nd its people are not much
given to travelling or to gossip with any but their nearest neighbours.
Hast no more precise knowledge?"

"None, except that Rob dwells with a tall fellow named Morgan."

Again the sallow stranger eyed his companion keenly. He shook his
head. "Tall fellows are not scarce amongst the foresters, and Morgans
are as plentiful as oak trees."

"Then am I like to be long a-searching. However, tired eyes ne'er
found a treasure; I must find Rob and the fellow with whom he dwells.
How far is it to Gloucester now?"

"A matter of less than three miles to the Cross."

"Dost know of a good inn, one where beef and ale is not stinted, and
where the hay in the beds is sweet?"

"There's the 'New Inn' in the Northgate Street, as snug a place as a
man can wish to put head into on a cold day. I shall rest there until
to-morrow."

"Then I'll cast anchor there also. I can afford to pay for good
lodgings." The sailor jingled some coins in his pouch, and sang again,

"Then ho! for the Spanish Main,
And ha! for the Spanish gold."

His companion interrupted him. "When I startled thee just now, did I
not hear thy lips utter a Spanish oath?"

"Likely enough; I have a goodly stock of them, and one jumps out at
times if it happens to be near the top. How didst thou recognize it
for Spanish?"

"Because I have some knowledge of that tongue."

The sailor turned sharp on the speaker, halted, and scrutinized him
closely. "Thy face is yellow enough for a subject of King Philip," he
said slowly; "but the general cut of thee is English."

"I am English."

"Hast sailed the Spanish Main?"

"No; I am a scholar, not a sailor. I am as well acquainted with
French, Latin, and Greek as with Spanish and English."

"What a gift!" exclaimed the sailor admiringly. "There is not much
body about thee; but now I look into thy face and mark thine eyes,
forehead, and jowl, can well credit thee with brains. I wish I had met
thee in Plymouth."

"Why, friend?"

"Because I have some papers writ in Spanish that I'd give much to
decipher. Confidence for confidence, let me tell thee that I am no
scholar, but just a simple sailor--"

"Who knows the Spanish Main, eh?"

"As a farmer knows his own duck pond."

"Ah! these are fine times for the brave lads who sail the seas."

"My own opinion, brother. I thank God I became a man whilst Queen Bess
was a woman! The west wind blows fortunes into Devon ports nowada