'We are going down Langston Bay,' I answered.

'Oh, we are, are we?' he cried, in a mocking voice; 'you are sure of it
eh? You are certain we are not going to France? We have a mast and
sail there, I see, and water in the beaker. All we want are a few fish,
which I hear are plentiful in these waters, and we might make a push for
Barfleur.'

'We are going down Langston Bay,' I repeated coldly.

'You see might is right upon the waters,' he explained, with a smile
which broke his whole face up into crinkles. 'I am an old soldier, a
tough fighting man, and you are two raw lads. I have a knife, and you
are unarmed. D'ye see the line of argument? The question now is,
Where are we to go?'

I faced round upon him with the oar in my hand. 'You boasted that you
could swim to Portsmouth,' said I, 'and so you shall. Into the water
with you, you sea-viper, or I'll push you in as sure as my name is Micah
Clarke.'

'Throw your knife down, or I'll drive the boat hook through you,' cried
Reuben, pushing it forward to within a few inches of the man's throat.

'Sink me, but this is most commendable!' he said, sheathing his weapon,
and laughing softly to himself. 'I love to draw spirit out of the young
fellows. I am the steel, d'ye see, which knocks the valour out of your
flint. A notable simile, and one in every way worthy of that most witty
of mankind, Samuel Butler. This,' he continued, tapping a protuberance
which I had remarked over his chest, 'is not a natural deformity, but is