reason to suspect fraud of
any description, he, without hesitation, took the ship on to Eastling
Sound. She had not been long at anchor before Lawrence Brindister--who,
as was his custom, had been at an early hour of the morning out
fishing--espied her, and very soon made his appearance on board.
Lawrence walked about the deck admiring the guns and the carved and gilt
work with which the ship was adorned; for it was the custom, especially
in the Spanish navy, in those days to ornament ships of war far more
profusely than at present. At length Don Hernan came on deck. He
observed the skiff alongside; and his eye falling on Lawrence, he very
naturally at first took him to be some poor fisherman habited in the
cast-off finery of a gentleman. Lawrence, however, guessed who he was
from his uniform, and, shuffling along the deck, made him one of his
profoundest bows, which Don Hernan returned with one in the same style.

As it had not been, impressed on Lawrence's mind that there existed
numerous nations speaking different tongues, he at once addressed the
Spanish captain in English.

"Your people, good sir, have been very silent: not one has spoken to me
since I stepped on board this trim craft of yours; for you have, I
conclude, the happiness of being her captain, and you have, I hope, a
tongue with which to hold pleasant and profitable converse."

"I command this ship, and I am able to converse in English," answered
Don Hernan, wondering who his strange visitor could be. "May I ask in
return whom I have the honour of addressing?"

"No less a person than Lawrence Brindister, Lord of Lunnasting Castle
and the lands adjacent," answered Lawrence, drawing himself up--"that is
to say, who would be, and should be, and ought to be, had not certain
traitorous and vile persons, who shall be nameless, interfered with his
just rights, and ousted him from his property. But say not a word about
that, most noble stranger. `A guid time is coming--a guid time is
coming.' `The prince shall have his ain again!'"

Don Hernan at once perceived his visitor's state of mind.

"I had thought that Sir Marcus Wardhill was Lord of Lunnasting, though I
am aware that, from times immemorial, it has been held by Brindisters,
of whom I conclude you are one," remarked the captain.

"Ay, there's the rub," said Lawrence. "You see, most noble captain,
I've a difficulty in steering my craft; I never can keep her in good
trim. Sometimes she luf