ll suit a brave man's spirit--plenty to
see, plenty to do, the chance of a fight, and the chance of a
fortune. I should like to know what one could want, better than
that. Besides, all are in high feather at the quality of the food,
which they say the like of was never known on shipboard before; and
that goes a long way. It is the fasting man who kicks. The full one
is content, however matters go."

Pengarvan had not again opened his lips. He nodded occasionally,
and that was all his captain expected of him; but the fact that he
had guessed the destination of the ship, added to the esteem which
Reuben Hawkshaw had for his second mate.

Three days later Reuben Hawkshaw called the crew together, and
informed them of their destination. He possessed the rough
eloquence best suited for the class he was addressing, and carried
his hearers with him. He spoke as if the idea, that any of them
could shrink from undertaking such an adventure, had not entered
his mind; but assumed that they were the most fortunate of men, in
having such a chance offered to them.

"You do not yet know," he said, "how great a piece of good fortune
has befallen you, by being chosen to sail with me on this voyage.
Had the news been as much as whispered, in Plymouth, I could have
gathered a thousand volunteers in an hour. You all know how careful
have been the preparations for the voyage, how strongly we are
manned, how well we are armed, what stores of excellent provisions
and what casks of good cider and ale are in the hold.

"Now I am going to tell you what all this is for. We are going,
lads, to get gold; and if we succeed, as I doubt not we shall, each
man on his return will, in addition to his wages, have a share in
the spoil--such a share as will, I hope, make him comfortable for
life."

A loud cheer broke from the men, as they pressed forward eagerly to
listen.

"I have learned, lads," he said, "from a Spaniard who has been out
there, of a land abounding with gold, lying to the west of the
Spanish Islands. As yet, none of them have ventured thither; and I
mean that we shall be the first to reap the harvest. Why should
these Spaniards keep every good thing to themselves? We are as good
sailors as they are, and better; as good men, and better.
Therefore, I say, we will have a share of the prizes.

"We shall touch on our way at some of the islands, for wood and
water and fruit and vegetables. There are plenty of them where we
can find th