"Are you--a fisherman?" she asked abruptly.
"And when you are not one--what are you then?"
"Ah!" Her eye lingered on something bright on the ledge beneath the window. "And that is the reason you have--pistols?"
She continued to regard the weapons, of finest workmanship, inlaid with a metal that gleamed dully, like gold, in the light from the fire. His glance followed hers; she was about to speak, when quickly he interrupted.
"Has your Ladyship thought how she is going to get back to the Mount?"
My lady's questioning, along the line of personal inquiry, ceased; the Governor's daughter looked a little blank. "No--that is, haven't you a boat?"
"And the tide will not be out for hours!" Her look showed consternation; she glanced toward the opening in the wall. "Isn't it becoming dark now?"
"Of course, it was almost sundown when-- But I must return at once! Don't you understand?"
He regarded her silently; the beautiful, impatient eyes; the slim, white fingers that tapped restlessly, one against another. "I will do what I can!" he said at last slowly.
"But what?" she demanded. "What can you do?"
He did not answer; my lady made a gesture.
"How ridiculous! A prisoner on an island!"
"My horse?" she said quickly. "What became of him?"
Into the proud eyes came a softer light--of regret, pain.
"Your Ladyship should remember it might have been worse," he added, in tones intended to reassure her. "After all, it was only a horse--"
"Only a horse!" she exclaimed indignantly. "But, I suppose you can't understand--caring for a horse!"
"I can understand caring for a ship!" he answered quickly, a flash of amusement, hardly concealed, in his bold, dark eyes.
"A ship!" scornfully; "dead wood and iron."
"Live wood and iron! Beautiful as--" The simile failed him; he looked at my lady. "Something to be depended on, with a hand to the wheel, and an eye keen for mad dancings and curvetings."
"I might appreciate them better," she interrupted dryly, with delicate brows uplifted, "an they brought me nearer to the Mount. That, and not idle opinions," in accents that conveyed surprise at the temerity of one in his position to express them, "is of most moment!"
He accepted the reproof with a readiness that further surprised her. "Your Ladyship is right," he said. "I will see what may be done. The storm has passed. There is yet daylight, and"--an expression, almost preoccupied, came to his features--"a boat may be sighted."