he
was dying since we took our first lurch into the free sea. Your Knight
of the Rueful Countenance flies from me whenever he sees me afar; your
French captain might be an Englishman, he is so sulky; and as for your
English paragon there,"--and she pointed to the gallant who was
strutting on the forward deck--"he frightens me with his frenzies and
raptures. Do you all make love that way in England?"

"No," said I, "I think not."

"Why, Humphrey, you talk as if you knew not; I would have vowed you had
a sweetheart of your own, with the rest of them."

"Maybe I have," said I.

Just then to my relief, Ludar came up.

"Sir Ludar," I said, "this lady complains that you, who are so brave,
run away whenever she looks your way."

Neither the maiden nor Ludar liked my clumsy speech.

"Nay, Sir Malapert," said she, "I complain not of what contents me.
Besides, Sir Ludar has been better employed in nursing you."

"If I be a coward," said Ludar, "it's because I dread a frown more than
a battle-axe."

The maiden looked up at him, with the gentle light in her eyes which I
had marked before now.

"If you dread frowns," said she, laughing, "never look in your mirror,
Sir Ludar; for, by my faith, you glare at me now as if I were an English
poet, such as now approacheth." We looked up and there was our gallant
at our elbows.

"As the loadstone to his star, as the compass to the pole, as the river
to the sea, so come I, fair tyrant of my heart. For thy sake, I even
salute these thy satellites, O moon of my vision! who derive from thee
their lustre."

"Witness Sir Ludar's countenance," said the maiden. "But now that the
sun has come on the horizon, Sir Poet, shall not we lesser lights all
pale? Pray, did you catch any fish to-day?"

"Nay, mistress mine, how should the silly fish, dazzled by thy heavenly
brightness, see the humble bait of a mortal?"

"I know not," said the maiden, "but I saw one sailor, an hour ago, catch
three."

"Is it a wonder, since you watched the quivering line? Mark you, my
humble friends," said he, turning to Ludar and me. "I relieve you of
your further attendance on me and this lady. I thank you, and so
farewell, till we summon you further."

"Nay, Sir Poet," said the maiden, "if you must be gone, adieu. As for
me, Sir Ludar is about to teach me the mystery of the angle, and
Humphrey waits on Sir Ludar. Therefore, concern yourself not for me; I
am well attended."

"Oh," said he, r