ds, and let us make an end
of my present condition."

"Faith, I am glad to deal with so sensible a man! Ye take it in the
proper spirit. Ye see that what I ha' done I ha' but done in the way of
my calling, that I am but a tool, and that what blame there be belongs
to them which hired me to this deed."

"Aye, ye're but a tool--a dirty tool, whetted with gold; no more. 'Tis
admitted. Cut me these bonds, a God's name! I'm weary o' being trussed
like a capon."

The captain drew his knife, crossed to Sir Oliver's side and slashed his
bonds away without further word. Sir Oliver stood up so suddenly that
he smote his head against the low ceiling of the cabin, and so sat down
again at once. And in that moment from without and above there came a
cry which sent the skipper to the cabin door. He flung it open, and
so let out the smoke and let in the sunshine. He passed out on to
the poop-deck, and Sir Oliver--conceiving himself at liberty to do
so--followed him.

In the waist below a little knot of shaggy seamen were crowding to
the larboard bulwarks, looking out to sea; on the forecastle there was
another similar assembly, all staring intently ahead and towards the
land. They were off Cape Roca at the time, and when Captain Leigh saw by
how much they had lessened their distance from shore since last he had
conned the ship, he swore ferociously at his mate who had charge of the
wheel. Ahead of them away on their larboard bow and in line with the
mouth of the Tagus from which she had issued--and where not a doubt but
she had been lying in wait for such stray craft as this--came a great
tall-masted ship, equipped with top-gallants, running wellnigh before
the wind with every foot of canvas spread.

Close-hauled as was the Swallow and with her top-sails and mizzen reefed
she was not making more than one knot to the Spaniard's five--for that
she was a Spaniard was beyond all doubt judging by the haven whence she
issued.

"Luff alee!" bawled the skipper, and he sprang to the wheel, thrusting
the mate aside with a blow of his elbow that almost sent him sprawling.

"'Twas yourself set the course," the fellow protested.

"Thou lubberly fool," roared the skipper. "I bade thee keep the same
distance from shore. If the land comes jutting out to meet us, are we to
keep straight on until we pile her up?" He spun the wheel round in his
hands, and turned her down the wind. Then he relinquished the helm to
the mate again. "Hold her thus