"With all the pleasure in life, miss," answered Jacob. "I would go a hundred miles to give a helping hand to any shipmate, much more to so true-hearted a chap as Harry Tryon, or Andrew Brown, for that's the name he goes by. I told you when I wrote through him to Mary how he had saved your honoured father's life, and if he was in England all things would go right, for he would be able to prove what an obedient well-behaved seaman Harry always was with him." "I am right glad to hear you say that, Jacob," put in Paul. "To my mind, Miss Mabel, it is fortunate we fell in with these two lads, but let us lose no further time. They must keep alongside our horses till we can get a cart or coach of some sort to carry them on. It is very clear there is no time to be lost, and if we get in early to London something may be done even to-day." "Make sail ahead, then," cried Jacob; "Jack and I will keep up with you, and if we can we will lay hands on a craft of some sort to carry us on." They had not gone far when they saw the footpads return and carry off their wounded companions. Under other circumstances Paul would have given notice of what had occurred, but he knew by so doing they might have to undergo considerable delay, which for Harry's sake it was most important should be avoided. They therefore pushed on till they arrived at a small inn on the London side of the heath, where Paul had on several occasions stopped. The landlord knew him, and he was able, therefore, without difficulty, to hire a horse on which the two sailors might proceed. It was the only one in the stable, but as it had an unusually long back, Jacob and Jack agreed that it would answer their purpose quite as well as two. "Each can take his trick at the helm by turns," observed Jacob, "though seeing that when a little boy I used often to ride the horses to water, I may be the better hand of the two." The stable boy was about to put on a saddle. "No, no, off with that thing," observed Jacob, throwing himself on the animal's back. "Here, Jack, give us your hand. Now sit yourself astern. That will do. Good-bye, Master Gibson, we will send the horse back to you safe and sound, never fear." Saying this, Jack and his companion rode out of the stable-yard, and followed Mabel and Gauntlett, who had just before left it. As Mabel approached London, her eagerness to see her godfather and Mr. Kyffin increased. She could scarcely refrain from urging on her steed to its topmost speed, though restrained every now and then by Paul's voice requesting her to proceed at a more leisurely pace, both for her own sake and for that of Jacob and his companion, who were following on their rough-trotting horse. Before noon she drew rein at the door of Mr. Thornborough's house. She threw herself from her horse, and ran up the steps. Miss Thornborough stood ready to receive her in her arms.