Zooks! a hawk above a poultry yard could n't have caused a greater commotion than did my poor little ship and my few poor birding pieces! Does every strange sail so put you through your paces ?" The Governor's color mounted.

"We are not at home," he answered stiffly.
"Here we are few and weak and surrounded by many dangers, and have need to be vigilant, being planted, as it were, in the very grasp of that Spain who holds Europe in awe, and who claims this land as her own.

That we are here at all is proof enough of our courage, my lord." The other shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't doubt your mettle," he said negligently.

"I dare say it matches your armor." His glance had rested for a moment upon the battered headpiece and ancient rusty breastplate with which Master Jeremy Sparrow was bedight.
"It is something antique, truly, something out of fashion," remarked that worthy,--"almost as out of fashion as courtesy from guests, or respect for dignities from my-face-is-my-fortune minions and lords on carpet considerations." The hush of consternation following this audacious speech was broken by a roar of laughter from the favorite himself.