Pope obeyed, and went into the tavern, Charles keeping close behind him. On crossing the threshold they found themselves in a large, low-roofed, old fashioned room, in which a number of seafaring men were seated at small tables drinking and smoking. The room was so dimly lighted, besides being filled with tobacco-smoke, that the whole of the guests could not be clearly distinguished, but amongst them were three or four individuals, whose puritanical garb and tall steeple-crowned hats showed that they were sectaries. Besides these there were a couple of troopers. On making this discovery, Charles felt inclined to beat a hasty retreat, and would have done so, if the tavern-keeper, David Price, who had been watching them, had not come forward, and beckoning them to follow him, ushered them into a small inner room, where they found Careless and a stout-built personage, whose appearance answered to the description Charles had received of Captain Rooker. Tall glasses and a big bowl of sack and sugar, or "Bristol Milk" as it was termed, were set on the table, and light was afforded by a lamp. Careless saluted the new-comers on their entrance, and begged them to be seated, but nothing passed till David Price had quitted the room. "This is Captain Rooker," said Careless. "He has engaged to give us a passage to Swansea." "Ay, it's all right," cried the captain, in rough but cheery accents. "My lugger has already gone down the river, and we shall follow her as soon as the tide suits, and that will be in about two hours. The current will then be running down quickly. If so be you don't like to embark on the quay, I can take you up somewhere lower down--say at the Gorge of the Avon." "That's a long way off," observed Charles. "What's your reason for wishing us to embark at that place, captain?" "Because it's the safest spot I know of," returned Rooker. "You need have no fear of anyone lying in wait for you there." "No, we'll make sure of that," observed the king, glancing significantly at Careless. "Hark ye, captain," said the latter, "you and I must not part company till we reach Swansea." "Why, you don't doubt me?" cried the skipper, gruffly. "No, I don't doubt you, but I won't let you out of my sight. We will arrange it in this way. You and I will start from the quay, and we will take up the others as proposed." "Well, I'm agreeable," said the skipper. "But I understood that a young lady was going with you. Is she to be left behind?" "No," replied Careless. "My friend will bring her with him. You will find her near the high cross on St. Augustine's Green," he added to Charles. "I would go there myself, but----" "You don't want to leave me," supplied the skipper, with a laugh. "Ay, that's just it," said Careless. "It won't make much difference to you," he continued, again addressing the king. "You need not come back. You can embark on the right bank of the river."