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52 into one. Without knowing who his countrywomen were, Cecil naturally entered most eagerly into any plan for their deliverance. His first proposition, to ride post to Naples, was overruled by Francisco, for the ostensible reason, that it would be too late next day before they could reach the castle: the private reason was, that though he wished to disappoint Giulio, he did not wish to betray his companions—whose futurity, if surprised, would inevitably be the galleys. There is honour among thieves, though it does admit of divers interpretations. The very adventurousness of the plan he suggested accorded well with Cecil's temper. The only difficulty his companion considered great, was, how to establish a communication. Luckily Spenser, among the resources with which he had attempted to kill Time, had once had a whim of shooting him. His archery dress of green, and the silver arrow—which he did not win from looking at the lady, who held the prize, instead of at the mark—occurred to his memory; and we have seen how successful his scheme of sending an arrow as a messenger proved. They made free with a boat belonging to one of the peasants—formed a rude but safe