all the assistance in my power."

"Thank you, friend!" exclaimed A'Dale; "though I doubt not we should be
able to beat back any marauders, yet a few more stout arms would be of
great assistance."

But I was not quite so willing to accept the offer of the stranger. I
had learnt caution. It was a quality greatly inculcated on all his
inferiors by Sir Thomas Gresham. Perhaps, I thought, this very man is
only a confederate, and hopes thus to obtain quiet possession of the
vessel.

"Thank you, my friend," I answered, turning to the stranger. "We will
communicate your offer to the captain; but we are only passengers on
board; we have no command over her, and without his sanction I cannot
venture to accept your offer."

"I understand," answered the stranger, promptly; "I do not take your
remarks amiss. I mean you well; but you are very right not to accept
such an offer without consideration. My vessel, the _Falcon_, lies
rather lower down the river. Your captain will easily discover her; and
if, on consideration, he wishes to receive the assistance of an honest
man, who esteems his employer, and is well able to render aid, he can
summon me, and I will come with a boat's crew, or two may be, and fight
as I should were my own vessel attacked."

Saying these words, the stranger shook our hands warmly, and disappeared
in the gloom.

A'Dale and I continued our walk. He seemed to think that I had been
ungrateful in not accepting the assistance so freely offered. I
explained my reasons. He saw that I was right. It was then too late to
get a boat; indeed, so small was the amount of cargo as yet shipped--of
which the pirates were well aware--that there was no fear of their
attacking her that night. We agreed, therefore, that I should go aboard
the first thing in the morning to speak to the captain, leaving A'Dale
to look after the goods on shore.

I also proposed engaging a few stout fellows, well-armed, in addition to
our own crew, and thus hoped to be able to repel any attack the pirates
might make upon us.

The next morning, the instant the grey dawn streamed into our chamber,
we sprang out of bed. We wished to leave the house unobserved, in case
any of the sea-robbers or their confederates might be living there. To
prevent them from discovering what we were about, should any one observe
us, we took our way directly from the river; and then turning round
again through some narrow streets, once more hurried to