mation Jack required. He did not tell Master
Greedifist the opinion he had formed of him, but, hastening out of the
office, took his way to his inn. Jack as has been seen was a man of
action. He took care of the minutes, well knowing that the hours would
take care of themselves. As soon as he had sufficiently fortified the
inner man, he again mounted his horse, and leaving all the wonders of
London unvisited, spurred back northward towards Nottingham.

At the inn where he rested the first night of his journey, he wrote an
account of the information he had gained to his friends at Norwich,
saying that he proposed carrying out the plan suggested by Giles
Dainsforth, and that as soon as he could make the arrangements he hoped
to sail in a galley for Pennsylvania. On reaching home he found that
Dainsforth had expressed the same opinion to his friends at Nottingham.
He had, therefore, little difficulty in inducing them to join in a
speculation for the purchase of a galley, to be freighted with goods
suitable for the plantations, he himself having the command of her.
Having made all the preliminary arrangements, he was about to start for
London, when he received information from Mr Gournay that a galley
admirably suited for his object was about to be launched at Lynn Regis.
Scarcely had the letter been read, when Jack was on horseback, and
spurring forward to that town. He was not disappointed in the
appearance of the vessel. She was stoutly built, and roomy, capable of
carrying a large cargo. As she reached the water she was named the
"Nottingham Galley." John Deane, whose manners were such as to gain the
confidence of his fellow-men, soon found a hardy crew to man her. By
the time she was ready for sea, he had obtained a considerable share of
his prize-money. His brother Jasper, his cousin Nat, and his father,
with several other influential persons at Nottingham, took shares in the
speculation. It would be impossible to follow Deane in his various
journeys backwards and forwards to Norwich, Lynn, and Nottingham, while
the galley was getting ready for sea. At length, having received a part
of her cargo on board, sent from Norwich and Nottingham, and other
places to the west, he made sail for the Thames, where he was to receive
the remainder.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

ADVENTURE IN THE "NOTTINGHAM GALLEY"--SHIPWRECK.

Captain John Deane had now launched forth in a new character, that of a
merchant adventurer,