Now Margaret, speaking through the gloom, asked the rowers of her father's state; but the sailor, their guide, prayed her not to trouble them, as the tide ran very swiftly and they must give all their mind to their business lest they should overset.

So she was silent, and, racked with doubts and fears, watched that star of light growing ever nearer, till at length it hung above them.
"Is that the ship _Margaret_ ?" cried their guide, and again a voice answered "Aye." "Then tell Master Castell that his daughter has come at last," he shouted again, and in another minute a rope had been thrown to them, and they were fast alongside a ladder on to which Betty, who was nearest to it, was pushed the first, except for their guide, who had run up the wooden steps very swiftly.
Betty, who was active and strong, followed him, Margaret coming next.

As she reached the deck Betty thought she heard a voice say in Spanish, of which she understood something, "Fool! Why have you brought both ?" but the answer she could not catch.

Then she turned and gave her hand to Margaret, and together they walked forward to the foot of the mast.
"Lead me to my father," said Margaret.
Whereon the guide answered: "Yes, this way, Mistress, but come alone, for the sight of two of you at once may disturb him." "Nay," she answered, "my cousin comes with me." And she took Betty's hand and clung to it.
Shrugging his shoulders the sailor led them forwards, and as they went she noted that men were hauling on a sail, while other men, who sang a strange, wild song, worked on what seemed to be a windlass.

Now they reached a cabin, and entered it, the door being shut behind them.