“If the price of his treachery were sufficient, of course he would,” jeered Danvers. “It was the end of country and all else when he knew that ten thousand pounds would be gained by the delivery of the dispatch. I have met many men; and I am a fair judge of these little things, believe me.” “If I were as sharp as you,” growled the Irish trooper, “I’d be afraid to associate wid meself, so I would.” “I was here when the Lascar came,” said Danvers to Ethan, and ignoring Longsword. “I saw him meet the earl; I overheard what they said.” “Ah!” said Ethan, with an eagerness that he was unable to conceal. “The fellow told the earl of the paper; he said that it was then in the possession of another. I met him afterward in the road; it was after dark, and I was soon squeezing his story from his throat.” “And he told you----?” “He told me how he sailed from France in the Ranger; how you were now leagued with him, and Jones, also; and you, he said, were the person who had the paper.” “I understand the matter now,” said Ethan. “He told you what it suited him to have you believe.” Danvers laughed. “Oh, don’t try to throw the dust in my eyes like that,” he said. “I’m too old a hand for that sort of thing.” Ethan at once saw that it would be the merest folly to attempt to convince the man of the Lascar’s deception, so he said nothing more. “Our friend, Siki,” said Danvers, “is now safe on board the frigate, Drake, which is lying at Carrickfergus; she was in these waters at the time of my capture of him, and I had him sent aboard for safe keeping.” “I suppose,” said Ethan after a short silence, “that we two are destined for some hulk or prison.” “For a prison, you may be sure,” laughed the emissary of the crown, “but a private prison of my own. You’ll be safe enough there until I can end the whole matter. And now, where is the dispatch?” “I only wish I could say,” said Ethan. “But I assure you I know nothing of its whereabouts.” Danvers smiled coldly. “Here, men!” he cried to some of his followers, who had withdrawn some little distance during the above conversation, “search these prisoners; and do it thoroughly.” The men did as they were bidden; their search was complete, but, of course it resulted in nothing. Danvers bit his lip and was savage in his disappointment. “Jones has it, then,” he said. “The villain; I’ll have it from him yet.” “You seem very ready, Mr. Danvers, to apply harsh names to Americans.” “Jones is not an American.” [Illustration: _DANVERS CAME DOWN INTO THE HOLD_] “You are wrong. By accident of birth he was a Scotchman; but love of liberty and the willingness to dare death in her cause has made him American.” “He is a rascally ex-slaver,” growled Danvers. “If a lad of eighteen was a rascal for taking employment in a slave ship, then the English government must be a government of rascals for encouraging that hideous traffic that they might gain money by it.”