"Try to tie him up again," said Saint Simon bluntly. "But if one gets loose the others will follow, and then--" He stopped short and spread his legs as wide as he could, for the vessel was beginning to dance in the chopping sea. "Well, and what then?" cried Denis. "Our wild-goose journey would be at end, for those horses would go overboard as sure as we stand here." "What!" cried Denis excitedly. "What I have said. My charger is safe to make a dash for the side, and rise at it; and he'd go over like a skimming bird, and the others would follow at once." He had hardly spoken when the skipper of the vessel, a heavy, sun-tanned-looking man in scarlet cap, high boots and petticoat, came up to them. "Look here, young masters," he cried, "I don't often take cattle in my boat, and when I do I have them slung down into the hold. My deck isn't a safe place for beasts, and if those three don't break loose before long I'm no shipman." "Then what is to be done?" cried Denis hurriedly. "If the--" He stopped short, for Saint Simon gave him a sharp jerk with his elbow and continued his speech. "--Comte's horse were to be lost overboard he'd never forgive us." "No," said Denis, recovering himself. "Look here, you have plenty of ropes. Call some of your men to help; we must put slip-knots round above their hoofs and tie them in different places, so that they couldn't get away." "Yes, that's right," said the skipper. "But won't they kick?" "No," replied Denis; "we can manage that if your men will help." No time was lost, for the need for doing something grew more and more evident; and with the young men standing by to calm and caress each beautiful steed in turn, running nooses were placed round their fetlocks, and the ropes' ends slipped through ring-bolt and round belaying pin, to be made fast, so that before half an hour had passed the horses were thoroughly secured, and stood staring-eyed and shivering, ready to burst out into a piteous whinnying if the young men attempted to move away. It was a rough passage, growing worse hour after hour till nightfall, and the cares that had come upon them were so onerous that the two young men were too busy and excited to feel any qualms themselves. Not only were there the horses, but their companion below made no little call upon their attention, and in turn they descended into the rough cabin to see what they could do. But the second time that Saint Simon approached the spot where his suffering sovereign lay he was ordered back. "Send Denis," he said. "You go on deck again and mind that nothing happens to my horse." "He's very ill," said Saint Simon, who did not look at all sorry, but more disposed to laugh, as he joined Denis, who was dividing his attention among the three horses, and patting each in turn. "Then why did you leave him?" "Because he wants you. He's ashamed to let me see how bad he is." "Is he so very ill then?" said Denis.