“What!  Did you choose to fight under the banners of the Church?”

“In mere devotion.  I pictured to myself the surprise that would overcome the barbarian, when he should find that we did not go to prayers.  We gave him but a round or two, before he swore that Allah had decreed he might surrender.  There was a moment while I luffed-up on his weather-quarter, I believe, that the Mussulman thought the whole of the holy Conclave was afloat, and that the downfall of Mahomet and his offspring was ordained.  I provoked the conflict, I will confess, in showing him these peaceful Keys, which he is dull enough to think open half the strong boxes of Christendom.”

“When he had confessed his error, you let him go?”

“Hum!—­with my blessing.  There was some interchange of commodities between us, and then we parted.  I left him smoking his pipe, in a heavy sea with his fore-topmast over the side, his mizzenmast under his counter, and some six or seven holes in his bottom, that let in the water just as fast as the pumps discharged it.  You see he was in a fair way to acquire his portion of the inheritance.  But Heaven had ordained it all, and he was satisfied!”

“And what flags are these which you have passed?  They seem rich, and many.”

“These are England; like herself, aristocratic, party-coloured, and a good deal touched by humour.  Here is bunting to note all ranks and conditions, as if men were not made of the same flesh, and the people of one kingdom might not all sail honestly under the same emblems.  Here is my Lord High Admiral; your St. George; your field of red, and of blue, as chance may give you a leader, or the humour of the moment prevail; the stripes of mother India, and the Royal Standard itself!”

“The Royal Standard!”

“Why not?  A commander is termed a ‘monarch in his ship.’  Ay; this is the Standard of the King and, what is more, it has been worn in presence of an Admiral!”

“This needs explanation!” exclaimed his listener who seemed to feel much that sort of horror that a churchman would discover at the detection of sacrilege.  “To wear the Royal Standard in presence of a flag!  We all know how difficult, and even dangerous, it becomes, to sport a simple pennant, with the eyes of a King’s cruiser on us—­”

“I love to flaunt the rascals!” interrupted the other, with a smothered, but bitter laugh.  “There is pleasure in the thing!—­In order to punish, they must possess the power; an experiment often made, but never yet successful.  You understand balancing accounts with the law, by showing a broad sheet of canvas!  I need say no more.”

“And which of all these flags do you most use?” demanded Wilder, after a moment of intense thought.

“As to mere sailing, I am as whimsical as a girl in her teens in the choice of her ribbons.  I will often show you a dozen in a day.  Many is the worthy trader who has gone into port with his veritable account of this Dutchman, or that Dane, with whom he has spoken in the offing.  As to fighting, though I have been known to indulge a humour, too, in that particular, still is there one which I most affect.”