to-morrow morn."

To this there was no reply.

Next day the two English privateers stood in close to shore, and, just
as the shot was rammed home, a boat put off, in the stern of which sat
Mr. Vanbrugh with a present of wine, grapes, hogs and jelly. The prize
which had been captured was sent back to Bristol with a picked crew.

The two sea-rovers bore towards the South--soon crossed the Tropic of
Cancer--and there had appropriate ceremonies for the occasion. The
tinkers, peddlers, fiddlers, and tailors who made up the crew, were
each and all hoisted overboard by a rope. A stick was placed between
their legs and they were ducked again and again in the brine.

"If any man wants to get off," spoke Captain Rogers, "he can do so by
paying me a half-a-sovereign ($2.50) which must be expended on an
entertainment for the rest of the company when England shall be
reached. Every man that is ducked is paid in proportion to the number
of times that he goes under."

Several accepted this offer. At which a sailor cried out:

"Duck me twelve times, Captain. I want to have a regular orgy when I
get back home."

And the sailors did it, laughing uproariously.

Sailing to the Cape Verde Islands, the _Duke_ and the _Duchess_
anchored in the harbor of St. Vincent, where one of the crew, who was
a good linguist (Joseph Alexander) was sent in a boat to the Governor,
at San Antonio, in order to negotiate for supplies. He seemed to
prefer Cape Verde to privateering.

"On October 6th," writes the gallant Rogers, "our boat went to San
Antonio to get our linguist, according to appointment. No news of
him."

"On October 6th, our boat returned with nothing but limes and tobacco.
No news of our linguist."

"On October 7th, no news of our linguist."

"On the 8th, boat sent ashore, but no news of our linguist."

"On the 9th, as the trade-winds are blowing fresh, concluded to leave
our good Alexander to practice his linguistic and other
accomplishments ashore. Adieu to our linguist."

Thus disappeared the sleek and crafty Joseph.

There was still trouble from insubordination, for Mr. Page--second
mate of the _Duchess_--refused to accompany Mr. Cook (second in
command on the _Duke_). Whereupon the hot-tempered Captain Cook--being
the superior officer on board--struck him, and several blows were
interchanged.

At last Page was forced into the boat and brought to the _Duke_, where
he was ordered to the forecastle in the bilboes (leg ir