But it should be a threat, which is the ware in which you are fond of
dealing.

"He could not let
A minute pass without a threat."

How's that, eh? Waller himself could not have capped the couplet
neater.'

All this time Reuben had been swinging away at his oars, and we had made
our way into Langston Bay, down the sheltered waters of which we were
rapidly shooting. Sitting in the sheets, I turned over in my mind all
that this waif had said. I had glanced over his shoulder at the
addresses of some of the letters--Steadman of Basingstoke, Wintle of
Alresford, Fortescue of Bognor, all well-known leaders of the
Dissenters. If they were what he represented them to be, it was no
exaggeration to say that he held the fortunes and fates of these
men entirely in his hands. Government would be only too glad to have a
valid reason for striking hard at the men whom they feared. On the
whole it was well to tread carefully in the matter, so I restored our
prisoner's knife to him, and treated him with increased consideration.
It was well-nigh dark when we beached the boat, and entirely so before
we reached Havant, which was fortunate, as the bootless and hatless
state of our dripping companion could not have failed to set tongues
wagging, and perhaps to excite the inquiries of the authorities.
As it was, we scarce met a soul before reaching my father's door.