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〃Enough？ He is big enough； and you brave enough； for ten； but still； the more the merrier。〃
〃But the fewer； the better fare。 If I might ask a first and last favor； worshipful sir；〃 said Frank； very earnestly； 〃you would grant me two things： that you would let none go to Freshwater but me and my brother； and that whatsoever we shall bring you back shall be kept as secret as the commonweal and your loyalty shall permit。 I trust that we are not so unknown to you； or to others； that you can doubt for a moment but that whatsoever we may do will satisfy at once your honor and our own。〃
〃My dear young gentleman； there is no need of so many courtier's words。 I am your father's friend； and yours。 And God forbid that a Caryfor I guess your driftshould ever wish to make a head or a heart ache； that is； more than〃
〃Those of whom it is written； 'Though thou bray a fool in a mortar； yet will not his folly depart from him；'〃 interposed Frank； in so sad a tone that no one at the table replied； and few more words were exchanged； till the two brothers were safe outside the house； and then
〃Amyas；〃 said Frank； 〃that was a Devon man's handiwork； nevertheless； it was Eustace's handwriting。〃
〃Impossible！〃
〃No； lad。 I have been secretary to a prince； and learnt to interpret cipher； and to watch every pen…stroke； and； young as I am； I think that I am not easily deceived。 Would God I were！ Come on； lad； and strike no man hastily； lest thou cut off thine own flesh。〃
So forth the two went； along the park to the eastward； and past the head of the little wood…embosomed fishing…town； a steep stair of houses clinging to the cliff far below them； the bright slate roofs and white walls glittering in the moonlight； and on some half…mile farther； along the steep hill…side； fenced with oak wood down to the water's edge； by a narrow forest path； to a point where two glens meet and pour their streamlets over a cascade some hundred feet in height into the sea below。 By the side of this waterfall a narrow path climbs upward from the beach； and here it was that the two brothers expected to meet the messenger。
Frank insisted on taking his station below Amyas。 He said that he was certain that Eustace himself would make his appearance； and that he was more fit than Amyas to bring him to reason by parley； that if Amyas would keep watch some twenty yards above； the escape of the messenger would be impossible。 Moreover； he was the elder brother； and the post of honor was his right。 So Amyas obeyed him； after making him promise that if more than one man came up the path； he would let them pass him before he challenged； so that both might bring them to bay at the same time。
So Amyas took his station under a high marl bank； and； bedded in luxuriant crown…ferns； kept his eye steadily on Frank； who sat down on a little knoll of rock （where is now a garden on the cliff…edge） which parts the path and the dark chasm down which the stream rushes to its final leap over the cliff。
There Amyas sat a full half…hour； and glanced at whiles from Frank to look upon the scene around。 Outside the southwest wind blew fresh and strong； and the moonlight danced upon a thousand crests of foam； but within the black jagged point which sheltered the town； the sea did but heave； in long oily swells of rolling silver； onward into the black shadow of the hills； within which the town and pier lay invisible； save where a twinkling light gave token of some lonely fisher's wife； watching the weary night through for the boat which would return with dawn。 Here and there upon the sea； a black speck marked a herring…boat； drifting with its line of nets； and right off the mouth of the glen； Amyas saw； with a beating heart； a large two…masted vessel lying…tothat must be the 〃Portugal〃！ Eagerly he looked up the glen； and listened； but he heard nothing but the sweeping of the wind across the downs five hundred feet above； and the sough of the waterfall upon the rocks below； he saw nothing but the vast black sheets of oak…wood sloping up to the narrow blue sky above； and the broad bright hunter's moon； and the woodcocks； which； chuckling to each other； hawked to and fro； like swallows； between the tree…tops and the sky。
At last he heard a rustle of the fallen leaves； he shrank closer and closer into the darkness of the bank。 Then swift light steps not down the path； from above； but upward； from below； his heart beat quick and loud。 And in another half…minute a man came in sight； within three yards of Frank's hiding…place。
Frank sprang out instantly。 Amyas saw his bright blade glance in the clear October moonlight。
〃Stand in the queen's name！〃
The man drew a pistol from under his cloak； and fired full in his face。 Had it happened in these days of detonators； Frank's chance had been small； but to get a ponderous wheel…lock under weigh was a longer business； and before the fizzing of the flint had ceased； Frank had struck up the pistol with his rapier； and it exploded harmlessly over his head。 The man instantly dashed the weapon in his face and closed。
The blow； luckily； did not take effect on that delicate forehead； but struck him on the shoulder： nevertheless； Frank； who with all his grace and agility was as fragile as a lily； and a very bubble of the earth； staggered； and lost his guard； and before he could recover himself； Amyas saw a dagger gleam； and one； two； three blows fiercely repeated。
Mad with fury； he was with them in an instant。 They were scuffling together so closely in the shade that he was afraid to use his sword point； but with the hilt he dealt a single blow full on the ruffian's cheek。 It was enough； with a hideous shriek； the fellow rolled over at his feet； and Amyas set his foot on him； in act to run him through。
〃Stop！ stay！〃 almost screamed Frank； 〃it is Eustace！ our cousin Eustace！〃 and he leant against a tree。
Amyas sprang towards him： but Frank waved him off。
〃It is nothinga scratch。 He has papers： I am sure of it。 Take them； and for God's sake let him go！〃
〃Villain！ give me your papers！〃 cried Amyas； setting his foot once more on the writhing Eustace； whose jaw was broken across。
〃You struck me foully from behind；〃 moaned he； his vanity and envy even then coming out； in that faint and foolish attempt to prove Amyas not so very much better a man。
〃Hound； do you think that I dare not strike you in front？ Give me your papers； letters； whatever Popish devilry you carry； or as I live； I will cut off your head； and take them myself； even if it cost me the shame of stripping your corpse。 Give them up！ Traitor； murderer！ give them； I say！〃 And setting his foot on him afresh； he raised his sword。
Eustace was usually no craven： but he was cowed。 Between agony and shame； he had no heart to resist。 Martyrdom； which looked so splendid when consummated selon les regles on Tower Hill or Tyburn； before pitying； or （still better） scoffing multitudes； looked a confused； dirty； ugly business there in the dark forest； and as he lay； a stream of moonlight bathed his mighty cousin's broad clear forehead； and his long golden locks； and his white terrible blade； till he seemed； to Eustace's superstitious eye； like one