her._) Your Royal Highness, may I present you Mrs.
George Frederick Austin? (_The curtain falls on a few bars of "The Lass
of Richmond Hill."_)

ADMIRAL GUINEA

DEDICATED
WITH AFFECTION AND ESTEEM TO

ANDREW LANG

BY THE SURVIVORS OF
THE _WALRUS_

SAVANNAH, _this 27th day of
September, 1884_

PERSONS REPRESENTED

JOHN GAUNT, called "ADMIRAL GUINEA," once Captain of the Slaver
_Arethusa_

ARETHUSA GAUNT, his Daughter

DAVID PEW, a Blind Beggar, once Boatswain of the _Arethusa_

KIT FRENCH, a Privateersman

MRS. DRAKE, Landlady of the "Admiral Benbow" Inn

The Scene is laid in the neighbourhood of Barnstaple. The Time is about
the year 1760. The Action occupies part of a day and night

NOTE.--_Passages suggested for omission in representation are enclosed
in parentheses, thus_ ( )

ADMIRAL GUINEA

ACT I

_The Stage represents a room in Admiral Guinea's house: fireplace,
arm-chair, and table with Bible, L., towards the front; door C., with
window on each side, the window on the R. practicable; doors R. and
L., back; corner cupboard, a brass-strapped sea-chest fixed to the
wall and floor, R.; cutlasses, telescopes, sextant, quadrant, a
calendar, and several maps upon the wall; a ship clock; three wooden
chairs; a dresser against wall, R.C.; on the chimney-piece the model
of a brig and several shells. The centre bare of furniture. Through
the windows and the door, which is open, green trees and a small field
of sea_

SCENE I

_ARETHUSA is discovered, dusting_

ARETHUSA. Ten months and a week to-day! Now for a new mark. Since the
last, the sun has set and risen over the fields and the pleasant trees
at home, and on Kit's lone ship and the empty sea. Perhaps it blew,
perhaps rained; (_at the chart_) perhaps he was far up here to the
nor'ard, where the icebergs sail; perhaps at anchor among these wild
islands of the snakes and buccaneers. O, you big chart, if I could see
him sailing on you! North and South Atlantic; such a weary sight of
water and no land; never an island for the poor lad to land upon. But
still God's there. (_She takes down the telescope to dust it._) Father's
spy-glass again; and my poor Kit perhaps with such another, sweeping the
great deep!

SCENE II

_ARETHUSA; to her, KIT, C. He enters on tiptoe, and she does not see
or hear him._

ARETHUSA (_dus