d
the boiling of a great caldron of pitch. Each loophole in palisade and
fort had already its marksman. Through the west port came a horde of
reluctant invaders,--cattle, swine, and poultry,--driven in by yelling
boys.

I made my way through the press to where I saw the Governor, surrounded
by Councilors and Burgesses, sitting on a keg of powder, and issuing
orders at the top of his voice. "Ha, Captain Percy!" he cried, as I came
up. "You are in good time, man! You've served your apprenticeship at the
wars. You must teach us how to beat the dons."

"To Englishmen, that comes by nature, sir," I said. "Art sure we are to
have the pleasure?"

"Not a doubt of it this time," he answered. "The ship slipped in past
the Point last night. Davies signaled her to stop, and then sent a ball
over her; but she kept on. True, it was too dark to make out much; but
if she were friendly, why did she not stop for castle duties? Moreover,
they say she was of at least five hundred tons, and no ship of that size
hath ever visited these waters. There was no wind, and they sent a man
on at once, hoping to outstrip the enemy and warn us. The man changed
horses at Basse's Choice, and passed the ship about dawn. All he could
tell for the mist was that it was a very great ship, with three tiers of
guns."

"The flag?"

"She carried none."

"Humph!" I said. "It hath a suspicious look. At least we do well to be
ready. We'll give them a warm welcome."

"There are those here who counsel surrender," continued the Governor.
"There's one, at least, who wants the Tiger sent downstream with a white
flag and my sword."

"Where?" I cried. "He's no Englishman, I warrant!"

"As much an Englishman as thou, sir!" called out a gentleman whom I had
encountered before, to wit, Master Edward Sharpless. "It's well enough
for swingebuckler captains, Low Country fire-eaters, to talk of holding
out againt a Spanish man-of-war with twice our number of fighting men,
and enough ordnance to batter the town out of existence. Wise men know
when the odds are too heavy!"

"It's well enough for lily-livered, goose-fleshed lawyers to hold their
tongues when men and soldiers talk," I retorted. "We are not making
indentures to the devil, and so have no need of such gentry."

There was a roar of laughter from the captains and gunners, but terror
of the Spaniard had made Master Edward Sharpless bold to all besides.

"They will wipe us off the face of the earth!" he lam