If not, I will pay what is the excess, and you can settle with me afterwards." In three-quarters of an hour after their arrival at Rye, they were dressed in their new disguises and on board the little lugger, which at once started down the river, which was at that time much more free from shoals and difficulties than it is at present.
"Your boat seems fast," Desmond remarked, as, having cleared the mouth of the river, she put out to sea.
"She is fast, sir; the fastest thing that sails out of Rye.

She needs be, for the gentlemen who come to me are always in a hurry." "I suppose you have no fear of English cruisers ?" "Not at all.

I have the order you brought with you, and have only to show it to any English ship of war that overhauls us, for them to let us go on at once.

I am careful when I get near the French coast, for although their big craft never venture out far, there are numbers of chasse-maree patrolling the coast.

However, even if caught by them, it would be but a temporary detention, for I am well known at Etaples, which is always my port, unless specially directed to land my passengers elsewhere." The wind was fresh and favourable, and at six o'clock in the afternoon they entered the little port.