Instead, from her deck there came to us what sounded
mightily like a roar of laughter. Suddenly, from each masthead and
yard shot out streamers of red and blue, up from the poop rose and
flaunted in the wind the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew, and
with a crash trumpet, drum, and fife rushed into
"Here's to jolly good ale and old!"
"By the Lord, she's English!" shouted the Governor.
On she came, banners flying, music playing, and inextinguishable
laughter rising from her decks. The Tiger, the Truelove, and the
Due Return sent no more hailstones against her; they turned and
resolved themselves into her consort. The watch, a grim old sea
dog that had come in with Dale, swung himself down from his
post, and came toward the Governor at a run. "I know her now,
sir!" he shouted. "I was at the winning of Cales, and she's the Santa
Teresa, that we took and sent home to the Queen. She was Spanish
once, sir, but she's English now."
The gates were flung open, and the excited people poured out
again upon the river bank. I found myself beside the Governor,
whose honest countenance wore an expression of profound
bewilderment.
"What d' ye make of her, Percy?" he said. "The Company does n't
send servants, felons, 'prentices, or maids in such craft; no, nor
officers or governors, either. It's the King's ship, sure enough, but
what is she doing here? - that 's the question.
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