Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/52

 navy that we have to thank for your presence here, or the coast defence?"

"I should like a word with you alone," said the captain.

"Certainly," returned the squire, throwing the reins to a groom and leading the way to the house.

They crossed the large hall, and the squire, opening a door at the far end, invited the captain to enter the library.

There in the recess of the old mullioned window sat Doctor Syn, deep in a dusty tome that he had taken from the bookcase.

"Ah, Doctor," said the squire, "they didn't tell me you were here. No further need to fear the French fleet. The King's Admiralty has had the kind grace to furnish us with an officer's complement. Captain Collyer—Doctor Syn, our vicar."

"Not the Collyer who sank the Lion d'Or at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, I suppose?" he said, shaking hands.

"The same," returned the captain, highly delighted that the achievement of his life had been heard of by the parson. "Captain Howard Collyer then, commanding the Resistance, a brigantine of twenty-two guns. Indeed, sir, the French Government kicked up such a devil of a row over that little affair that I lost my command. So now, instead of sinking battleships, the Admiralty keeps me busy nosing out smugglers; a poor enough game for a man who has done big things at sea, but it has its excitements."