“Not this evening,” the sailor said, looking at the sky.  “The wind is rising now, and it will blow a gale before morning.”

“Tell me, my man,” Leslie asked, “and here is a gold piece for your pains, where you think she is likely to put in?”

“That will all depend,” the sailor replied, “upon what errand she is bound.  I must know that before I can answer you.”

Leslie looked at William Long.  The latter said: 

“It were best to tell this honest fellow the facts of the case.  Look you, my ’man, the two king’s officers who have gone on board are ill friends with the Campbells, and we doubt not that these have kidnaped and carried them off.”

“The Campbells are an ill crew to deal with,” the sailor said, “and I do not love them myself.  If it be as you say, they might be landed either at Anstruther, near which is a hold belonging to Andrew Campbell of Glencoulie, or at St. Andrews, or at Leuchars, a little bay north of that town, whence they might take them to Kilbeg Castle, also held by a Campbell.  It is a lonely place ten miles inland, and their friends would be little likely to look for them there.  Besides, the Royalist might land them and sail away without any being the wiser, while at the other ports her coming would be surely noticed.”

“Think you that we can obtain horses on the other side?”

“You might obtain four or five,” the sailor said, “of Tony Galbraith, who keeps the inn there, and who lets horses on hire to those traveling north.”

“If a storm comes on,” Leslie asked, “which way is it likely to blow, and will the Royalist be like to make the bay you name?

“Ah! that is more than I can tell,” the sailor replied.  “Methinks ’twill blow from the west.  In that case, she might be able to make her way along the shore; she might run into port for shelter; she might be blown out to sea.”

“At any rate,” Leslie said, “our first step is to cross.  Get us a stout sailing boat.  Be not sparing of promises.”

The man at once went off to a group of sailors, but these at first shook their heads, and looked toward the sky.  Its aspect was threatening.  The wind was getting up fast, and masses of scud flew rapidly across it.  Leslie went up to the group.

“Come, lads,” he said, “five pounds if you put us across.”

The offer was too tempting to be rejected, and the men hurried down and began to prepare a large sailing boat.  Leslie and Lieutenant Long had a hasty consultation, and agreed that, seeing the difficulty there would be in obtaining horses, it was useless to take more than ten men in all.  Accordingly, as soon as the boat was in readiness, the two officers, Mike, and seven soldiers took their places in her.  The sails were closely reefed, and she at once put out into the Firth.  Every minute the wind rose, until, by the time they were half across, it was blowing a gale.  The boat was a stout one, but the waves