would think he was reconnoitring, so
earnestly does he look out from place to place. Father," he continued,
drawing towards Dalton, "do you note how he peers out yonder, towards
where once--you understand me----"

"I do," replied the old man, "I do note it; and I note also that yon
same Cavalier is no other than one we both knew well. There! he sees
us--his hat is off--he hails us right joyfully. Know you not the bold
brow, and the bright eye--blue, blue as the waters and the heavens he
has so long looked upon? Off with ye'r hats, my boys," he added to the
children; "and, Robin, is yours nailed to your head, that it answers not
his signal?--it is the young sea captain of whom, even here, we have
heard and read so much. It is Springall!"

And so it was; distinguished by the Protector at the very moment when to
be so distinguished makes a man's fortune, the bold intrepid boy quickly
ripened into the able and experienced seaman. His promotion was rapid,
because his talents were appreciated--and, after the death of Cromwell,
he had been too much occupied with England's enemies at sea, to suffer
from the moral blight of Charles's court on shore.

* * * * *

"Now, Springall--I love to call you by that name," said the Buccaneer,
"though you have taken your old one, and made it even more honoured than
it was before,--the evening has closed in--the children a-bed--God bless
them! We will draw nearer round our cheerful hearth, and talk of days
long gone. Barbara, let's have some fresh logs on the fire; and now, for
past and present times."

"I am a bad hand at a long yarn--you know I always was so,
captain,"--said the naval officer, smiling, "and the news of poor Jack's
death has damped my canvass. I always thought he'd make a queer end of
it--so fond of plunder--so careless--so unprincipled--but brave, brave
to the backbone."

"Do you remember what he dared, by way of adventure, not a hundred miles
from this; when Major Wellmore and Walter De Guerre were masquing it
here so gaily?" inquired Robin.

"Ay, ay! But he and Grimstone were both half-seas over, or they'd have
hardly ventured it:--poor Grim paid the penalty."

"And deserved it too," added Robin. "He whom they assaulted was a
wonder--a being that will serve future ages to talk about, when the
rulers of the present day are either execrated or forgotten. Marry! but
it makes one's head swim to think of the warm blood and true that has