leaving it and Mistress Percy in Sparrow’s charge, hastened up to the fort. As I passed through the palisade I heard my name called, and turning waited for Master Pory to come up. He was panting and puffing, his jovial face very red.

“I was across the neck of land when I heard the news,” he said. “I ran all the way, and am somewhat scant of breath. Here’s the devil to pay!”

“It looks another mare’s-nest,” I replied. “We have cried ‘Spaniard!’ pretty often.”

“But this time the wolf’s here,” he answered. “Davies sent a horseman at a gallop from Algernon with the tidings. He passed the ship, and it was a very great one. We may thank this dead calm that it did not catch us unawares.”