|Morning came, and nothing had occurred to cause alarm.
The prince slept soundly in the tower, and was up betimes, and, on the
walls, enjoying the view, and inhaling the fresh sea-breeze. So well
pleased was he that the thought that he must speedily quit the castle
pained him.
But he did not delude himself with the idea, that, strong as was the
fortress, it would be possible to maintain it against a regular attack.
Flight, therefore, was his only alternative. A vessel must be procured
to convey him to France--and this must be accomplished without delay.
Accordingly, when Lord Derwentwater and Lord Wid-drington joined him,
he made known his wishes to them. They both endeavoured to dissuade him
from his purpose, but, finding him resolved, Lord Widdrington undertook
to proceed forthwith to Berwick-upon-Tweed, and make all necessary
arrangements.
“I have many friends at Berwick--some of them partisans of your
majesty,” said Lord Widdrington; “and I doubt not I shall be able to
hire a small vessel to convey you to Dunquerque, but it may perhaps be
necessary for you to embark from Holy Island, or the Fame Islands, but
this will depend, in some measure, on the master of the ship. As soon
as I have succeeded in making an arrangement I will return, and let your
majesty know what I have done.”
“I should like to start to-night,” said the prince.
“That is allowing very short time for preparation, my liege,” replied
Lord Widdrington. “But I will do my best to carry out your majesty's
wishes.”
“I am sorry to give your lordship so much trouble,” said the prince.
“But I know you make light of it in your zealous desire to serve me.”
“That is perfectly true, my liege,” rejoined Lord Widdrington. “I only
regret that I cannot give stronger proof of my devotion. I heartily wish
your majesty would stay where you are, but since you are determined to
leave us, I will do my best to expedite your departure.”
As he bent before the prince, the latter passed his arms affectionately
round his neck and bade him adieu.
In less than ten minutes the loyal noble, though greatly disliking his
mission, was speeding along the road to Berwick-upon-Tweed, followed by
a groom.
The early part of the day passed without any incident worth narrating.
The prince did not quit the castle, but breakfasted in his tower, and,
later on, visited the keep attended by Lord Derwentwater and the two
young ladies, and thus obtained a more perfect notion than he had
hitherto formed of the strength of King Ida's castle.
From the summit of the lofty structure he looked down upon the islands
that studded the sea in front of him, and was amazed by the multitude of
sea-birds that covered their rocks and precipices, and occasionally rose
in clouds, uttering shrieks and cries that could be distinctly heard
where he stood.
The sea was calm now, but Anna described its terrific appearance in a
storm when tremendous waves were dashed against those rocks, and columns
of spray were thrown up through their fissures to a prodigious height.
The islands consisted of two groups, and the more distant of them seemed
entirely whitened by sea-birds. The Home Island, as the nearest of
the Fame Islands is designated, is not much more than a mile from the
mainland, and on that bright, sunshiny day looked close at hand. Dorothy
pointed out Prior Castell's Tower, which served as a beacon.
While the prince was examining the little bay almost shut in by rocks
that formed an entrance to the Home Island, he observed a boat come
forth. It was large and roomy, strongly built and well calculated for
a rough sea, and seemed to contain a dozen men armed with muskets or
fowling-pieces.
The appearance of this boat and its crew excited some misgiving on the
part of those who watched it, especially when they found it was steering
direct for the castle.
Lord Derwentwater was preparing to descend to the court and give the
alarm, when the boat, which had now got within a quarter of a mile of
the shore, suddenly changed its course, and turned off on the left.
Its movements were anxiously watched in the apprehension that the men
might be landed, but it went on, and after rounding Beadnell Point was
lost to view. The prince then breathed more freely.
“I thought those men were about to attack the castle,” he said. “But it
seems they had no such design.”
“I am not so sure of that, my liege,” observed Lord Derwentwater. “They
were evidently reconnoitring the place, but something caused them to
change their plans, and steer off. Yet a rumour that your majesty is
here can scarcely have reached yonder remote island.”
“The island is not so remote as your lordship supposes,” remarked
Dorothy. “Boats are constantly passing to and fro over the Fairway, as
the strait is called, and it is highly probable the islanders have heard
the news. But I should have thought they were more likely to aid his
majesty than to attack him.”
“They may be stimulated by the hope of a reward,” said the prince. “But
be that as it may, I am glad they have given up the attempt.”
“We may have another visit from them, so it will be well to be on our
guard,” observed Lord Derwentwater. “Next time they may approach by
land.”
“I shall be glad when our carriage arrives,” said Anna. “I hope no
accident has occurred.”
“You need not be uneasy,” said Derwentwater. “Sir John and Lady Webb
would probably pass the night at Morpeth, and in that case they could
not be here till late in the afternoon.”
Just then a noise was heard at the entrance to the roof of the keep,
and Lord Widdrington made his appearance, accompanied by Mr. Forster and
Colonel Oxburgh.
Everybody seemed surprised to see his lordship, and no one more so than
the prince.
“What! so soon returned from Berwick?” exclaimed his highness. “Have you
succeeded in your errand?”
“Perfectly, my liege,” replied Lord Widdrington. “I have hired a sloop
now in Berwick harbour, which was to sail this evening for London. But I
have induced Captain Hawker of the _Saint Abbs_, as the sloop is called,
to alter his plan. In a word, he has engaged to take your majesty to
Dunquerque.”
“You have rendered me a great service,” said the prince. “But where am I
to go on board the sloop?--at Berwick?”
“No, my liege,” replied Lord Widdrington. “Since there is almost a
certainty of fine weather, Captain Hawker will weigh anchor at nine
o'clock, and fire a gun to let you know when he gets off the castle.”
The prince signified his approval of the arrangement.
“A boat shall be ready to take you to the sloop, so that your majesty
may embark immediately,” said Forster.
Again the prince expressed his satisfaction, but he asked Mr. Forster if
he had noticed the boat containing the armed men, that had crossed the
Fairway, apparently to reconnoitre the castle.
“Those men were only fishermen, my liege,” replied the squire. “I felt
sure they would move off, and so they did. It is not by those poor
fellows that your majesty's departure will be hindered.”