ee-shore all the
afternoon and run our noses at night--and dead up-wind, too--into the
Dons' mouths? No, Jack, my friend. Let Orlando-Furioso-punctilio-fire-
eaters go and get their knuckles rapped. The following game is the game,
and not the meeting one. The dog goes after the sheep, and not afore
them, lad. Let them go by, and go by, and stick to them well to
windward, and pick up stragglers, and pickings, too, Jack--the prizes,
Jack!"

"Trust my old eyes for not being over-quick at seeing signals, if I be
hanging in the skirts of a fat-looking Don. We'm the eagles, Drake; and
where the carcase is, is our place, eh?"

And so the two old sea-dogs chatted on, while their companions dropped
off one by one, and only Amyas remained.

"Eh, Captain Leigh, where's my boy Dick?"

"Gone off with his lordship, Sir John."

"On his punctilios too, I suppose, the young slashed-breeks. He's half
a Don, that fellow, with his fine scholarship, and his fine manners,
and his fine clothes. He'll get a taking down before he dies, unless he
mends. Why ain't you gone too, sir?"

"I follow my leader," said Amyas, filling his pipe.

"Well said, my big man," quoth Drake. "If I could lead you round the
world, I can lead you up Channel, can't I?--Eh? my little bantam-cock of
the Orinoco? Drink, lad! You're over-sad to-day."

"Not a whit," said Amyas. "Only I can't help wondering whether I shall
find him after all."

"Whom? That Don? We'll find him for you, if he's in the fleet. We'll
squeeze it out of our prisoners somehow. Eh, Hawkins? I thought all the
captains had promised to send you news if they heard of him."

"Ay, but it's ill looking for a needle in a haystack. But I shall find
him. I am a coward to doubt it," said Amyas, setting his teeth.

"There, vice-admiral, you're beaten, and that's the rubber. Pay up
three dollars, old high-flyer, and go and earn more, like an honest
adventurer."

"Well," said Drake, as he pulled out his purse, "we'll walk down now,
and see about these young hot-heads. As I live, they are setting to tow
the ships out already! Breaking the men's backs over-night, to make them
fight the lustier in the morning! Well, well, they haven't sailed round
the world, Jack Hawkins."

"Or had to run home from San Juan d'Ulloa with half a crew.

"Well, if we haven't to run out with half crews. I saw a sight of our
lads drunk about this morning."

"The more reason for waiting till they be sober. Besides, if ev