The Cruise of the Nonsuch Buccaneer | Page 3

caught you in his embargo."
"Iss, fegs; and so mun very nearly did," answered the captain; "indeed, if it hadn't ha' been for young Garge Saint Leger--who, bein' out of his time, I've made pilot in place of poor Matthews, who was killed in a bout wi' the Barbary rovers on our outward voyage--he'd ha' had us, sure as pigs baint nightingales. But Garge have got the fiend's own gift for tongues and languages, and the night avore we sailed he happened to be ashore lookin' round Santander, and while he were standin' on one side of a pillar in a church he heard two Spanishers on t'other side of that there same pillar talkin' about the embargo that King Philip was goin' to declare again' the English at midnight that very night as ever was. Like a good boy, Garge waited until the two Spanishers had left the church, and then comed straight down aboard and told me what he'd heard. At first I didn't put very much faith in the yarn, I'll own to't, but that there Garge so pestered and worrited me that at last I let mun have mun's way; and ten minutes afore midnight the Bonaventure was under way and standin' out o' the harbour. We managed to get out without bein' fired upon by the batteries. But if you'll believe me, sir, they sent a galley out a'ter us, and if it hadn't ha' happened that the wind was blowin' fresh from about west, and a nasty lump of a beam sea runnin', dang my ugly buttons if that galley wouldn't ha' had us! But the galley rolled so heavy that they couldn't use their oars to advantage, while the Bonaventure is so fast as any dolphin with a beam wind and enough of it to make us furl our topgallants; so we got away."
"And a very smart piece of work, too, apparently," said Mr Marshall. "I must not forget to thank George Saint Leger for his share in it. Has your voyage been a success, Captain?"
"So, so; I don't think you'll find much to complain about when we comes to go into the figures," answered Burroughs. "We had a bit of a brush wi' the rovers, who comed out against us in three ships, during our outward voyage, but we beat 'em off wi' the loss of only one man--poor Matthews, as I mentioned just now--since when we've had no call to fire a single shot."
"Excellent, excellent!" commented the merchant, rubbing his hands. "Of course I am very sorry to learn that Matthews was slain; but these things will happen at sea from time to time. Well, to-morrow we will have the hatches off and begin discharging. While that is proceeding I must consider what next to do with the ship; for it will be useless to think of further trade with the Mediterranean while the Spanish embargo lasts, and Heaven only knows how long that will be."
"Ay," assented Burroughs. "'Tis a pity that her Grace up to Whitehall can't make up her mind one way or t'other about this here Spanish business; whether she'll be friends wi' Philip, or will fight mun. For all this here shilly-shallyin', first one way and then t'other, be terrible upsettin' to folks like we. But there, what be I grumblin' about? 'Twont make a mort o' difference to me, because I've made up my mind as it's time for me to knock off the sea and settle down snug and comfortable ashore for the rest of my days. I be that bad wi' the rheumatics that I've got to get the cabin boy to help me put on my clothes, and when there be a sea runnin' and the ship do roll a bit I can't sleep for the pain in my j'ints. So, Mr Marshall, I may 's well give 'e notice, here and now, so's you'll ha' plenty of time to look about 'e for another cap'n."
"Dear me, dear me! I am very sorry to hear that, Cap'n," exclaimed Mr Marshall. "But," he continued, "ever since the declaration of the embargo I have been thinking what I would do with the Bonaventure in the event of her escaping from the Spaniards, and I had almost decided to lay her up until the dispute is settled one way or the other. Now if you stay ashore until that time arrives, and take care of yourself, perhaps you will find yourself quite able to take command of her again when she next goes to sea."
"No," asserted Burroughs decisively; "I ha' made up my mind, and I'll stick to it. The sea's no place for a man afflicted as I be. Besides, I ha' done very well in the matter o' they private ventures that you've allowed me