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THEODORE ^ROBERTS JIulhoT of •• Jl CmaHer of Virginia," " Comrades of the VruiU." " lied Feather*, " etc. With a frontispiece in full odor from a painting by JOHN QOSS BOSTON ^ L. C "PAGE & COMPANY ♦ MDCCCCXI 262287 p ir- Copyright, igtt By L. C. Page & Company (.incorporated) Entered at Stationers' Hall, London All rights reserved First Impression, February, 191 1 Second Impression, April, 1911 Eteetrctypid and Printed hf THE COLONIAL PRESS C. H. SimmtU A* Co., Bolton, U.S.A. TO HT ISLAND FRIENDS or NEW FOUNDLAND IN THE NORTH AND BARBADOS IN THE SOUTH, THIS INACCURATE ROMANCE OF BISTORT IS AFFBCTIONATELT DEDICATED CONTENTS CHAPTEB I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. — • PAGE At Home with the Governor 1 Aboard the " Good Fortunis " . . 17 The Passenger and the Miutary Com- mander 29 A Disturber of the Sea ... 47 Master Coffin Discovers an Old Friend 59 This Governor's Bad Day ... 74 More of the Governor's Bad Day 88 Two Gentlemen at Odds . .103 The Unwelcome Visitors . . .118 A Fight for Posterity . .13.3 The Fight Continues . . .149 A Friend in Need 163 With the Prisoners 177 Captain Percy to the Rescue .192 On Board the " Jaguar "... 209 Captain Percy Has to Face a Serious Proposition 223 The Ruined Colony 238 Master Duwaney's Wtll Is Found 2.54 The Executor's Arrival .... 269 The Magic Hour 284 The Duel at Dawn 299 A Taste of Glory 311 Another Case of Kidnapping . . 326 Southward Ho! 338 CAPTAIN OF RALEIGH'S CHAPTER I AT HOME WITH THE OOVEBNOB Master Thomas Duwaney, late an alder- man of the city of Bristol and now governor, under the Company of Western Adventurers and Planters, of the plantation of Bristol's Hope, sat before his house and gazed east- ward across the blue waters of Conception Bay. The winter was gone; and now May was well advanced and any day might lift the topsaDs of the Company's ship *' Good Fortune " above the horizon. Since the mid- dle of April many vessels had come to the bays of the Newfoundland — ships of Eng- land, France, Spain, Portugal and the Neth- erlands — honest ships and freebooters of the sea — galleys of twenty tons, and great - -^ A Captain of Raleigh's craft with forecastles and poops as high as houses, of three hundred and even four hun- dred tons. Around in St. John's (so Du- waney ha I heard from a Devon shipmaster), as many as a hundred and twenty sail, great and small, lay in the harbor on the same day. In Conception Bay the fishing was already going briskly forward. At Guy's Colony two vessels, with supplies and new colonists, had already arrived. Captain Mason, the gov- ernor of G .y's Colony, had sent a boat-load of flour, dried fruits and wine around to Bristol's Hope, a gift to Governor Duwaney. Even now Duwaney had a mug of that wine at his elbow as he sat in the spring sunshine in front of his house and gazed seaward. Now he would lift the silver mug to his lips and now a great, brass telescope to his eye ; but alert as was his outlook for the *' Good Fortune," his slow mind was busy with a do^en other matters. He had worries great and small, public and private, to occupy him — the cares appertaining to the position of a forerunner of civilization and commerce, of At Home with the Governor a magistrate with the powers of life and death in his hand, of the head of an infant colony threatened by buccaneers and lawless fishermen, and of the father of two mother- less children — and, atop the responsibilities arising from these honorable situations in life, the great toe of his left foot was begin- ning to make itself a factor to be reckoned with in the ordering of day and day. Gout had marked him for its own long ago at municipal banquets, and had come to him, at last, in this unluxurious outpost of human activity. So, you see, this stout, middle-aged man, with his mug of wine, which he should not have tasted, and his telescope, had the cares of empire, of the law, of military lead- ership, of fatherhood and the trials of the flesh all with him at once. How he main- tained his fat and (save on occasion) his good humor, under these trying conditions, baffles imagination. A twinge in the offending toe shifted tlie channel of the governor's thoughts from the expected ship to the sufferings of three sick men of the colony. Another twinge brought A Captain of Raleigh's the threatening sea-rovers, and the Devon fishers who denied his authority, to his mind. Another stab of pain — and purely family matters occupied his attention. Never were the governor's mental activities so diversi- fied as when the gout was prodding at his toe with its invisible, red-hot lancet. This fam- ily matter was not of a heartening nature. It was of his children, who were twins and now close upon twenty years of age. Their names were Thomas and Elizabeth. Of course they had been left behind in the big house in Bristol, in the care of a maiden aunt, a capable housekeeper and a trusty man- servant. The thing that worried the gov- ernor was Thomas's weakness of spirit and wit. To a prosperous fellow like Duwaney, who had dreams of founding a gentle famih on the rich harvests of his tradings, to have to acknowledge, — even if but to himself, — that his only son was lacking in both shrewd- ness and courage, was a dismal experience. But, having arrived at this decision in the autuiiin, he had sent word by the last ship eastu ard bound for Tom to come to him on At Home with the Governor the " Good Fortune," in the spring. He meant to try to beat some manhood and com- mon-sense into him, with the help of rough and stirring events, dangers and exposures, and young Donald MacAllister. Aye, if the lad would but take MacAllister for his model, there would be hope for him. In MacAllis- ter, who was second in command at Bristol's Hope, Duwaney saw what he had once hoped to find in his own son — courage, high spirits, energy and strength. It appeared to him hard that these quali- ties should have been granted to the heir to a Scotch house of long-established distinction, and denied to his own son, who required them as the very foundation on which to rear aloft the House of Duwaney. In the matter of worldly gear the MacAllisters of Glenroe could not compare with ex-Alderman Du- waney, governor of Bristol's Hope; but that the MacAllisters outdid him in possessions of another kind, the governor was the first to admit. Duwaney was still thinking of his son when young MacAllister came to him from down A Captain of Ralcigh*s by the edge of the water, wliere he had been Buperintending the repairing of a boat that had been damaged by the ice earlier in the season. The young Scotchman was not fleshy, but of a strikingly robust appearance. He stood over six feet high in his heavy sea- man's boots, was broad of shoulder, lean but broad of face and long of arm. His eyes were dark brown; and his hair, which he wore plainly tied and unpowdered, was also dark brown, but with a tint of richer color in it. His sun-tanned brow and cheeks were freckled, and wind and weather had rough- ened and reddened the skin on his long nose. But he had a pleasing look, in spite of these things — a pleasant smile, a light of more than ordinary intelligence and honesty in his eyes, strength in brow and bearing, and an air of courage and breeding over all. He wore serviceable clothes, a faded hat, and carried an axe in his right hand. Duwaney was glad to have his lieutenant interrupt his dismal train of thought. ** We have mended the broken boat," said MacAllister. ** She is tight as a drum." At Home with the Governor 7 " I wish you could mend my poor foot, lad," replied the governor. Donald glanced at the silver mug at the other's elbow, and smiled. "Tut! Tutl " exclaimed Duwaney, inter- preting the glance. - A tun of that thin, mean wash would do a man no barm save for the distending of his waistcoat. Pooh! that will never heat the blood. Go get a measure of it fo. yourself, lad, and bring it out here in the sunshine." The young Scot stepped into the house, and soon returned with a stoup of the Por- tugal wine and a three-legged stool. He seated himself close to the governor. "The work goes well, sir," he said. " Five boats are at the fishing this very minute; Jordan is eased of his colic; Polly Dawes is recovered of her sore hand, and Martin, Smith and Paul March are in the woods cutcing poles for the new stages. If the ' Good Fortime ' but arrive, and with a fair passa^o. before the West-countrymen crowd into ihh bay, 'twill be a hopeful out- look for the plantation." 8 A Captain of Raleigh's The governor nodded. '* Aye, if the ship would but hasten," he said. *' I am eager to have the lad Tom ashore here, that we may clear his brain of some of the foolish- ness that swashes about in it like bilge-water in the well of a leaky ship." *' May I ask, sir, how your son exhibits this — this lack of solidity of mind of which you complain? " queried the Scot, politely. The governor breathed heavily through his nose and scanned the east with his telescope before replying. ** He writes verses! — verses to the moon — aye, and to ancient Romish goddesses! " he said, thickly. ** Sol " exclaimed MacAllistjr. Then he smiled. ** But 'tis not such a bad sign, after all," he said. ** Think it over, sir, and the na^es of a number of the bravest and most distinguished gentlemen of our time, who in- dulge in the same harmless frivolity, will come to your mind. 'Tis considered a very polite accomplishiixent. " ** A scurvy trade," said the ex-merchant, scornfully. ** Not at all, sir," replied MacAJlister. ** I At Home with the Governor 9 cannot hold with you there, sir. A most ele- gant pastime, I assure you, and played by men of the best breeding and most daring occupations in life. Who will turn you so neat a rhyme as a soldier or a sailor! What of our sweet Sidney and our brave Walter? Why, 'tis a game for kings, sir, like chess, military campaigning and stag-hunting." But Duwaney shook his head. ** You speak of Sir Walter Raleigh," he replied. " Then tell me, what has all this scribbling of rhymes done for that adventurous knight? He is a failure — a man who has let great opportunities slip through his fingers while he sat and scratched with his quill at har- monizing words. Love and dove! Bah! He has been in prison, who had the world at his feet — and his love and dove to thank for it. And now how does he stand? He is still the plaything of chance. After all this glory and hardship a poor voyage will break him — a whisper overthrow him. I could name you a hundred quiet merchants who enjoy more stability of fortune than this great admiral, this glorious general. Even now he throws 10 A Captain of Raleigh's his last main — rattles the ivory cup for the last time. 'Twas in the wind last smnmer how nearly the game draws to an end — how his tropical colonies are ashes, his mines of gold and of silver nought but air, and his ships abroad upon the sea, lawless and mas- terless." MacAllister flushed darkly under his freckled skm. '' Sir, I have sailed a voyage with that great knight," he said. " He has succeeded in a hundred ventures — in bat- tles, in plantations, in voyages and affairs of state. Great he is, and has been, of heart and mind — and by what authority do you name him a failure? You would measure his accomplishments in life by the commercial fortunes of some petty traders. You might as wisely go measure the sea yonder with a linen-draper's yard-stick. What said my Lord Bacon of the proper management of colonial affairs? He said — " ♦'Tut! Tut! " cried Duwnney. "I'll hear no more, Master MacAllister! Mind you, sir, that T am the governor of this plantation. Though the Tree of Knowledge itself be pic- At Home with the Governor 11 tured on the coat-of -arms of your family, 1 '11 not be browbeat by you. You bear yourself in a high and disrespectful manner towards me, Master MacAUister. " '• If so, I beg your pardon, sir," said the Scot. " Enough said," replied the governor. ** I spoke without diplomacy," admitted MacAUister. *• That knight stands higher in my eyes than any liviag man." ** And right, too. A gentleman of great parts is Sir Walter Raleigh," said Duwaney. For several minutes the two sat in silence, each busy with his own thoughts. The sun, high in the southeast, beat warmly down upon the half-dozen rough buildings of the colony. The boats were out on the blue waters of the bay, in plain sight, taking fat fish with hook and line as fast as the fisher- men could haul in and lower away. From the woods of spruce and fir up the little river, came the faint, concise thnp-thup of axe- blade upon wood. From the cluster of build- ings near at hand arose clearer and sharper sounds of human activities — the clash and ^WBmB«IW!B-i!«?-f rrr 12 A Captain of Raleigh's ring of John Cope's sledge on white-hot iron, the lighter note of Bill Cope's hammer shap- ing spikes, springing away from the soft iron after every stroke to clatter twice upon the anvil. And there came a noise of tapping upon staves from Peter Cooper's little coop- erage, and from one of the dwellings the harsh outcry of a metal spoon scraping around the edges of an iron pot. ** Homely and comfortable sounds," re- marked Donald MacAllister. '* Prosperous sounds," responded the gov- ernor. '* I think," said Donald, '* that the foun- dations of a colony, set in this bleak land, lie securer than those set in less rigorous climes. Here a man must work before he may eat; and so he is taupht industry by that most insistent of teachers — his own belly." ** Aye, lad," replied Duwaney, " *tis a fair enough habitation, this, for him who has en ample wood-stack and a full storehouse, and a-plenty of work to occupy mind and body. Here are no wild and bloodthirsty ?S5S; At Home with the Governor 13 savages to fear, for the Beothics are a harm- less people. The roaring fishers from Devon, and the black-hearted, grasping pirates, are the curse of the place; and they, Heaven knows, are not native evils. A deal of rogu- ery is carried on in the name of trade — and safe enough, too, with all these wide, salt miles awelter between the rogues and Eng- lish gallows. In truth, I know not which be the more dangerous to honest commerce and the plant ; ions — the Devon men who come in the guise of law-abiding fishers, yet, in their greed of the fishing, hate to see any foundation of dwelling fixed upon the land, or tlie slashing, glass-chewing freebooters. The gentlemen of fortune are, in truth, the more honest in their wickednesses. For robbers they know themselves and for robbers they are known. When one espies a gentleman of that kidney he loads his culverins and fal- conets without compunction, and, perchance, obtains the advantage of the first shot ; but we cannot fly so openly to arms against our own countrymen, who come witli fish-lines in their left hands — though well we know that a ^ 14 A Captain of Raleigh's !| their right hands are clasped upon the hafts of their knives and the butts of their pis- tols." ** 'Tis like reading a book, to hear you talk, sir," said Donald, with the frankness of the period and of his own nature. '* Be- yond a doubt, the West Country fishermen, and the powerful gentlemen behind them, are a great menace to the planting of these colo- nies. They have no aspirations above the filling of their pockets with the wealth of the fishing-grounds. They are lawless. I have heard that they make no more bones of spoil- ing a Frenchman of his catch or his salt than of buying a flask of wine. Might is right with those bully fellows, as sure as their ugly faces grow whiskers. I hope, sir, that you will use a strong hand to control their go- ings-on in the waters and harbors of this ^ lantation." '* Aye, lad, you may trust me to show them who is master in Bristol's Hope, if they come here with any of their piratical tricks and their talk of harbor admirals. I'll show them that the days of harbor admirals and fishing ^^■■2-7^^^'^ mr^^'ahst'wmf -'fr' f^^aFi-w At Home with the Governor 15 admirals are deud and gone, now that Thomas Duwaney is here, with the King's commission, and the Company's commission under the Royal Charter. They'll learn that they are not dealing with any weathercock dreamer like Gilbert." AfacAllister was pleased with the gov- ernor's spirit. He was of fighting stock him- self, and liked to see instinct for combat warm in the stout ex-merchant. To keep him up to the proper pitch of combative ardor he had played upon his temper frequently, tliroughout the past winter, with talk of the insolence of pirates and Devon fishermen. And the talk was true. Of pirates one ex- pects few virtues; but of one's fellow-coun- trymen it is surely not unreasonable to look for fair treatment, at least. But fair treat- ment was a thing that the struggling colo- nists of Newfoundland had long ceased to expect from the men who had no interests in the island save full cargoes of fish. The burly fellows from the West Country looked upon every settler in the harbors as a men- ace to their time-honored privileges of fish- 16 A Captain of Raleigh's ing rights and harbor and shore rights. The fishers had strong court influence behind them. Even though the plantations were under charters directly or indirectly from the sovereign, the Devon skippers mishandled them without fear of the consequences. ■K^', iX'-'vt'rr^^y £^,^im^imamire^'^->^.^s^Km3mr^^z^Mf'!S^^Bi^r''r^^:s> CHAPTER II ABOARD THE ** GOOD FORTUNE " While Governor Duwaney and the men and women of his colony were recovering from the loneliness and confinement of the long winter far away beyond the western ocean, in the big house in Bristol a queer thing happened and shrewd plans were un- done. Three hours before the " Good For- tune's " westward sailing, Elizabeth Duwa- ney went to her brother and whispered a startling suggestion into his ear. But Tom was not startled. Though poets are often shocked and disturbed by such matters as false rhymes and a halting rhythm, they as frequently remain cool and uncomprehending amid the tumult of mobs and the tottering of thrones. For a minute, Tom stared blankly at his sister and continued to mumble a line that was not yet quite to his fancy. Then he threw down his quill (for he was in the 17 18 A Captain of Raleigh's 1} heat of a fine lyrical composition), sprang to his feet and embraced her. "Bess, you are a jewel!" ho cried. •' This is the best thing I've heard in a twelve month. Aye, and you'll play the part a deal better than I ever could." *' 'Twill suit every one but our dear father; and even he, no doubt, will accept our way of looking at it after he recovers from the first stroke," replied the young lady. Tom Duwaney rubbed his brow reflectively with the tips of his scholarly fingers. " Per- haps not every one," said he. '* What about that old jackanapes Sir Stephen? He'll make a disturbance, I warrant you, next time he calls. But let hiin ramp, the old idiot! " So it happened that Mistress Elizabeth Duwaney went aboard the Company's ship ** Good Fortune," dressed in her brother's best suit of velvet and lace, his finest hat and his longest cloak. And Master Tom returned to his lyrical task, at peace with the fantastic world inhabited by his poetic soul, and dis- turbed by not so much as a twinge of con- science at the f'''ngerous and unusual course Aboard the " Good Fortune " 19 which he had permitted his si'^ to under- take. Elizabeth went straight to the little cabin that hud been reserved for Master Tom, and stayed there, behind a closed door, for sev- eral hours. She felt no regret at turning her back upon the city of Bristol, for life with her brother and her aunt, the model house- keeper and the trusty man-servant, had proved a dull affair. Her only acquaintance among the gentlemen of the city and sur- rounding country was Sir Stephen Morris, a middle-aged baronet of ancient family. ITo himself seemed as ancient as his famj'v, to Elizabeth. For a year past she had known that the baronet was anxious to marry her, and that he had her father's consent and encouragement. But she entertained finer ideas of life and love than her ambitious par- ent the ex-alderman — otherwise I'd not be writing this history. Elizabeth's cabin was well-nigh filled with her boxes and bags, for she had brought complete and generous outfits of both femi- nine and -lasculine attire. She sat quietly on "*"W 20 A Captain of Raleigh's one of the boxes, waiting for the ship to get well away from the harbor before running any risk of having her disguise pierced by the master until such time as their distance from port should weigh materially on the side of her arguments against turning back. She had noticed that the shipmaster was an old man — older, even, than Sir Stephen. But, young or old, mariners are men; and Elizabeth need have entertained no fear of being sent back to Bristol against her will. She sat on the box and smiled a little at the thought of how Sir Stephen would behave at the news of her departure ; and she pictured her father's amazement, and rage, upon her arrival at Bristol's Hope — and even at that she smiled. She was a merry and high- spirited young woman, beyond a doubt. Also, she was quite as beautiful and attractive as any mortal has a right to be. Even to see her in that narrow, clutterea cabin, rigged out in Tom's clothes and cloaked and booted, was to understand poor Sir Stephen's feel- ings in the matter. Her eyes were blue — or gray! Nobody seemed to be quite sure Aboard the " Good Fortune " «l which, even at the tirae of looking. Her hair was of a shade believed to be gold by Sir Stephen and pronounced brown by her brother. Now she wore it clipped to less than one half of its usual length ; and it lay, bright and waving, on her shoulders, in the style affected by the fashionable cavaliers of the time. I am at a loss for new words and terms with which to describe her face and iigure. Anyway, descriptions of this kind are seldom successful. Her features were charming, and her complexion was satisfac- tory and neither very light nor very dark. She was neither fat nor lean; and though she was taller than many women, she was, UDdoubledly, not so tall as many. I hope I have made myself clear. At last Elizabeth left her seat on the box and opened the door of her cabin. She moved stumblingly in her brother's great .iack-boots, despite the fact that she had stuffed them about the toes and ankles with silk handkerchiefs, to improve their fit. She had not discarded the long cloak and hat. Her room opened into the main cabin under TnrfBgw .ijv, ' .^ I. 22 A Captain of Raleigh's the high poop-deck. The place was dhnly lighted by the s(iuare port in the steru ; and by that dim light she saw the figure of a man stooped over the table in the centre of the cabin. At the sound of the door complaining on its hinges, the man glanced up from the chart unrolled on the table. " Good day to you, Master Duwaney," he said. " And to you, sir," replied Elizabeth, pleasantly. The man uttered an exclamation of amaze- ment at the silvery tones of Master Du- waney 's voice. The girl understood, in a moment, what the matter was. A step each brought the two within clear view of each other. "What the girl saw was a pale young man, thin as a wand, with pale hair and pale, spiritless eyes, a large, gentle mouth and a receding chin. His clothes were somewhat shabby but pretentious of cut and color, and at his side hung a light rapier. The expres- sion of bewilderment on his gentle face was laughable. Wliat the young man saw — and knew that he saw — was a charming and ??ssBm?3affSS'Ssr^. Aboard the " Good Fortune " 23 undismayed youug lady dressed up in what was evidently the pick of some wealthy gen- tleman 's wardrobe. " I — I beg your pardon," he staiimKred. The girl laughed softly. ♦* You d.:-.] not do that," she said. '* I am the oifender. I nmst beg your pardon, and Master Spike's too." The young man continued to stare at her with an amiable but abashed regard, his thin cheeks aflame and his feet shuffling uneasily. The girl blushed for his confusion. "No, no!" he cried. - I am sure that you have offended in nothing! Allow me, madame — sir — at least, madame — that h, which you will — to most respectfully intro- duce myself. I am Harold Coffin, an un- notable gentleman-adventurer and your hum- ble servant, madame." Elizabeth saw that the game of disguise was at an end - at least as far as this shabby young Master Coffin was concerned. She stepped forward and frankly extended her hand, showing none of tliose signs of silly confusion and coyness tliat were fashionable 24 A Captain of Raleigh's among the young ladies of the day in all parts of England save the court in London. (Even pretended shyness was not noticeable in the court of King James the First.) *♦ My name is Duwaney," said the girl. " But it is Elizabeth in place of Thomas." Coffin took her hand very lightly upon the back of his own, as if she were a queen or a princess, bowed low and raised it to his lips. " I cannot find it in my heart to regret the change," he said. After that, they stood in silence for almost a minute, looking inquiringly at each other and smiling nervously. ** What course do you advise me to follow. Master Coffin? " asked the girl, at last. " None other than that which will carry you all the way to the Newfoundland in our company," replied the young man, squaring his narrow shoulders and touching his hand to the guard of his rapier with an air of gallantry. ♦' On that T am already determined, sir; but what do you advise in the matter of this ■ /■> --''Wk^ Aboard t he " Good Fortune " 25 pocr disguise? " returned Eliza jeth. '* Siiall I try to maintain it, or shall I throw myself upon Master Spike's mercy and good nature and beg him not to put the ship about and pack me back to Bristol? " " Will you tell me first, my dear lady, why you have undertaken this long and hazardous voyage? " queried Coffin. " Simply for change and excitement," con- fessed Elizabeth. ** My brother was willing that I should take his place, as he is very busy with writing verses; and I am not afraid of either the voyage or my dear fa- ther's anger, for I doubt not this stout ship will accomplish the one and Governor Du- waney's sense of humor will allay the other." " In that case," replied Master Coffin, " if you will take the advice of a very poor gen- tleman — of one who has been cheated of his fair estate and cast abroad penniless — you will forsake the idea of this disguise, becom- ing as it is. I think that even from old Spike you could not hide the truth for long. That you are not — ah, your brother — my dear Mistress Elizabeth, is a fact impossible to 26 A Captain of Raleigh's conceal unless you choose to wrap yourself in blankets from the crown of your borrowed hat to the soles of your borrowed jack-boots. Though I am no courtier, I knew the truth at the first note of your voice. A glance of your eye would tell all even to Spike, more accustomed though he be to the gleam of sun on water than to that finer illumination. So I advise you to immediately confess your play to the shipmaster. And you need enter- tain no fear of the " Good Fortune " being put about against your wishes, for even should old Spike prove such a monster as to contemplate returning you to Bristol, I have authority enough aboard this craft to stay his hand." " You are very kind to me," murmured Elizabeth, allowing her eyes to dwell, for a moment, on Master Coffin's face. '* I thank you with my whole heart," she continued, lowering her gaze from his eyes to his well- worn foot-gear. ** I cannot understand why you champion me so readily, sir, for T am nought but a total stranger to you." Harold Coffin bowed, and smiled with a ■Mf'vr^'u^^.K'.'z-^ Aboard the " Good Fortune M 27 light in his eyes that was almost pathetic in its whimsical tenderness. ** It is a gentle- man's privilege to champion any woman who may stand in need of his services, ' ' he said. " In this case the privilege is an extraordi- nary pleasure." He paused for a moment; then, in a slightly higher tone, ** Poor, un- successful and weak as I am," he continued, " I cannot pretend to remain untouched by such beauty and grace as yours. Do not think me impertinent, my dear lady, I beg of you, for I speak with all respect — aye, with homage ! Miserable outcast that I am, robbed of my inheritance and abandoned by my class, the sight of you has gone to my sorry head like wine. ' ' He stood staring at her for a moment, as if listening to the echo of his mad words — then flushed crimson and averted his face. Elizabeth's tender heart was sharply touched. The gentle and pensive smile, the pale face, narrow shoulders and shabby at- tire, were enough to excite pity in even a less sympathetic breast than this honest young lady's. ) i 28 A Captain of Raleigh's " You cannot, you must not think, for a moment, that I am offended with you, Master Coffin," she said, tremulously. " Your words show a noble nature, and I thank you from my heart for them. I am glad that you con- sider me — ah, not repulsive in appearance. But your unhappiness distresses me. Why has injustice been your portion? Have you no friends to stand with you against your oppressors? By your manner and your name I know you to come of a distinguished family in the West — in my own country. Please tell me your trouble, Master Coffin." ** It makes but a shabby tale, my dear lady, and I should think shame of myself if I were brought to inflicting it upon you, worthless, poor-spirited apology for a man that I am, ' ' replied the youth, with open bitterness. ** But hark ye, I hear the shipmaster's boots in the outer cabin." Both turned their faces toward the door, which opened at that moment and admitted the bulky person of Benjamin Spike, master mariner. ■•^y^-lKM CHAPTER III THE PASSENGER AND THE MILITARY COMMANDER Master Coffin stepped forward. " Ben- jamin, old shipmate," said he, " have you given good day to our passenger, the gov- ernor's child? " Old Spike advanced, with a great hand ex- tended. *' A good day to ye, master," he rumbled. '' YeVe fetched a fair wind aboard with ye to blow us off the coast, an» I thank ye for it." Elizabeth clapped her strong, slender hand into the great paw. " If I bring you not good luck for the whole voyage, then you may toss me to the fishes, Master Spike," she said, merrily. The old mariner gaped at her, holding tight to her hand and blinking his deep-set eyes as if he were looking into a furnace door. 29 IJ :1 30 A Captain of Raleigh's " I hope you are not angry," said Eliza- beth, withdrawing her hand. *' My brolLar could not come, so I came along in his stead." '* You will observe, Benjamin, that Master Duwaney is not exactly what we expected — in other words, that the young gentleman has turned out to be a young lady," said Master Coffin, speaking very ({uickly and laying his hand on the old man's arm. '' But you may take my word for it, old sea-dog, there's neither treason nor mutiny in it — nothing, I do assure you, that even a bishop could take exception to. But Mistress Elizabeth will state the case herself, and so ably that you'll wonder how it was that we ever expected any other sort of passenger." "It be in no part o' my orders. Master Coffin, to take for gospel every tale ye may see fit to tell me," replied Benjamin Spike, with a rasp of displeasure in his voice. " It be for me to sail this here ship, sir, an' for you to fight her if need be — but never a \.'ord in the orders as to what yarns ye may ciioose to spin nor me to believe. What I iii''r>hltj^^ i —J 1 3 The Passenger and the Commander 31 want to know, young lady — aye, an' you too, young gentlei ^an — be, what's become o' my lawful passenger, the son o' Governor Du- waney o' Bristol's Hope Plantation in the Newfoundland? " " This lady is the worthy governor's daughter, my good Benjamin," said Coffin, "and if you will but keep cool you'll hear everything to your entire satisfaction." ** Yes, I will explain everything to you, clear as day, if you will but listen to me, my dear Master Spike," cried Elizabeth. ** You see, it is this way. My brother and I are twins ; but we are not alike in our natures, for he cares nought for the sea and brave ad- venturing, but mightily for books of poetry and the penning of rhymes, while I dote upon seafaring and such things to distract ^'on but take small heed to poetry unless it be in com- memoration of brave deeds. So, dear Master Spike, we thought it would be wiser — and much more agreeable — for Tom to remain in Bristol, with his poetic frenzies, and for me to sail the voyage to the Newfoundland. To save argument, I came into the ship 32 A Captain of Raleigh's orred, and the three ill-assorted ship- mates drank to mutual good-fellowship and a fair voyage. The beautiful young woman, aglow with health and zest of life, and clothed so riclily yet so grotesquely, just touched her lips to the rim of the glass. Unlike the beauties of Whitehall, she seldom drank even so mild a vintage as this red wine of Spain. Master Coffi" gave his glassful a shorter shift ; but he disposed of it with such an air that the lady felt that it was the toast rather than the flavor of the liquor that commended the draught to him. Benjamin Spike mum- bled something, tipped his head back and the wine down, and smacked his lips with frank appreciation. Master Coffin winced at such an exhibition of low breeding in the presence of a lady. ** And now,** said Spike, ** since friend- ship an' fair play be drunk so sociable The Passenger and the Commander 37 atween the three o' us, an' I have spoke my mind like an honest shipmaster, I'll make so bold as to leave ye, mistress, an' step out upon the deck to have an eye to the workin' o' the ship." And so he went, highly pleased with him- self, and clapped his cap upon his head be- fore he reached the door. Later in the day the " Good Fortune " ran into dirty weather ; and for three days after that neither the military commander nor the master saw anything of Mistress Elizabeth Duwaney. But on the morning of the fourth day she appeared again, pale but smiling and courageous, her eyes brighter than ever, and wearing her own clothes. She had been charming before, in spite of her unsuitable attire ; but now her beauty and grace struck old Spike to a gaping dumbness and brought a flush of red to Master Coffin's cheeks. Elizabeth saw and instinctively understood the effect of her appearance on the two men ; but she only smiled the more pleasantly (though she felt weak and dizzy, and far more like crying than smiling), and took her 38 A Captain of Raleigh's seat at the cabin table with a matter-of-fact air. " I trust that the French cordial I sent you by my man James was to your taste, my dear lady," said CoflRn. "An' the rum I sent ye by the cook's boy, mistress," said Spike, anxious not to be out- done by the gentleman. ** I hear that there be nought like it for the settling o' a delicate stomach." Coffin glared at the shipmaster and trod heavily on his toe under cover of the table. ** What now, master? " cried Spike. " Why do ye grind your heel into my toe as if it was the flank o' a charger? " Coffin ignored him and turned to the lady in renewed confusion, " The cordial," he said, " was recom- mended to me by no less a personage than that great and unfortunate admiral, Sir Wal- ter Raleigh — God rest his soul." By this time the lady was hungrily munch- ing a ship's biscuit. " They were both very good, I do not doubt," she said. *♦ But I did not feel equal The Passenger and the Commander 39 to them; and what became of them I am at a loss to say. You must forgive me, ship- mates. If your messengers had brought me measures running over with diamonds and rubies, instead of with cordial and rum, I should not have so much as lifted my head from the pillow to take note of them. But now the trouble is past. This biscuit is won- derfully hard but of excellent flavor." ** Ye be a brave lass," said the old ship- master, with frank admiration in face and voice. Master Coffin said nothing, for he was so deeply moved by pity and other dis- turbing emotions that he could not lay his tongue to a word. By this time, news of the lady's presence aboard was common throughout the ship. Every one was delighted with the knowledge that the " Good Fortune " carried a charm- ing young lady, and ''' daughter of the gov- ernor of Bristol's for passenger, feel- ing that it would bi ., jood luck to the ship. The story of her arrival in her brother's stead and also in his clothes quickly went the rounds; and she immediately became 40 A Captain of Raleigh's 11 ) ( a heroine to the rough and honest fellows. Nothing was so worshipped by the Brit- ish seaman of those days as pluck. And that the lady was beautiful, too, appealed to every man-jack of them. Sea-chests were dipped into by tarry hands, and every odd and end of finery in possession of the crew was brought into every-day use. This brisk- ing-up process made some of the men look more like pirates than honest Bristol mari- ners. Master Coffin donned a plum-colored doublet with rusty gold lace at collar and cuffs, and old Spike trimmed his tempest- tangled beard and curled his mustaches into his eyes after the manner then coming into vogue among military gentlemen who had seen service abroad. For ten days from the lady's reappear- ance from her cabin the ship sailed westward undisturbed and the weather held fair. All went merrily, aloft and alow. Elizabeth spent most of her time on the high poop- deck, and in the bluster of salty winds and glinting sunshine soon regained her natural gaiety of temper. The color and roundness ■^nm mmn mmm The Passenger and the Commander 41 came back to her cheeks — and the memory of those three painful days grew faint as a dream. She was in love with seafaring, and vowed that there was not a house ashore that she would not blithely forsake for the narrow deck of the *' Good Fortune." Spike was tremendously flattered by all this; but Master Coflfin, though rejoicing in her friend- ship and nursing a grand passion in his heart f ^ her, felt that she was soM.ething too par- tial to sailoring. So he would spend hours in telling her of the glorious opportunities for valor to be found in a soldier's life. Sometimes they argued. Elizabeth main- tained that a sailor's life was fundamentally for good, though misfortune and chance might force him to bloodshed upon occasion; but that the career of a soldier depended for its very existence upon death and tyranny. She spoke of the discoveries of new lands, of new races and of new enterprises that had been accomplished in the past and were still being accomplished by seafarers. She named some great names in this connection. But though Master Coffin worshipped the lady 42 r A Captain of Raleigh's i I 4 I 1 ■ ;T f he could see very little merit in her argu- ment; and he was far too honest to pretend a conversion of opinion that he did not feel. So he talked back, upholding the honor of the man of the sword desperately. Beaten at every point — for how could the poor fel- low prove that it is a finer thing to kill men than to carry food and civilization across thousands of miles of trackless tide — he was once driven to such an extremity as to call the girl's attention to the fact that, as proved by his own presence aboard the ** Good For- tune," sailors were sometimes glad to make use of military men. At that she had ad- mitted, very gently, that she had nothing to say against soldiers individually — at least against none that she knew at all intimately — and that she, for one, felt very glad of Master Coflfin's protecting presence aboard the *' Good Fortune." As this was said without irony he had felt ashamed of his big talk. In spite of these arguments, Mistress Du- waney's admiration for Master Coffin grew day by day. There was something heroic tmm The Passenger and the Commander 43 even in his feeblest argument — a nobility of attitude, a fine loyalty to a wobbly god, a heart that saw valor, fortitude and victory and looked too high to notice the huddled shapes on the ground or to suspect the sordid motives behind the massing of the armies. She saw his bravery and his simplicity as plain as pictures in a book. She knew that he was one who would die for a friend or a cause without asking himself if the friend or the cause were worth the loss of his life. Reposed in so frail and pathetic a body as Master Coffin *s, these heroic qualities seemed the more remarkable in her eyes. So the friendship of these two was quick and true, conceived in mutual admiration and respect and so safe from disaster from whim, vanity or misunderstanding. It was not until the ship had been at sea a matter of fourteen days, however, that the young man told the girl the story of his mis- fortunes. But let it be said to his credit that he showed io eagerness to tell it and that his narrative was of a commendable brevity. Though an unadorned statement of facts it m 44 A Captain of Raleigh's ill lost nothing of its pathetic quality and af- fected Elizabeth keenly. The second son of a gentleman of ancient holdings but reduced fortune, Harold Coffin had suffered the desolation of orphanage while still a child at school. After the death of his father and the settling of the estate, there was found to be nothing at home for Master Harold ; so an uncle, a brother of his mother and a childless man, had taken charge of him. It was an open secret that the uncle's intentions toward the child were of the most generous nature — that he meant to a'^opt him as his son and heir as soon as a fuller knowledge of his character and nature should warrant his doing so; and that, in any case, a liberal education and a fair start in life were to be his portion. There was justice in this, for the uncle's only near rela- tives of his own blood were his dead sister's children. But this Uncle Hawley had a wife — and the wife, who had been married be- fore, had a son named Peter Hard. And though this Peter Hard was well established in life with property of his own, both he and tmm MMi The Passenger and the Commander 45 his motlier had their hearts and eyes cov- ertly set on such of the Hawley possessions as were intended for Harold. This matter soon hecame apparent to the orphan, though it was kept hidden from Hawley, who was slow to see things that were not flaunted in his face and whose mind was of an unsus- picious cast. Harold was sent to a very good school near his new home ; and things went well enough with him so long as his school- time lasted. On his seventeenth birthday Hawley asked him his choice of a career, saying that a young man should have a defi- nite object in life no matter what his pros- pects. Harold Coffin chose the army without a moment's hesitation ; and within the month he was gazetted to a regiment of the line that was stationed in London — a regiment of that new and swiftly growing regular or standing army that the people looked upon with distrust. Harold went to London, his heart beating high with hope — and there was Master Peter Hard, living the life of a fashionable dandy and eager to take Harold under his wing and show him the town. The I I 46 A Captain of Raleigh's young ensign's military duties were not ar- duous and he had plenty of time to devote to pleasure and the company of Peter and his friends. And Peter Hard made himself very agreeable to the boy. His pockets were full of money. He was always delighted to lend to Harold, whose allowance from his uncle was no more than reasonable. With gold always at his command, Harold quite lost his head for a time. Along with Peter and a set of brisk companions he frequented the ordinaries and gaming-houses, dicing and playing with industry but ill fortune. The end came swiftly. Peter, the false friend, had done his work well. A letter from his uncle brought the house of cards tumbling about Harold's ears. He was disowned, cast out. He resigned his commission and be- came a soldier of misfortune. He fought in the Low Countries. For seven years he had been a homeless fellow, selling his sword and wandering, unbefriended. a\U CHAPTER IV A DISTURBER OF THE SEA Having explained his misfortunes to a sympathetic listener, Master Coffin felt greatly cheered. He confessed to the girl that, within the last week or two, life had turned a more hopeful face to him. " For I must be worth something," he said, *' to have won your sweet friendship." He ex- plained to her that this was his second voy- age with Spike; but that he hoped to sail soon to the West Indies, in a privateer, and there take toll of the spoilers of those rich seas, at one and the same time dealing justice out to pirates and amassing a modest for- tune for himself. And perhaps, some day, he would buy an estate in the island of Bar- badoes and with plow and cane-knife increase the winnings of his sword. One bright morning a sail appeared to windward of the " Good Fortune " and grew 47 48 A Captain of Raleigh's swiftly from a flake of gray to i tov f^r of white. Master Spike soon boffan to show signs of anxiety and turned his telescope upon it several times in every miniUi' Al last he came to Master Coffin, who was on the poop with Mistress Duwaney, and ''> ggei for a private word with him in the abiU. The two went below, leaving the girl to v atch the distant sail without suspicion. ** It be no fish-ship," said Spike, " nor yet of the cut o' any carrier I ever see in these waters. I take her to be a tall ship o* five hundred tons or thereabouts, an' English built." *' Name it, shipmate. What do you fear? " said Coffin, c^Unily. " Something too big for us to handle — that be what I fear," replied Spike. ** An English pirate," suggested the other. ** We miglit stand a v^ ate off, for they be light-timbered an' light-metalled in these parts; but this here looks to me as if she might prove to ^d the ship o' one o' Raleigh's captain \ * replied the mariner. " They do say a f w they hunt the seas like wolves. .A-lSBSfl A Disturber of the Sea 40 since the adinirarH misfortu? -, caring^ noujrht for any kiiiir or any law, . roady to haul alonpsule o' any craft that i«)ats, \h> npb itr mercha tiuan or ship o'-wa;'." " Nor iio I blanio them." said CoH a. •* They show a luyal aiifl noble spirit m f >t- tinr thoraseives a«rains' the ;T jamir but what the devil oes it n can? " r i^iu d Coffin. " Hone English seamen have so many MM* Am^amtttmA «tt 50 A Captain of Raleigh's ways of bearing themselves that I must con- fess that I am still in doubt as to your in- tentions." ** This be no time for playin' with words an' twists o' speech," remarked Spike, se- verely. *' We must make ready to give bat- tle to the stranger should she force us to it. If she be the ship o' one o' they erring cap- tains she may do us no harm beyond helping herself to wine and dainties from our laza- ret — if to another o' these same gentry we may be swinging from our o%vn yard-arm afore sundown, or walking the plank. I have heard that several o' these treasonous gen- tlemen are no nicer in their habits nor more merciful in their actions than the bloodiest Sally Rover afloat. So we must stand ready for her — ready of hand and wit — ready to fight to the death or make a gift of wines and spices, according to what the signs may be as to which way the cat be going to jump." ** Then I'll see to the clearing and man- ning of the great guns and the arming of the fellows," said Coffin. " But I tell you, lad, He ii. A Disturber of the Sea 51 that if the stranger is commanded by one of Raleigh's captains we'll come by no injury." •' Be not too sure o' that, master," replied the old seaman, smiling gloomily. ** Many a ship has been sunk and many a throi •■. has been slit by them that was gentle born." " But we have a lady aboard," returned Coffin. *' No officer of Sir Walter's, no mat- ter how low he may have fallen since the knight's death, would do any injury to a lady for all the gold of the Indies." *' God grant you may be right," said the shipmaster. Before seeing to the preparation of the cannon, falcons and falconets, or to the arm- ing of the ship's company. Coffin went to where Elizabeth still stood on the poop gaz- ing in the direction of the approaching ves- sel. " What is it? " she asked. " She hoiJs on a course that brings her steadily upon us >» Without preamble, he told her Spike *8 fears of the nature and intentions of the strange vessel. The color left her cheeks but ^.1^^ ■luiBtii 52 A Captain of Raleigh's K . i ! "1 '\ i : her eyes did not flinch. Then he reassured her with his own opinion of what they had to fear from the big ship. ** At the very worst," he said, '* we'll have to part with a little of our cabin-stores, and smile about it as if the presenting of a gift of wine and gimcracks was our own idea. I am ready to pledge my word that nothing more serious than this will come of the approaching en- counter. Even I can see at a glance that she is not an ordinary pirate ship — so we may safely take her to be the vessel of one of these erring captains. With you aboard, r ^-^dame, we have nothing to fear from a gentleman, no matter how desperate his condition." '* All men of gentle birth may not bear measuring by your standards, Master Cof- fin," said Elizabeth with a wan smile. Of course she did not feel at all like smiling; but she was determined that the cool and fragile young man at her side should not discover that she was afraid. This meeting with ships of doubtful intentions was an experience of seafaring thnt she had not counted upon. She had heard many tales of ■■ A Disturber of the Sea 58 pirates and their deeds, but they had all sounded like fiction to her. She had never suspected that a vessel that was in any way connected with so solid and well-regulated a man as her honored father could possibly be molested either on the high seas or in any harbor. '* Let us trust that the gentleman may prove to be as polite as you anticipate,*' she said, quite steadily. ** Have no fear, my friend," replied Cof- fin, looking at her for a moment with that in his eyes which he had hitherto man- aged to keep hidden. After a moment their glances wavered. ** I must go throu^ the formality of pre- paring the ship for action," continued the young man. ** Whatever the intentions of that vessel, we must not be caught napping. If there should happen to be any gun-play — just by way of an exchange of compli- ments — I shall come to you and lead you to a safer place than this. But have no uneasi- ness. Should it come tc ' » attle — though I can see no chance of v ■— i give you my 54 A Captain of Raleigh's word of honor that I'll raako a drifting wreck of that tall ship.'* With that, Master Coffin passed forward to attend to his work as military commander of the " Good Fortmie." He had meant every word of his assurances and boastings to the lady. Poor and frail though he was, his heart was bigger and braver than most men's. Also, he was young and in love. He felt that if circumstances called for a fi^ht, in her protection he would be strong enough and skilful enough to administer a drubbing to the other ship, no matter what her weight of timber and metal, no matter how expert her gunners '^r how determined her com- mander. The course of the " Good Fortune " was changed, and she ran fairly away from the craft that was so unmistakably interested in her. Strongly as she forged along, however, the larger and taller ship overhauled her steadily. All the great guns aboard the ** Good Fortune " were loaded with round- shot. Cutlasses and pistols were unlocked from their racks and dealt out to the men. !t^i mHn mutm A Disturber of the Sea 55 The red ensign of England and the blue and white flag of the Company of Western Ad- venturers and Planters were run up to the " Good Fortune's " tops. In reply, a square of bright bunting flashed above the rounded sails of the pursuer. ** What make ye of that? " inquired Spike of the commander. Coffin studied the bunting through the master's telescope. "It is Raleigh's flag,'* he said. "We have nought to fear." Even as he spoke, a white roll of mist hid the port bow of the stranger, a dull, thumping noise assailed his ears and a round-shot dropped into the sea about fifty yards astern of the " Good Fortune." In si- lence, the mist of smoke spread and dissolved in the wind and sunshine. ** There goes your fine gentleman ashowin' us his lamb-like manners," remarked Spike, unpleasantly. ** I never see a bloodthirsty pirate pop out his compliments any quicker than that." ** I still maintain that we are in no danger 56 A Captain of Raleigh's :s f 11 It li ;pi: : .(■ •I'l of anything worse than a brief delay in our journey," replied Master Coffin, nettled by both the unexpected round-shot and the old sea-dog's manner. ** I still maintain that we have no villainy to fear if yonder sails one of the dead knight's captains, as we both believe. Rest assured, worthy Benjamin, that when he learns of the presence of a lady aboard this craft he'll let us go on our way without so much as a scratch. I speak with authority, Benjamin, knowing well the spirit of such gentlemen as Sir Walter Ra- leigh was in the habit of drawing to his service." " Ye may be right, master. Aye, ye may be in the right o' the matter — but I'll be danged if I think so," said Spike, turning on his heel and hastening forward to speak to his mate. Master Coffin hurried to Elizabeth and begged her to descend to the cabin for a little while. ** It is possible that they may fire a few more shots before we have an opportunity to make known our position," he explained. A Disturber of the Sc:: 57 ** And as a chance shot might bring down some of our spars, you will be safer in the cabin than on deck." "I — I am not afraid,'* said the girl, faintly. " But you must consider our feelings," said the young soldier, gently, at the same time offering her his arm and glancing swiftly into the troubled depths of her bright eyes. She took his arm and descended to the waist of the ship and entered the cabin without a word of protest. The vessel that flew the flag of the dead knight continued to draw down upon the smaller ship. Soon she was well within gun- range; but fortunately for all concerned, she refrained from trjang another shot at the pitching stern of the ** Good Fortune." It was evidently the intention of this erring cap+ain to deal lightly with the merchant- man and, nt the same time, save his ship and his powder. Perhaps? he wanted nothing more thaii a few flagons of spirits and a few bags of ship's-bread. Even old Spike began to take heart at his forbearance. 58 'I i 11! ii A Captain of Raleigh's Now the heads and shoulders of several men could be seen in the bows of the pur- suing ship, like painted toys under the high- pitched bowsprit and square, full-bellied head-sails. She was an inspiring sight with her climbing canvas swaying against the blue and the froth of torn waves boiling white under her leaping stem. Indeed she had more the air of a king's ship than a free- booter of the sea. The crew of the " Good For* e ** gazed at her with open admira- tioiL h\ ifi.. 1 f * ii't CHAPTER V MASTEB COFFIN DISCOVERS AN OLD FBIEND Master Coffin put a speakmg-trnmpet to his lips and hailed the pursuing ship from the stem of the ** Good Fortune.'* Hia voice carried clear above the slobbering of the seas against the speeding hulls and the working of yard and cordage. He named his ship, her home port and destination, himself as her commander and Spike as her master. The reply soon came to him across the nar- row strip of lively water. " This ship is the ** Jaguar," from the port she last left and bound for wherever she pleases. She is commanded by Captain John Percy.** Coffin's face brightened at that name. Again he raised the great trumpet to his lips. " Dr. Captain Percy remember his Christ- mas d, ^ner of two years ago? ** he cried. *' Yes,'* came the answer. «0 eo A Captain of Raleigh's I » 'i! ;|.| *' The roasted horse-flesh, the raouldy beans and the flask of stolen wine? " " Yes, yes! " " And the figlit next morning between the big Dutchman and the thin Englishman? And the Dutchman's funeral? '* ** He remembers it all." ** 'Tis the thin Englishman that speaks — Harold Coffin. Come aboard, Captain Percy, for old sake's sake. There will be no need of drinking stolen wme to-day." ** With pleasure, comrade. Come into the wind and I'll pnll over to you." A few minutes later the two vessels were rocking idly on the brisk seas. A boat was lowered from the " Jaguar " and smartly pulled away for the " Good Fortune." Six seamen sat to the oars and three gentlemen, in long cloaks and wide hats, occupied the stem-sheets. Soon the boat was alongside and a Jacob's ladder lowered to her. One by one the gentlemen ascended the swaying lad- der to the waist of the '* Good Fortune." Captain Percy was the first to reach the deck. Master Coffin was on tlie spot to welcome An Old Friend 61 him, and the two embraced cordially like old messmates. ** How now, comrade!" exclaimed the visitor. " Little did I think to find the fire- eater of Bragg's Brigade bouncing across the western ocean in the round belly of a merchantman. ' ' " And little did I expect to have a round- shot pitched after me by John Percy, captain of hussars," replied Coffin. The smile left Percj^'s face. " Much wine has been drunk since then," he said, gravely; " aye, and much blood spilt. One is for- tunate to meet a friend at all, no matter under what unusual circumstances. Since our last meeting, comrade, I have lost the best friend mortnl man ever had." At that moment the second of the visitors arrived over the side. Percy presented him to Coffin as Master Horace Down, another of Raleigh's gentlemen. Next moment, the third visitor leapt to the deck. ** Master de Verney — another of the masterless men," said Captain Percy. Coffin welcomed them both with every indication of sincere cor- 62 A Captain of Raleigh's 1^1 H ill!' :i' [I diality and friendship. In fact he was over- joyed, what with the vanishing of thicatened danger and the sight of three men of his own class and kind. •' Let your lellows ascend and go forward. They shall be well cared for, I promise you," he said to Captain Percy. Percy leaned over the bulwarks and shouted the word down to the men in the pitching boat. Then Harold C'oflfin took him by the arm. ** Gentlemen," said he, looking first at Percy and then at the others, '* we have a passenger aboard — Mistress Eliza- beth Duwaney, the daughter of the governor of Bristol's Hope plantation." ** Thunder and shot! " exclaimed de Ver- ney, shaking the wrinkles out of his cloak of fine blue cloth. ** By Heaven! " cried Master Down. " I wear my oldest doublet! " " Now I understand why the fire-eater has undertaken so dull an expedition," remarked Percy. ** You are mistaken," said Coffin, flushing. ** This is my second voyage as military com- An Old Friend iiS rnnnder of the *' Good Fortune." I had no knowledge, before embarking, that we were to carry a passenger on this trip." '* I understand, comrade. Had you pos- sessed the knowledge you would have found another command, the lady being iii fa- vored." *' You are as sharp as ever, captain. Or can hide nothing from you," returned Har- old Coffin, smiling quietly. *• So this lady is old and ill-favored, is she! " remarked Master Down, disconso- lately. ** Then perhaps it had been better for all of us if we had sent a few more i j iud- shot after the first." ** You are mistaken, 1 assure you," aaid Coffin, gazing fixedly at Master Down. '* Whatever a lady's age or aj pea ranee, she must be treated with every mark of respect and consideration so long as she occupies my ship. Had other round-shots followed that first I should have believed that T had a com- mon pirate to deal with — and so I should have dealt with him. Now I trust your understanding is clearer, sir.** •m Bn Mta 64 A Captain of Raleigh's ill « j;j 1 ,t: " And I hope so, too, Horace," said Cap- tain Percy, frowning at the offender. " xVnd let me warn you, lad, that I have seen this gentleman, our host, dispatch a gigantic Dutch bully before breakfast without so much as laying aside his cloaK." Down and de Verney gazed at Master Cof- fin in open astonishment. " To the cabin, gentlemen," cried the com- mander of the ** Good P'ortune," leading the way with his hat in his hand. The cabin was ill-lit, having no skylight. The three visitors followed Coffin witiiin and stood blinking. Elizabeth stood with her back to the window and her face in shadow. She guessed that these strangers were of the class of men — gentlemen-rovers of the sea — of which Harold had told her. So the sight of them relieved her fears vastly. This polite visit, hat in hand, could mean noth- ing but that all danger of hostilities was past. *' Madame," said Master Coffin, *' T beg to present to you the commander of the good ship ' Jaguar,* Captain John Percy, and two r 1 ^^_ An Old Friend es of his comrades. They have come aboard to pay their respects to the daughter of Gov- ernor Duwaney — and Captain Percy is kind enough to wish to renew old acquaintance- ship with me, for we oncft served together in the Low Countries." The gentlemen bowed profoundly and the lady curtsied " Come to the table, gentlemen. Madame, be seated, I pray," continued Master Coffin. Then he shouted for his man James, who appeared at the door in a raoment. " Bring candles, and glasses, and two flasks of the best wine of Oporto," he ordered. " Also, tell Master Spike that we await his pleasure in the cabin." James saluted and hurried away. Turn- ing to the company, Coffin saw that his guests had at last obtained a clear view of Mistress Duwaney 's face. They showed their sur- prise and admiration in r ttitude and expres- sion. Percy stood with one foot advanced, motionless, his dark eyes fixed steadily upon the lady's face. Master Down huddled his warm cloak tightly around him, to keep his 66 A Captain of Ralei*gh*8 III hf- shabby doublet out of sight. De Verney was still bent forward in a second impressive sal- utation. Master Coffin smiled quietly. He had been quite right in his opinion of the spirit of Raleigh's gentlemen. James entered with the candles and placed them on the table. With this additional illu- mination the girl increased in attractiveness — at least, every charm of her face was dis- closed. Her eyes shone like stars in the soft yellow lig'^ Coffin himself ^ad never seen her look q ; so beautiful. To the others, who perhaps had not seen an English woman for many months, she appeared a very mira- cle of loveliness. The sight of hor recalled the best and happiest days of their lives — some wonderful days of childhood, i^orhaps, or of golden days of love that had been long ago, before the rough adventures an