our armament made an exceeding fair show as we
sailed with a fair wind out of Barfleur Harbour, and great joy I had
that such good fortune had attended my embassage to our great governor.

And indeed, though I remember not exactly after these many years the
number of the ships, I think there were at least five score, and in each
ship close on five-and-thirty men-at-arms, besides the sailors who had
the management of the sailing. Duke William, when thus aroused, did not
things by halves. And as we rounded Pointe de Barfleur, and saw on the
one side Cape de la Hague looming through the morning air, our fleet
rode in a fair line forward, making a semicircle as they sat gaily on
the sparkling waves.

And in the ship that was at the northern horn of this great bow was
Samson, and I by his favour with him, and the man on the look-out in
this great ship, that was called _Le Saint Michel_, saw more clearly
than any other of the mariners of what lay ahead. Now, _Le Saint Michel_
was the ship Duke William loved, and indeed it was both stout and
strong, and made for swiftness rather than great burthen. And being the
favourite ship of the duke, it was gloriously dight with gold and
colour, so that it looked right noble as the sun glinted on its golden
vanes, and lit up the splendour of its close-woven sails of crimson,
whereon two lions were curiously blazoned. And before upon the prow, as
it cleaved the waves, sat St. Michael with wings outspread, white as the
gulls that circled around our fleet, as though he were indeed bearing us
forward with good hope upon our journey.

"Look you!" said Samson, shading his eyes with his hand as he leant with
his arm on the gunwale; "we take our track neatly betwixt Auremen and
the Hague, and in so fair a day as this have no fear to run close by
yonder cursed Casquettes, where many a good ship hath met its doom. Dost
thou see them yet?"

"Yea," I said. "There, like a rough, jagged set of teeth, they spring
yonder from the calm waves and a long track they make where thou seest
the foam on either side."

"Then we will have no risk of our good men," said Samson, presently.
"Port helm, man, and keep a clear mile from yonder hungry rocks."

Soon the north coast of Guernsey hove in sight, and earnestly I gazed
forth for signs of any pirate ships that might intend to do battle with
us on the sea. And, indeed, it was well to look, for around from the
Grand Havre as we approached swept a great stra