crew to twelve men were armed with and pistols and under the immediate command of took possession of the in brief space the captain himself by ic t rob of the bowl bt e ed on board with the turn of the night the rain began to the wind westward and aj se to indicate a of weather before morning the word being the boat was off from the strand and the regular sturdy and rapid stroke of the oar was heard long after she was lost to view as she laid her course towards cape look out soon after this francis and knocked at the door of rob s cabin we are ready to put you on board of the master said the first just thrusting his bead and clad shoulders into the hut i am with you honest gentlemen returned the le as he came forth and followed them to the boat up with your anchor cried out rob when he found himself on the deck of the make what sail thou think st best and stand out into the bay in less than half an hour the sail � waited on his new captain for orders we have a fair berth up and down master whither do we steer to the replied rob ay ay � our course is northward and the was soon under easy sail with the wind as it blew from the west with here and there a star twinkling through the breaking clouds as she made her way towards the of the by ic chapter xxx both and nurse ai e t and closed is ever flower and faintly peep hi from m j s bower bewildered with ken shrink on way up ye then my merry men it is oar opening day had not communicated to his men the exact nature of the expedition in which they had embarked they were only aware that their leader had conceived a deep and mortal hatred to certain in the port that he had fled from it as an and that their services were required in some daring enterprise which was designed to inflict upon his enemies they cared to know no more bred to and knowing no law but the law of their own and in their violence the greater portion of them strangers to the port � for had more than half of his band amongst the islands of the gulf on his last voyage � these desperate men were ready to do the of their chief in any act of outrage to which he might command them in an they had doubled cape look out and were making speed up the the refreshing breeze gradually swept away the clouds and whistled as it came directly by ic rob of the bowl ahead upon the course of the the moon was just sinking below the horizon and the stars shone forth through a crisp and frosty atmosphere the waving forest murmured with a rushing sound from the land the of the wide of the river under the impulse of the suddenly changed wind came in conflict with a sharp that sometimes gave forth a note resembling the scream of the human voice no friendly light was seen glimmering from the shore nor from wandering craft upon the river the were alone upon the water the stroke to give a more fatal speed to their purpose of crime and the hour was with and with wild and drunken laughter and the meditation of horrid outrage himself was moody and silent his thoughts dwelt upon the past scenes of the night and upon his present long purpose which during the last twenty four hours scarce left him leisure to think of other matters even the accidental capture of his enemy at the chapel and the escape of that enemy from the fate allotted to him lost their power to move him whilst he upon the cherished design of this night in another hour the boat had the at the mouth of st mary s river as the entered the river the first of the islands lay upon his left and he anxiously surveyed the to the course of his retreat to his which by his order was to be in waiting for him abreast the outer shore the blessed sun he muttered to himself � shall light me with his first rays to morrow on my track with my vengeance satisfied to the last scruple ay by st he added as he shook his clenched hand and his teeth with the energy of his resolve � to the last of the debt p by ic rob op the bowl another interval of silent labor at the oar and the dim light in the windows of the chapel attached to the house of st s yet far off upon the narrow strip of land which entirely across the direct line of the boat s course as she the shore showed the that some one of the officials of the house was at the service of early on the of the feast of ah souls and their familiarity with the watches of the night them that the hour approached four of the morning and now the creek of st s is opened upon their view and on the further bank the house of the rose with its trees is distinctly traced against the clear sky a solitary glimmering through an upper window a lady s bower where the protection of the friendly ray perchance in innocent slumber � her fancy sporting in dreams of him who day and night lives in her thoughts this reflection flashed across the brain of as he directed the head of the boat into the creek pull with a long sweep and a quick he said in a low but stem voice these watch dogs of the fort may catch a glimpse of us then having advanced far enough to the bluff 