ten miles to the eastward. Yeo was for going back and taking her. Of the latter he made a matter of course; and the former was easy enough, for the breeze blowing dead off the land, was a "soldier's wind, there and back again," for either ship; but Amyas and Frank were both unwilling.
"Why, Yeo, you said that one day more would bring us to La Guayra."
"All the more reason, sir, for doing the Lord's work thoroughly, when He has brought us safely so far on our journey."
"She can pass well enough, and no loss."
"Ah, sirs, sirs, she is delivered into your hands, and you will have to give an account of her."
"My good Yeo," said Frank, "I trust we shall give good account enough of many a tall Spaniard before we return: but you know surely that La Guayra, and the salvation of one whom we believe dwells there, was our first object in this adventure."
Yeo shook his head sadly. "Ah, sirs, a lady brought Captain Oxenham to ruin."
"You do not dare to compare her with this one?" said Frank and Cary, both in a breath.
"God forbid, gentlemen: but no adventure will prosper, unless there is a single eye to the Lord's work; and that is, as I take it, to cripple the Spaniard, and exalt her Majesty the queen. And I had thought that nothing was more dear than that to Captain Leigh's heart."
Amyas stood somewhat irresolute. His duty to the queen bade him follow the Spanish vessel: his duty to his vow, to go on to La Guayra. It may seem a far-fetched dilemma. He found it a practical one enough.
However, the counsel of Frank prevailed, and on to La Guayra he went. He half hoped that the Spaniard would see and attack them. However, he went on his way to the eastward; which if he had not done, my story had had a very different ending.
About mid-day a canoe, the first which they had seen, came staggering toward them under a huge three-cornered sail. As it came near, they could see two Indians on board,
"Metal floats in these seas, you see," quoth Cary. "There's a fresh marvel for you, Frank."
"Expound," quoth Frank, who was really ready to swallow any fresh marvel, so many had he sesn already.
"Why, how else would those two bronze statues dare to go to sea in such a cockleshell, eh? Have I given you the dor now, master courtier?"
"I am long past dors, Will. But what noble creatures they are! and how fearlessly they are coming alongside! Can they know that we are English, and the avengers of the Indians?"
"I suspect they just take us for Spaniards, and want to sell their cocoa-nuts. See, the canoe is laden with vegetables."
"Hail them, Yeo!" said Amyas. "You talk the best Spanish, and I want speech of one of them."
