, manned by the boatswain and some of his men, and with the baggage stowed safely in it. Sir Nicholas came forward. "Don Manuel, have you strength to descend yon ladder?" "I can essay, señor," Don Manuel said. "Bartolomeo, go before me." He faced Beauvallet in the shaded lamplight. "Señor, this is farewell. You will let me say----" "No need, señor. Let it be said anon. I shall see you safely ashore." "Yourself, señor? Nay, that is too much to ask of you." "Be at ease, ye did not ask it. It is my pleasure," Beauvallet said, and put out a strong hand to help him down the ladder. Don Manuel went painfully down the side with Bartolomeo watchful below him. Beauvallet turned to Dominica, and opened his arms. "Trust yourself to me yet again, sweetheart," he said. Without a word she went to him and let him swing her up to his shoulder. He went lightly down the side with her, let her slip to her feet in the boat below, and held her still with one supporting hand. She found a seat beside Maria, crouched in the stern, and nestled beside her. Beauvallet left the ladder and gained the boat, stepped past the two women to the tiller behind them, and called a low order to his men. There was a casting off, long oars dipped into the heaving water; silently the boat cleaved forward towards the land. A crescent moon gleamed suddenly through a rift in the clouds above; Dominica looked round and saw Beauvallet behind her, holding the tiller. He was looking frowningly ahead, but as she turned he glanced down at her and smiled. She said suddenly on a sharp note of fear: "Ah, if there should be soldiers! A trap!" His white teeth shone between the black of beard and mustachio. "Never fear." "Foolhardy!" she whispered. "I would you had not come." "What, and send my men into a danger I dare not face?" he rallied her. She looked at him, so straight and handsome in the pale moonlight. "No, that is not your way," she said. "I cry pardon." The clouds covered the moon's face again; Beauvallet was a dark shadow against the night. "I have a sword, child. Fear not." "Rather, Reck Not," she said in a low voice.