The next eleven chapters detail Philip's journey, which, though action-packed, I found the much less interesting than his life on Sark, so I will summarize briefly, focusing on the most important dialogue f the series.
- Within five days, the Swallow encounters La Main Rouge (the Red Hand) and is sunk, with the French cowardly shooting the seamen as they struggle in the waves. Philip is the sole survivor.
- He drifts at sea on wreckage for two days, then is picked up by the
Plinlimmon Castle. Barely has Philip explained to the captain who he is when they encounter La Main Rouge again, who immediately disables and boards the
Plinlimmon Castle, intent on looting. But Philip recognizes the Red Hand's captain:
It was Torode of Herm, and in a flash I saw to the bottom of his treachery and my own great peril. No wonder he was so successful and came back full from every cruise, when others brought only tales of empty seas. He lived in security on British soil and played tinder both flags. By means of a quickly assumed disguise, he robbed British ships as a Frenchman, and French ships as an Englishman. That explained to the full the sinking of the Swallow and the extermination of her crew. It was to him a matter of life or death. If one escaped with knowledge of the facts, the devilment must end. And I was that one man.
- Unfortunately, Torode spots Philip, knocks him out and, most surprisingly, takes him prisoner, instead of killing him. He even brings Philip food and drink, personally. After three days, Philip is blindfolded and taken ashore, to a sea cave with a barred door, very much like the smugglers caves of Sark, where Stephen Gard found the skeleton. Philip realizes he has been taken to Herm, only four miles from home. He is held there for ten days. During one of Torode's twice-daily visits with food, he makes Philip an offer:
"Once you asked to join us and I refused. Now you must join us—or die. I have no desire for your death, but—well—you understand."
"When I asked to join you I believed you honest privateers. You are thieves and murderers. I would sooner die than join you now."
"You are young to die so."
"Go where you can, die when you must," I answered in our Island saying. "Better die young than live to dishonour."
He picked up my dishes and went out. But I could not see why he should have kept me alive so long for the purpose of killing me now, and I would not let my courage down.
One more attempt he made, three days later, without a word having passed between us meanwhile.
"Your time is running out, mon gars," he said, as abruptly as before. "I am loth to put you away, but it rests with yourself. You love Le Marchant's girl, Carette. Join us, and you shall have her. You will live with us on Herm, and in due time, when we have money enough, we will give up this life and start anew elsewhere."
"Carette is an honest girl—"
"She need not know—all that you know."
"And your son wants her—"
When you have had no one to speak to but yourself for fourteen days, the voice even of a man you hate is not to be despised. You may even make him talk for the sake of hearing him.
"I know it," said Torode. "I hear she favours you, but a dead man is no good. If you don't get her, as sure as the sun is in the sky the boy shall have her."
"Even so I will not join you."
"And that is your last word?"
"My last word. I will not join you. I have lived honest. I will die honest."
