“And they’ll both be hung as high as Haman, or my name is not Grandiere, and I never commanded the good ship _Kitty_, and she was never taken from me, with all her cargo, by the piratical craft _Argente_, devil sink her! Blockade runner, is it? No doubt in the world she was a blockade runner! But she was so much worse than that that she was a pirate of the worst order! Attacking and taking unarmed merchantmen, and committing Lord knows what atrocities besides! Ah! I’m glad—I’m glad I didn’t stop longer in England! I’m glad I came over, so as to be able to give evidence that will hang the pirate captain and his mate! I shall take the first train to Washington, after landing! I must be on hand to give my evidence as soon as possible, or those devils will be claiming to be treated as prisoners of war, because they were taken while trying to run the blockade! Prisoners of war, indeed, after taking my peaceable _Kitty_, with her cargo, and sending her crew adrift! We’ll see when I get to Washington! My evidence will hang them as high as Haman!” “Don’t you think a fifteen-foot gallows and a five-foot fall would be quite as effectual, Capt. Grandiere?” inquired Wynnette. “What do you know about it?” demanded the skipper. “Nothing at all! That is the very reason why I was turning the question over in my mind and asking for instructions.” “Oh, Mr. Force! Oh, Mr. Force! What has become of Roland?” pleaded Rosemary, in a low, wailing voice as she took the squire’s hand. “I wish I could satisfy you, my dear, but I cannot. We may learn something from the evening papers when we land in New York. If we do not we shall certainly find out when we reach Washington, where we shall meet Le.” “Oh, how soon shall we go to Washington?” “By the first train after we land. Of course, you know, we did expect to spend a few days in New York, but this news has altered all our plans, and we shall go on immediately to Washington.” “To-morrow? Early to-morrow?” “No, to-night! So that we may be in the city to-morrow morning!” “Then,” said the quaint little being, “I must bear the suspense as well as I can and trust in the Lord.” “And, in the meantime, remember, my dear, as your uncle said, we have every reason to hope and expect that Roland is safe on board the _Argente_. Being already a prisoner on board the blockade runner, he could not have been in the sea fight, and, therefore, he could have been neither killed nor wounded. If taken prisoner by the _Eagle_, among the rest, he must soon have told the story of his capture, and he must have been recognized by his friend Le, and released and brought home in honor.” “Yes,” said Rosemary, in her grave, demure way, “I think that is very probable.” “And we are going to Washington to find both our lads, Le and Roland.” “Oh! Lord grant it!” fervently exclaimed Rosemary, clasping her tiny hands and lifting her light blue eyes. Mr. Force turned to look at his daughter Odalite.