completely concealed by the thick bulwarks, and to be fired through
ports, so ingeniously closed as to be imperceptible a few yards away.
All these pieces of ordnance were kept covered by tarpaulin so that at
a little distance the _Namur of Rotterdam_ appeared like a peaceful
Dutch trader.

There was a brass carronade at the stern in plain view, and so mounted
as to be swung inboard in case of necessity. Its ugly muzzle could
thus rake the deck fore and aft, but the presence of such a piece
would create no suspicion in those days when every ship was armed for
defense, and consequently no effort was made for its concealment. I
was busily at work on this bit of ordnance, when Estada came on deck
for a moment. After staring aloft, and about the horizon into the
impenetrable mist, he joined LeVere at the port rail in a short
earnest conversation. As the two worthies parted the fellow chanced to
observe me. I caught the quick look of recognition in his eyes, but
bent to my work as though indifferent to his presence, yet failed to
escape easily.

"You must be a pretty tough bird, Gates," he said roughly, "or I would
have killed you last night--I had the mind too."

Something about his voice and manner led me to feel that, in spite of
his roughness, he was not in bad humor.

"That would have been a mistake, sir," I answered, straightening up,
rag in hand, "for it would have cost you a good seaman."

"Hoila! they are easily picked up; one, more or less, counts for
little in these seas."