Out of
solicitude for their dear friend and kinsman, the Stukeleys could
not part from him until he was safely launched upon his voyage.
At the head of the stairs they were met by Captain King; at the
foot of them a boat was waiting, as concerted, the boatswain at
the tiller.
King greeted them with an air of obvious relief.
"You feared perhaps we should not come," said Stukeley, with a
sneer at the Captain's avowed mistrust of him. "Yet now, I trust,
you'll do me the justice to admit that I have shown myself an
honest man."
The uncompromising King looked at him and frowned, misliking the
words.
"I hope that you'll continue so," he answered stiffly.
They went down the slippery steps to the boat, and then the shore
glided slowly past them as they pushed off into the stream of the
ebbing tide.
A moment later, King, whose suspicious eyes kept a sharp look-
out, observed another boat put off some two hundred yards higher
up the river. At first he saw it breast the stream as if
proceeding towards London Bridge, then abruptly swing about and
follow them. Instantly he drew the attention of Sir Walter to
that pursuing wherry.
"What's this?" quoth Sir Walter harshly. "Are we betrayed?"
The watermen, taking fright at the words, hung now upon their
oars.
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