nd even if it come on, Tom and I shall manage. But you will be
badly off in that case, Brown. After all, you are right; the main danger
is for you."

Lyth, knowing well how important it was that each man should play his
part with true good-will, shifted his ground thus to satisfy the other,
who was not the man to shrink from peril, but liked to have his share
acknowledged.

"Ay, ay, captain, you see clear enough, though Tom here has not got the
gumption," the man of Grimsby answered, with a lofty smile. "Everybody
knows pretty well what William Brown is. When there is anything that
needs a bit of pluck, it is sure to be put upon old Bill Brown. And
never you come across the man, Captain Lyth, as could say that Bill
Brown was not all there. Now orders is orders, lad. Tip us your latest."

"Then latest orders are to this effect. Toward dusk of night you stand
in first, a league or more ahead of us, according to the daylight,
Tom to the north of you, and me to the south, just within signaling
distance. The Kestrel and Albatross will come to speak the Swordfish off
Robin Hood's Bay, at that very hour, as we happen to be aware. You sight
them, even before they sight you, because you know where to look for
them, and you keep a sharper look-out, of course. Not one of them will
sight us, so far off in the offing. Signal immediately, one, two, or
three; and I heartily hope it will be all three. Then you still stand
in, as if you could not see them; and they begin to laugh, and draw
inshore; knowing the Inlander as they do, they will hug the cliffs for
you to run into their jaws. Tom and I bear off, all sail, never allowing
them to sight us. We crack on to the north and south, and by that time
it will be nearly dark. You still carry on, till they know that you must
see them; then 'bout ship, and crowd sail to escape. They give chase,
and you lead them out to sea, and the longer you carry on, the better.
Then, as they begin to fore-reach, and threaten to close, you 'bout ship
again, as in despair, run under their counters, and stand in for the
bay. They may fire at you; but it is not very likely, for they would not
like to sink such a valuable prize; though nobody else would have much
fear of that."

"Captain, I laugh at their brass kettle-pots. They may blaze away as
blue as verdigris. Though an Englishman haven't no right to be shot at,
only by a Frenchman."

"Very well, then, you hold on, like a Norfolk man, through the th