"No; don't refuse yet," said the stranger with a peculiar look in his countenance. "The despatches must be taken. Think of the proposal, my good lad, and then reply."

As he spoke Hilary saw him take a pistol from his breast-pocket, and, if physiognomy was any index of the mind, Hilary saw plainly enough that if he refused to obey this man's orders he would have no compunction in shooting him like a dog.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

CAPTAIN CHARTERIS.

Hilary felt the cold perspiration breaking out on his face, as he thought of the loneliness of the spot where he was, and of his helplessness here in the hands of these desperate men, who were ready to brave all for their cause. He saw now that he had been watched almost from the outset, and that he had been marked as one likely to carry out their designs. Perhaps, he thought, Sir Henry had had something to do with the seizure; but he gave up the idea directly, giving his old friend credit for too much honourable feeling towards him to have him trapped in so cowardly a manner.

These thoughts came quickly as he stood watching the leader of the party by whom he was surrounded--men who were ready at the slightest movement to spring upon him, and secure him, should he attempt to escape.

"I suppose," said Hilary's questioner, "you know what I am?" and he looked at the young officer sternly.

"Personally, no," replied Hilary, boldly; "but your behaviour shows me that you are traitors to the king."

"No, sir," cried the other fiercely; "we are faithful followers of the king, and enemies of the German hound."

"How dare you speak like that of His Majesty!" cried Hilary quite as fiercely; and he took a couple of steps forward, but only to find himself seized and dragged back.

"Hold the young rascal tightly," said the officer.

"Yes, hold me tightly," cried Hilary, "you cowards!"

"I am having you held tightly for your own sake," said the officer, taking up and playing with a large pistol he had laid on the table before him. "I should be sorry to have to shoot so distinguished a follower of Hanoverian George."

Hilary bit his lip and remained silent. It was of no use to speak, of less account to struggle, and he stood facing his captors without flinching.

"Now," continued the leader, "as you have got rid of your little burst of pa.s.sion, perhaps you will be reasonable. Listen to me, young man.

Your position as second officer on board that despatch cutter will bring you frequently to both sides of the Channel, so that you will have ample opportunities for carrying messages for us without risk, and,"--he paused here, watching the young man intently--"greatly to your own profit. Do you hear?"

"Yes," said Hilary shortly.

"We shall not have merely one despatch for you to take, to be paid for with so many guineas, my lad, but there will be a regular correspondence carried on, and you will make from it a handsome sum, for we recompense liberally; something different to your munificent pay as officer of the _Kestrel_."

Hilary still remained silent, and his tempter pulled a bag of coin from his pocket and threw it heavily upon the table.

"Of course the task is rather a risky one, and deserves to be paid for generously. That I am ready to do. In fact, you may name your own price, and anything in reason will be granted. At the same time I warn you that we shall put up with no trifling, and I may as well say that it is impossible to escape us. We have emissaries everywhere, whose duty it is to reward or punish as the case may require. Come, I see you are growing reasonable."

"Oh, yes! I am quite reasonable," said Hilary smiling.

"That's well," said the officer; "cast him loose, my lads, and stand more aside. Now, Mr Hilary Leigh," he said, as his orders were obeyed, "I am glad to find so dashing and brave a young fellow as you finds himself ready to join the good cause. I ask you to swear no oaths of fidelity. I shall merely give you this despatch and a handful of gold coin, and you will bring the answer here at your earliest opportunity."

"And suppose I refuse?" said Hilary.

"Refuse? Oh, you will not refuse," said the officer banteringly. "It would be a pity to rob Hanoverian George of so brave and promising a young officer."

"What do you mean," said Hilary.

"Oh nothing--nothing," said the other coolly. "We might, perhaps, think it necessary, as you know so much, to shoot you."

"Shoot me!" cried Hilary.

"Y-e-es; you see you know a good deal, my young friend, but we should bury you decently. You broke up the rendezvous at Rorley Place, and spoiled the smuggler's landing, did you not?"

"I did," said Hilary boldly.

"Yes. And you were kept a prisoner there, were you not?"

"I was."

"And escaped and made signals with the smuggler's lanterns to bring down the cutter's crew upon the party, did you not?"

"I did. It was my duty."

"Yes, you thought it was, my good lad. Let me see, you nearly captured Sir Henry Norland, too, did you not?"

"I should have taken him if he had been there," replied Hilary; "but I was glad he was not."

"Why?"

"Because he was an old friend."

"Let me see," continued the officer; "Sir Henry asked you to join us, did he not?"

"Several times," said Hilary quietly.

"Ah, yes! I suppose he would. Came to see you when you were a prisoner, I suppose?"

"He did."

"But he is not a good diplomat, Sir Henry Norland. By the way, what did he offer you?"

"The captaincy of a man-of-war."

"Young as you were?"

"Young as I am."

"But that was in prospective. Hard gold coin is much more satisfactory, Mr Hilary Leigh," said the officer, pouring out some bright golden guineas upon the table. "Of course you thought that Charles Edward might not come to the throne, and that you would never get your--get your--"

"Traitor's pay," said Hilary sharply, finishing the sentence.

"Don't call things by hard names, young man," said the officer sternly.

"And let me tell you that I know for a certainty that your position in Hanoverian George's service is a very precarious one. Strange things have been told of you."

"Very likely," said Hilary coldly.