He struggled hard and furiously to free his arms and mouth, but his unseen assailants were four to one, and, after a few moments, he gave up the ineffectual resistance, and knelt, for he had been forced on to his knees at last, nevertheless glaring impotently round him.
He could see dark figures flitting about, but a dead silence reigned.
It was broken at last by a voice, which he knew well.
"Maester Leicester, it be of no use to struggle agen too many. Do you give in quietly?"
Leicester thought a moment, then nodded, pointing to the gag.
"If we take it off, will 'e promise not to shout?" asked Job.
Again Leicester hesitated, and again made a motion in the affirmative.
"Take it off; he'll not break his word," said Job, and some one from behind slipped off the gag.
"Now, Maester Leicester," said Job, "we've got your word. Mind ye, you're not to speak till ye get permission."
"I do," said Leicester. "You are Job, the carrier, and a scoundrel! Why am I decoyed here and treated thus?"
"For a good reason, to be sure," said Job. "Maester Leicester, you've been prying about too much lately, prying into what don't concern you, and you've discovered summut as you shouldn't a knowed anything of. Don't I speak the truth?"
"I have discovered nothing," said Leicester. "But, trust me, I will unmask the villain who lured me here and the scoundrels in his pay!"
There was a threatening movement behind him, but Leicester's courage did not flinch.
"D'ye mean to threaten us, Maester Leicester?" he said. "I'm sorry for it. I'd hoped we'd come to some terms. Suppose you discovered this little game--and you've done it, for a certainty--I puts it to you as a gentleman, what harm can it do to you and yours? Do it matter to you gentlefolk if a cask o' wine and a bundle o' cigars is run in now and then without the customs knowing it?"
"Ah!" said Leicester, the whole secret breaking in upon him. "That's the villainy, is it? So you honest fishermen are a parcel of thieves, with a scoundrel at your head! That's the key to the mystery, is it? What! and you dare to ask me to connive at your rascality! Job, you know me better! You waste time and words; you should know me better. If there are any others round me who can hear me, they, too, should know me better than to hope I would make a paltry villain of myself, even to save myself from their trickery. I repeat it, if I live through to-night, I will bring you to justice, Job, and all your gang."