e rode by the
lanes; through sloping farmyards, all mud and pigs, and dirty straw, and
farmers with clean-shaven upper lips and whiskers under the chin; past
fields of corn, where larks were singing. Up or down, we didn't draw
rein till we came to Dan's hotel.

There was the river gleaming before us under a rainbow mist that hallowed
every shape. There seemed affinity between the earth and the sky. I've
never seen that particular soft unity out of Devon. And every ship,
however black or modern, on those pale waters, had the look of a dream
ship. The tall green woods, the red earth, the white houses, were all
melted into one opal haze. It was raining, but the sun was shining
behind. Gulls swooped by us--ghosts of the old greedy wanderers of the
sea.

We had told our two boatmen to pull us out to the Pied Witch! They
started with great resolution, then rested on their oars.

"The Pied Witch, zurr?" asked one politely; "an' which may her be?"

That's the West countryman all over! Never say you "nay," never lose an
opportunity, never own he doesn't know, or can't do anything
--independence, amiability, and an eye to the main chance. We mentioned
Pearse's name.

"Capt'n Zach'ry Pearse!" They exchanged a look half-amused,
half-admiring.

"The Zunflaower, yu mane. That's her. Zunflaower, ahoy!" As we mounted
the steamer's black side I heard one say:

"Pied Witch! A pra-aper name that--a dandy name for her!" They laughed
as they made fast.

The mate of the Sunflower, or Pied Witch, or whatever she was called, met
us--a tall young fellow in his shirtsleeves, tanned to the roots of his
hair, with sinewy, tattooed arms, and grey eyes, charred round the rims
from staring at weather.

"The skipper is on board," he said. "We're rather busy, as you see. Get
on with that, you sea-cooks," he bawled at two fellows who were doing
nothing. All over the ship, men were hauling, splicing, and stowing
cargo.

"To-day's Friday: we're off on Wednesday with any luck. Will you come
this way?" He led us down the companion to a dark hole which he called
the saloon. "Names? What! are you Mr. Treffry? Then we're partners!" A
schoolboy's glee came on his face.

"Look here!" he said; "I can show you something," and he unlocked the
door of a cabin. There appeared to be nothing in it but a huge piece of
tarpaulin, which depended, bulging, from the topmost bunk. He pulled it
up. The lower bunk had been removed, and i