ithout order or
discipline, which will be needed in such an affair. Marot has but to go
down amongst them some dark night, knock off their anklets, and fit them
up with a few stanchions or cudgels. Ho, ho, Micah! what think you? The
planters may dig their plantations themselves for all the help they are
like to get from West countrymen this bout.'

'It is, indeed, a well-conceived plan,' said I. 'It is a pity, Saxon,
that your ready wit and quick invention hath not had a fair field. You
are, us I know well, as fit to command armies and to order campaigns as
any man that ever bore a truncheon.'

'Mark ye there!' whispered Saxon, grasping me by the arm. 'See where
the moonlight falls beside the hatchway! Do you not see that short squat
seaman who stands alone, lost in thought, with his head sunk upon his
breast? It is Marot! I tell you that if I were Captain Pogram I would
rather have the devil himself, horns, hoofs, and tail, for my first
mate and bunk companion, than have that man aboard my ship. You need not
concern yourself about the prisoners, Micah. Their future is decided.'

'Then, Saxon,' I answered, 'it only remains for me to thank you, and to
accept the means of safety which you have placed within my reach.'

'Spoken like a man,' said he; 'is there aught which I may do for thee in
England? though, by the Mass, I may not be here very long myself, for,
as I understand, I am to be entrusted with the command of an expedition
that is fitting out against the Indians, who have ravaged the
plantations of our settlers. It will be good to get to some profitable
employment, for such a war, without either fighting or plunder, I have
never seen. I give you my word that I have scarce fingered silver since
the beginning of it. I would not for the sacking of London go through
with it again.'

'There is a friend whom Sir Gervas Jerome did commend to my care,' I
remarked; 'I have, however, already taken measures to have his wishes
carried out. There is naught else save to assure all in Havant that a
King who hath battened upon his subjects, as this one of ours hath done,
is not one who is like to keep his seat very long upon the throne of
England. When he falls I shall return, and perhaps it may be sooner than
folk think.'

'These doings in the West have indeed stirred up much ill-feeling all
over the country,' said my companion. 'On all hands I hear that there is
more hatred of the King and of his ministers than before the