"I know it, Robin. Did I ever shrink from peril in such a cause?" "Faith, no!" replied the other with his usual chuckle; "if God had willed you to be born a snail, you would have crept out of your house, so careless are you in all things." "Do you think there is aught of danger for Barbara?" said the Buccaneer, his manner clearly showing that, if he did not care for himself, there was something he did care for. "If she is timid as a hare," replied Robin, "she is, as a hare, heedful and light-footed; no fear for her. How your heart clings to her, Captain!" "So it does; and yet some strange shadow comes over me when I think of her--as if I knew she would despise, perhaps hate me--she has been brought up in such strict principles; still, I would not have her less right-minded." He paused, and they proceeded silently on their way, Dalton pondering on the best method of procuring De Guerre's liberty, and then thinking of his sweet and gentle child. Nature may lie buried or be stifled for a time--an apathetic temperament will seek to smother, a harsh one to bind, a strong one to subdue it--but it overcomes them all; and though a man's speech may run according to his learning, and his deeds according to his habits, yet nature thinks and speaks within him, often in direct opposition to the words that fall from his lips, and the actions in which he may be engaged. Thus it was with the Buccaneer; despite the fearful course his outlawed life had taken, the remembrance of his child would arise to his imagination, shaded by sorrow, or sunned by happiness, according to his mood of mind--but always as his child--the being upon whom his very existence seemed to hang. "There is little light from his window," said Robin, as they came within view of the house; "let us over the fencing.--Hush!" he continued, elevating his hand so as to command the attention of his companion, at the same time bending his ear to the earth. Dalton listened, but, it would seem, heard no sound, for he exclaimed hastily,-- "Hush me no hush!--you are ever fancying something or other out of the way." Robin repeated the signal. "What mummery!" said the Buccaneer; "I hear nothing, and see nothing." Robin laid himself on the ground, while the impatient and irritated seaman fumed and moved about, a curse whizzing from between his teeth as ever and anon he looked at Robin, and from Robin to the house. "If you must have employment," said the Ranger at last, in a low tone, "see to your arms. Are your pistols loaded muzzle high?--are your weapons sharp?--Hush!" The Buccaneer knew that these hints were not given in wantonness, and calmly examined his fire-arms. "The tramp of horses!" continued Robin, "and of heavy ones too; but they are going from, not coming towards us. Ah! heard ye not that?"