rowned. For a moment or two he stood, scraping the gravel
gently with the side of his boot. At last he spoke:

"Gentlemen, I thank you for your offer; and some day I may take
advantage of it to command you: for honest men (however wrong-headed)
and good commanders"--this with a slight bow--"are always scarce.
For the moment, however, I should feel that I wronged you by
accepting your service."

"Your Majesty is good to us. But our word holds."

"I thank you. I had guessed that. Nevertheless, I advise you, just
now, to return to England and wait. I have some knowledge of Captain
Salt's movements; and when last your lad was heard of he had parted
company with his father and was making for the coast. I have some
quickness in reading character; and there is a certain placid
obstinacy in that young man which persuades me he will reach Harwich
in time. Return, therefore, and wait with what patience you may.
Moreover, Captain Barker, I perceive that you are recovering from
some wound."

"Which explains, sire, the tardiness of my submission. I was
starting to seek an audience on the morning that you sailed from
Harwich, when your soldiers--"

"My soldiers?"

"Yes, sire; but perhaps they erred from abundance of zeal."

Portland looked at the speaker shrewdly. "You know more than you
tell us, my friend," he said quietly.

"Possibly, my lord; but it is nothing that can affect his Majesty
now."

"You are under some promise?" William asked gravely.

"We are, sire; but be assured that if it touched your welfare we had
never come to lay our services at your disposal."

"I believe you, my friends. And now, about starting for England--I
was about to propose that as Captain van Adrienssen's frigate--

"Captain van Adrienssen!"

"You know him? He is about to sail from Amsterdam in the frigate
_Merry Maid_ to escort a convoy of thirty-six merchantmen to the
Thames. If you start at once you will overtake him."

"Unfortunately, sire, Captain van Adrienssen will not be able to
start for many days."

"Eh?"

"He is unwell."

"Unwell? Why, it is not an hour since he left me!"

"Nevertheless--"

"Let me explain, sire," said Captain Runacles, stepping forward
again. "It happened thus. We met Captain van Adrienssen on our way
from The Hague."

"Yes, yes."

"And it appeared--though I had forgotten it--that twenty years ago I
had the imprudence to throw a boot at his head. It was off the
Texel--"

"Ha