“But,” the captain observed, “I must be assured that these passengers who are so anxious to cross the water are not men whose absence might cause any great bother.  I am a simple man, earning my living as honestly as the times will allow me to do, and I wish not to embroil myself with the great parties of the State.”

“There may be an inquiry,” Harry replied; “but methinks it will soon drop.  They are three preachers of London, who are on their way to dispute concerning points of religion with the divines in Scotland.  The result of their disputation may perchance be that an accord may be arrived at between the divines of London and Edinburgh; and in that case, I doubt not that the army now lying at Dundee would move south, and that the civil war would therefore become more extended and cruel than ever.”

The captain laughed.

“I am not fond of blackbirds on board my ship,” he said.  “They are ever of ill omen on the sea.  But I will risk it for so good a cause.  It is their pestilent religious disputes which have stirred up the nations to war, and I doubt not that even should some time elapse before these gentlemen can again hold forth in England, there are plenty of others to supply their place.”

An agreement was speedily arrived at as to the terms of passage, for Harry was well provided with money, having drawn at Kelso from an agent devoted to the Royal cause, upon whom he had letters of credit.

The next morning early Harry went to a carter in the town, and hired a cart for the day, leaving a deposit for its safe return at night.  Then, mounting their horses, the three Royalists rode off just as the preachers were going forth from the inn.  The latter continued their course at the grave pace suitable to their calling and occupation, conversing vigorously upon the points of doctrine which they intended to urge upon their fellows at Edinburgh.  Suddenly, just where the road emerged from a wood on to a common, three men dashed out, and fell upon them.  The preachers roared lustily for mercy, and invoked the vengeance of the Parliament upon those who ventured to interfere with them.

“We are charged,” one said, “with a mission to the Convention at Edinburgh, and it is as much as your heads are worth to interfere with us.”

“Natheless,” Harry said, “we must even risk our heads.  You must follow us into the wood, or we shall be under the necessity of ’blowing out your brains.’”

Much crestfallen, the preachers followed their captors into the wood.  There they were despoiled of their hats and doublets, tied securely by cords, gagged, and placed, in spite of their remonstrances and struggles, in three huge sacks.

At midnight the Annette was lying alongside the wharf at Ayton, when a cart drove up.  Three men alighted from it, and one hailed the captain, who was standing on deck.

“I have brought the three parcels thou wottest of,” he said.  “They will need each two strong men to carry them on board.”