"Lieutenant Sedley," ordered Ferne, sharply, "you will lodge this
gentleman in the cabin next mine own, seeing that he hath all needful
entertainment. Sir, I do expect your company at dinner."

He bowed, then stood at his full height, while Baldry sufficiently
bethought himself to in some sort return the salute, even to give
grudging, half--insolent acknowledgment of the debt he owed the
_Cygnet_. At last he went below--to refuse the bread and meat, but to
drink deep of the _aqua vita_ which Sedley stiffly offered; then to lock
himself in his cabin, bite his nails with rage, and finally, when he had
stared at the sea for a long time, to sink his head into his hands and
weep a man's tears for irrevocable loss.

Of his fellow adventurers whom he left upon the poop, only Mortimer
Ferne held his tongue from blame of his insupportable temper, or
refrained from stories of the _Star's_ exploits. The _Cygnet_ was under
way, the wind favorable, her white and swelling canvas like clouds
against a bright-blue sky, the dolphins playing about her rushing prow,
where a golden lady forever kept her eyes upon the deep. In the wind,
timber and cordage creaked and sang, while from waist and main-deck came
a cheerful sound of men at work repairing what damage the storm had
wrought. Thynne the master gave orders in his rumbling bass, then the
drum beat for morning service, and, after the godly fashion of the time,
there poured from the forecastle, to worship the Lord, mariners and
landsmen, gunners, harquebusiers, crossbow and pike men, cabin and
powder boys, cook, chirurgeon, and carpenter--all the varied force of
that floating castle destined to be dashed like a battering-ram against
the power of Spain. The Captain of them all, with his gentlemen and
officers about him, paused a moment before moving to his accustomed
place, and looked upon his ship from stem to stern, from the thronged