“Ignorant!  Did he seem ignorant? perhaps”—­

“Say no more, my brave fellow, say no more,” interrupted Wilder’s considerate but choleric Commander.  “I nave met with such rebuffs myself; but we are above them, sir, far above them and their impertinences together.  No man need be ashamed of having earned his commission, as you and I have done, in fair weather and in foul.  Zounds, boy, I have fed one of the upstarts for a week, and then had him stare at a church across the way, when I have fallen in with him in the streets of London, in a fashion that might make a simple man believe the puppy knew for what it had been built.  Think no more of it, Harry; worse things have happened to myself, I do assure you.”

“I went by my assumed name while in yonder ship,” Wilder forced himself to add.  “Even the ladies who were the companions of my wreck, know me by no other.”

“Ah! that was prudent; and, after all, the young sprig was not pretending genteel ignorance.  How now, master Fid; you are welcome back to the Dart.’”

“I’ve taken the liberty to say as much already to myself, your Honour,” resumed the topman, who was busying himself, near his two officers, in a manner that seemed to invite their attention.  “A wholesome craft is yonder, and boldly is she commanded, and stoutly is she manned; but, for my part, having a character to lose, it is more to my taste to sail in a ship that can shew her commission, when properly called on for the same.”

The colour on Wilder’s cheeks went and came like the flushings of the evening sky, and his eyes were turned in every direction but that which would have encountered the astonished gaze of his veteran friend.

“I am not quite sure that I understand the meaning of the lad, Mr Ark.  Every officer, from the Captain to the boatswain, in the King’s fleet, that is, every man of common discretion, carries his authority to act as such with him to sea, or he might find himself in a situation as awkward as that of a pirate.”

“That is just what I said, sir; but schooling and long use have given your Honour a better outfit in words.  Guinea and I have often talked the matter over together, and serious thoughts has it given to us both, more than once, Captain Bignall.  ‘Suppose,’ says I to the black, ’suppose one of his Majesty’s boats should happen to fall in with this here craft, and we should come to loggerheads and matches,’ says I, ’what would the like of us two do in such a god-send?’—­’Why,’ says the black, ’we would stand to our guns on the side of master Harry,’ says he; nor did I gainsay the same; but, saving his presence and your Honour’s, I just took the liberty to add, that, in my poor opinion, it would be much more comfortable to be killed in an honest ship than on the deck of a buccaneer.”

“A buccaneer!” exclaimed his Commander, with eyes distended, and an open mouth.

“Captain Bignall,” said Wilder, “I may have offended past forgiveness, in remaining so long silent; but, when you hear my tale, there may be found some passages that shall plead my apology.  The vessel in sight is the ship of the renowned Red Rover—­nay listen, I conjure you by all that kindness you have so long shewn me, and then censure as you will.”