"Go on," said Huntoon, "it is quite safe. I'll be warrant for the close mouth of my friend here. Besides," here he drew back behind Neville, and tapped his forehead significantly, "he is a stranger here, and neither cares nor knows anything of our entanglements." "Then, Master Huntoon, I will make a clean breast of the matter that brought me hither. You are a Virginian, and a man of honor." "Certainly the former, and I have some hopes of the latter." "Then join us in our effort to wrest away the land which the perfidious Calverts have stolen under guise of royal grant from the Commonwealth." "'Stolen' is a strong word, Councillor." "Not too strong to fit the occasion. Was not the license to trade with the natives along the Maryland shore granted to me by the government of Virginia, and afterward by the King himself?" "It was." "Was it not under authority of Virginia that I made a settlement at Kent Island?" "Yes, but--" "Did not Kent belong to Virginia by right of a charter antedating the patent of that upstart, Calvert?" "The Commissioners in England decided differently." "Ay, of course wire-pulling will always move the wires." Huntoon's only response was a non-committal smile. "You may remember, Councillor Huntoon, that this same question came before the Virginia Council ten years ago, that I did ask the opinion of that honorable body as to whether I should yield to Baltimore's claims. The board answered that they wondered how any such question could be asked, that they knew no reason why they should give up their rights in the Isle of Kent more than any other formerly granted to Virginia by His Majesty's patent, and that I was in duty bound to maintain the rights and privileges of our colony." "But that was before the decision of the Commission." "Ay, but that goes for nothing. 'Twas unjust, unfair, and should be unrecognized." "Who are concerned in your present plan?" asked Huntoon. "Half the planters along the river." "And who is to be the leader?" "I believe they look to me; but I shall not be alone in the responsibility. My friend, Captain Ingle, is already anchored in the bay with his ship _The Reformation_." "Richard Ingle?" "The same, and a gallant spark he is. Last winter Governor Brent had him tossed on to his vessel like a bag of grain, and the ship ordered off in mad haste as though she had the plague aboard. Ingle swore revenge then; but matters were in too ticklish a stage at home 'twixt King and Parliament to admit of his proceeding too fast. Now things are clearer, and he has come back with ammunition, armed with letters of marque from Parliament, and purposes to make hot work in more senses than one at St. Mary's." Neville stopped playing with his pipe and brushed his hand across his forehead. "Then what you purpose is an immediate raid," said Huntoon.