Then the head-fast was cast off, and the last man sprang in and came to the tiller, the other two taking the oars, and very soon the boat, which appeared to be a common long-boat, such as is carried by coasting vessels, shot out into the stream, with her head toward the sea, and sped rapidly on. The oarsmen were strong and skillful, and they had the current in their favor. The distance from the park landing, where the capture had been made, to the bay was little more than two miles, and to the village not more than a mile and a half. Cordelia knew that the smuggler--now the pirate--brig lay in King’s Cove, and she wondered if she was to be taken there. She hardly thought it. Too many of the crew would be opposed to it; and, again, those strange men would sympathize with her, and, if they dared, seek to help her. No, she was not to be taken there. Where then? But another thing began to claim her attention. Her breathing was becoming labored and painful. And so it was with the maid. They looked at each other, and then looked across at the man opposite. He saw plainly the torture they were suffering. “Ah, my dear lady!” he said, with a curious look at our heroine, “you appear to be suffering a slight discomfort just now, but it can’t be much like the twinge you gave me a little while ago. Upon my word, if you’d been a man I think I should have shot you where you stood. I thought you’d broken the bone again, which the surgeon at Burton set for me; but you hadn’t, so I’ll forgive you. And now, say, if I’ll take off that gag will you give me your word not to cry out for help?” She hesitated. She knew if she should give her word that she would not break it. No matter what opportunity might present itself, she could not take advantage of it, should she give such a promise. “It makes not a particle of difference to me,” the chief added, after a considerable pause, finding that the lady did not speak. “If you are comfortable as you are, keep on the bandanna by all means, though I must confess it is not very becoming to you, nor does it look like a thing that I should take particular comfort in. Exercise your own pleasure, my lady.” This added cruelty of sarcasm almost caused the girl to put up with her suffering rather than accept a favor at the wretch’s hands; but the torture was becoming insupportable. She could not endure it; and, by and by, she signified that he had her promise. “You promise, mind you--if I remove this gag from your mouth that you won’t offer to cry out, nor make any disturbance of any kind?” She silently promised; and Mary did the same. “Well, my lady,” after looking her straight in the eye for full ten seconds--a look which she returned without flinching--“Who do you think I am?” “I know who you are, sir,” she replied promptly. He started; but quickly recovered himself. “Well, who am I?” “You are Captain Tryon of the brig Staghound.”