of me. We can converse while I work, but it will not do for us to be
seen talking too much. The less we are noticed together the better for
our necks. How came you here, master? I had no thought of seeing you in
such company."

I told him as briefly as possible while he continued to coil the rope.

"Aye," said he, when I had finished my story, "I expected something of
that sort. Well, I am glad that the old Hawthorn left me swimming,
though sorry enough that all her merry men are gone down below. But
what! death must come. Now, young master, what can we do? I swore a
solemn oath when your good uncle befriended me that I would serve you.
This is the time. What can I do?"

"Alas," said I, "I know not."

"Do you know whither we are bound?" he asked.

"The Captain says to the West Indies. But I do not know if that be true
or false."

"More likely to be false than true, master. Now, then, hearken to me,
young sir. I have seen a deal of life, and have been a mariner this
thirty year or more. We must use our wits. Can you, do you think, find
out what our destination really is?"

"I am afraid not," I replied. "Nunez will not tell me more than he has
already told me."

"True," said he; "true--you will get naught out of him. But I have a
better chance. I can talk to the men--well it is that I know their lingo
sufficiently for that. But nay, I will not talk to them, I will listen
instead. They do not know that I understand Spanish. There are three of
them speak broken English--they shall do the talking. I will keep my
ears open for their Spanish--peradventure I shall hear something worth
my trouble. You see, master, if we only know where we are going, and
what we have to expect when we get there, we shall be in a much better
position than we are now. For now we are as men that walk in a fog, not
knowing where the next step will take them."

"I will do whatever you wish," said I.

"Then be careful not to have over-much converse with me, master. Yon
Nunez has the eye of a hawk and the stealth of a viper, and if he does
but suspect that you and I are in treaty together, he will throw me
overboard with a dagger wound under my shoulder-blade."

"How shall we hold converse, then?"

"As we are now doing. If I have aught to tell you I will give you a sign
when you are near me. A wink, or a nod, or a cough--either will do. And
what I have to say I will say quickly, so that whoever watches us will
think we do no more than pa