the coast of Portugal--but well out to sea, for the coast of Portugal
was none too healthy just then to English seamen--before commanding Sir
Oliver to be haled into his presence.

In the cramped quarters of the cabin in the poop of the little vessel
sat her captain at a greasy table, over which a lamp was swinging
faintly to the gentle heave of the ship. He was smoking a foul pipe,
whose fumes hung heavily upon the air of that little chamber, and there
was a bottle of Nantes at his elbow.

To him, sitting thus in state, was Sir Oliver introduced--his wrists
still pinioned behind him. He was haggard and hollow-eyed, and he
carried a week's growth of beard on his chin. Also his garments were
still in disorder from the struggle he had made when taken, and from the
fact that he had been compelled to lie in them ever since.

Since his height was such that it was impossible for him to stand
upright in that low-ceilinged cabin, a stool was thrust forward for
him by one of the ruffians of Leigh's crew who had haled him from his
confinement beneath the hatchway.

He sat down quite listlessly, and stared vacantly at the skipper. Master
Leigh was somewhat discomposed by this odd calm when he had looked for
angry outbursts. He dismissed the two seamen who fetched Sir Oliver,
and when they had departed and closed the cabin door he addressed his
captive.

"Sir Oliver," said he, stroking his red beard, "ye've been most foully
abused."

The sunshine filtered through one of the horn windows and beat full upon
Sir Oliver's expressionless face.

"It was not necessary, you knave, to bring me hither to tell me so
much." he answered.

"Quite so," said Master Leigh. "But I have something more to add. Ye'll
be thinking that I ha' done you a disservice. There ye wrong me.
Through me you are brought to know true friends from secret enemies;
henceforward ye'll know which to trust and which to mistrust."

Sir Oliver seemed to rouse himself a little from his passivity,
stimulated despite himself by the impudence of this rogue. He stretched
a leg and smiled sourly.

"You'll end by telling me that I am in your debt," said he.

"You'll end by saying so yourself," the captain assured him. "D'ye know
what I was bidden do with you?"

"Faith, I neither know nor care," was the surprising answer, wearily
delivered. "If it is for my entertainment that you propose to tell me, I
beg you'll spare yourself the trouble."

It was not an answer t