off with the ale for to-night. Can you tell me how the land lies, with
the rest of the company?"

"You couldn't have asked a better person, your honour, as I've just been
passing through all the rooms, from a sort of habit I has, sir; for,
d'ye see, I thought I was in the old Planter, and that it was my duty to
overlook every thing, as usual. The last pull at the ale, put that
notion in my head; but it's gone now, and I see how matters is. Yes,
sir, the mainmast of a church isn't stiffer and more correct-like, than
my judgment is, at this blessed moment. Sir Wycherly guv' me a glass of
his black-strap, as I ran through the dining-room, and told me to drink
'Confusion to the Pretender,' which I did, with hearty good-will; but
his liquor will no more lay alongside of the ale they've down on the
orlop, than a Frenchman will compare with an Englishman. What's your
opinion, Admiral Blue, consarning this cruise of the Pretender's son, up
in the Highlands of Scotland?"

Bluewater gave a quick, distrustful glance at the steward, for he knew
that the fellow was half his time in the outer cabin and pantries of the
Plantagenet, and he could not tell how much of his many private
dialogues with Sir Gervaise, might have been overheard. Meeting with
nothing but the unmeaning expression of one half-seas-over, his
uneasiness instantly subsided.

"I think it a gallant enterprise, Galleygo," he answered; too manly even
to feign what he did not believe; "but I fear as a _cruise_, it will not
bring much prize-money. You have forgotten you were about to tell me how
the land lies. Sir Wycherly, Mr. Dutton, Mr. Rotherham, are still at the
table, I fancy--are these all? What have become of the two young
gentlemen?"

"There's none ashore, sir," said Galleygo, promptly, accustomed to give
that appellation only to midshipmen.

"I mean the two Mr. Wychecombes; one of whom, I had forgot, is actually
an officer."

"Yes, sir, and a most partic'lar fine officer he is, as every body says.
Well, sir, _he's_ with the ladies; while his namesake has gone back to
the table, and has put luff upon luff, to fetch up leeway."

"And the ladies--what have they done with themselves, in this scene of
noisy revelry?"

"They'se in yonder state-room, your honour. As soon as they found how
the ship was heading, like all women-craft, they both makes for the best
harbour they could run into. Yes, they'se yonder."

As Galleygo pointed to the door of the room he