se, with a crimson velvet cap, in front of which was stuck a feather
of the same hue, secured by a gold brooch, set jauntily upon his head.
"But by my faith, my masters, we were only just in time. Mr Bascomb,
put up your helm, and hoist away your topsails again. And now, gentles
both, who be ye; and how came ye to be in so awkward a scrape as that
from which we have just rescued ye?"

This was evidently the captain of the ship; so Stukely, taking the lead
as usual, explained in a few brief words the particulars of their
mishap, thanked the unknown for his kindness in taking the trouble to
pick them up, and concluded by expressing the hope that the individual
to whom he was speaking would have the great goodness to stand inshore
and land them on the nearest point that he could conveniently fetch.

The captain--for such he proved to be, introducing himself as John
Marshall, captain of the good ship _Adventure_ of Topsham, westward
bound to the Indies in quest of Spanish booty--shook his head
good-naturedly but firmly.

"Nay, friend, that I cannot and will not do, for here have we spent the
whole of last night and to-day working down channel as far as this, and
now that we have at last caught a fair slant of wind I will make the
most thereof, not risking the loss of it to land any man, yea, even
though he were my own brother! The utmost that I can promise is, that
if we should fall in with a coaster, or other ship, bound up-channel, or
should sight a fishing boat, I will delay my voyage just long enough to
put ye on board, but not a minute longer. And if so be we do not
encounter another craft, you will e'en both have to join us, for we have
here no room for idlers. And now, hie you both away into the cabin, and
take off your wet clothes; Mr Bascomb, the master, will furnish you
with dry clothing from the slop chest--though I misdoubt me," he
continued, running his eye dubiously over Chichester's stalwart frame,
"whether he will find any ample enough to clothe your friend withal.
And when ye have changed, sup with us in the cabin, and we will talk
further together."

Marshall then beckoned to Bascomb, and gave the latter instructions to
open the slop chest and do his best to provide the newcomers with dry
clothes; whereupon the master, in turn, beckoned to Philip and Dick to
follow him below, where in due time both were provided with a change of
clothing, the resources of the slop chest happily proving fully equal