He was busying himself soon after in seeing the big howitzer dragged back to the shelter of a shed, so as to be free to talk to Sir Mark, who had intimated or rather ordered him to be ready for a conference at ten of the clock; and, in spite of his bluff independence, there was that in his guest's manner that made him rather uneasy, as much on his child's account as upon his own. "There's something behind," he said; "something I don't understand; and, though I could fight him well enough in a fair and open quarrel, when they get to their diplomacy and policy, and underhanded-behind-your-back ways, I'm done." The thoughts of the previous day's shell-firing, however, put Sir Mark out of his head; and he was thinking whether it would not be wise to have the howitzer out once more to try the same experiments, when Sir Mark, who had been waiting since breakfast to gain an interview with Mace, and quite in vain, now joined him by the edge-stone of the race. For Mace had had hard work to maintain her composure at the morning meal; having heard, as she had from Janet only just before, that Gil's ship had sailed. She was not satisfied with their parting, for she felt in her heart that he would be troubled at the presence of Sir Mark, whose inopportune return had, as it were, cast a shadow on Gil's last day. "But he'll trust me," she said, with a satisfied smile; "and he may. There, I'll fret no more, for time will make all smooth, no doubt." As to Sir Mark, she felt that she must be very plain with him, and trust to his being enough of a gentleman to cease what would degenerate into persecution if continued in face of her declaration that she could not listen to his suit. So Mace brightened up, and told herself that there was no need to be at all uneasy about their guest, setting him down as a vain coxcomb, without giving him the credit for being, to gain his own ends, unscrupulous to a degree. "Ah, Sir Mark," exclaimed the founder, heartily; "I've seen thy two fellows, and a hearty breakfast has set them right. They are none the worse for their last night's dip." "Bodily, perhaps not, Master Cobbe; but mentally I'll vow that they are very ill. My followers are soldiers and gentlemen, and cannot suffer so great an affront without some heed. Those people with their leader will have to be hunted out of the place." "Thou'lt want ships to limit them now," said the founder, drily; "for they are off to sea." "What! at sea? Why, they were here but now." "But now?" "Well, last even," said Sir Mark. "They cannot be gone." "Tut, man. Culverin Carr and his men work by night, when such as we are asleep. They were at the mouth of the river, where the sea beats on the sand-bar, before you woke this morning, I'll be bound." "You seem to be well acquainted with their movements, Master Cobbe," said Sir Mark.