d mastered the chart before he sailed, and when they were
well on their way he disclosed to the captain the object of their
voyage. Berigord listened to all he had to say, and at first did no more
than blow tobacco smoke hard before him. "Let me see the chart," he said
at last, and, scrutinising it carefully, added: "Yes, yes, 'tis right
enough. I've been in the port and up the river. But neither we nor the
Eng lish'll get a handful of gold or silver thereabouts. 'Tis throwing
good money after none at all."

"The money is mine, my captain," said Iberville good-humouredly. "There
will be sport, and I ask but that you give me every chance you can."

"Look then, monsieur," replied the smileless man, "I'll run your ship
for all she holds from here to hell, if you twist your finger. She's as
good a craft as ever I spoke, and I'll swear her for any weather. The
fighting and the gold as you and the devil agree!"

Iberville wished nothing better--a captain concerned only with his own
duties. Berigord gathered the crew and the divers on deck, and in half a
dozen words told them the object of the expedition, and was followed by
Iberville. Some of the men had been with him to Hudson's Bay, and they
wished nothing better than fighting the English, and all were keen with
the lust of gold even though it were for another. As it was, Iberville
promised them all a share of what was got.

On the twentieth day after leaving Quebec they sighted islands, and
simultaneously they saw five ships bearing away towards them. Iberville
was apprehensive that a fleet of the kind could only be hostile, for
merchant-ships would hardly sail together so, and it was not possible
that they were French. There remained the probability that they were
Spanish or English ships. He had no intention of running away, but
at the same time he had no wish to fight before he reached Port de la
Planta and had had his hour with Gering and Phips and the lost treasure.
Besides, five ships was a large undertaking, which only a madman would
willingly engage. However, he kept steadily on his course. But there was
one chance of avoiding a battle without running away--the glass had been
falling all night and morning. Berigord, when questioned, grimly replied
that there was to be trouble, but whether with the fleet or the elements
was not clear, and Iberville did not ask.

He got his reply effectively and duly however. A wind suddenly sprang
up from the north-west, followe