at his ports. I am but an indifferent judge if each be not greatly admired of the other. It will be but necessary for me to return to the shore to make such scanty preparations as will suffice me for my departure, when I will embark in this ship and bring with me one who shall pilot thee to our new city, under the sanction of the Most High: a Dios, my son!" so saying, the priest took his leave with a respectful inclination of his head, and Sir Walter, all courteousness at the finding him of so obliging a spirit, saw him enter the boat with his companions and regain the shore.

The good ship, the Lion's Whelp, had scarcely been cleared of her visitors, when, as her gallant commander was speaking to his secretary concerning of some private matters, up comes to him Harry Daring.

"Well, Harry, what want you?" enquired Sir Walter.

"Want to go ashore, an' it please you,” replied the boy.

"Want to go ashore !" exclaimed his patron in a considerable surprise. "I'faith that is a marvellous want of a sure thing, considering that you would go among enemies, and as like as possible get your throat cut for your painstaking. I pray you tell me what want you to go ashore for?" "To kill a Spaniard, an' it please you," answered Harry Daring, with as much unconcern as if it was

but an ordinary sort of thing. Sir Walter could not restrain his mirth at this.

"You are indeed in a vast hurry, and possess an infinite lack of discretion," at last he observed. Why you stand not an atom of a chance at the killing of a Spaniard should you go ashore, for you could not help but get shot ere you could well land." f

"Indeed and if they can they may,” replied the boy carelessly, "but I'll be hanged if I would allow of a paltry Spaniard shooting me. An' it please you to let me go ashore by myself, if I kill not one or two at least, I will ask not to go again.'

"Quite preposterous, Harry," said Sir Walter in an excellent good humour.

"An' it please you, I am quite sick for the killing of a Spaniard," added Harry Daring, with a dejected look, and with a more earnest voice. "I have clean lost mine appetite, I lack sleep wonderfully, I care not for one thing more than for another, I be in a most woful taking; and I shall break my heart an' I do not kill a Spaniard straight."

"In truth, you are in a very piteous way," exclaimed his patron, quite amused at the boy's impatience to be at his enemies; and then added in a kinder voice, "Restrain your eagerness awhile, Harry, and mayhap you shall have the opportunity you seek: but at present it cannot be. Attend to your duties. When the time comes, if you distin

guish yourself as I hope of you, I will see that you shall be properly rewarded for it."

Harry Daring was turning away looking monstrous disconsolate at what he considered to be his exceeding ill fortune; but stayed at the voice of Master Francis.

to

"Can you say nought in thankfulness unto Sir Walter for his goodness to you?" enquired he.

"Indeed I be wonderful thankful," replied the boy, yet in his countenance looking nothing of the kind, "more especially for shewing of so generous a spirit unto you who hath been to me the truest of true friends; but would he have the bountifulness to allow of my swimming ashore, for I need not a boat or care for a companion, carrying with me only a pistol or two and my rapier, I”—

"Sir Walter hath already told you his commands on that head," said Master Francis in some seriousness, interrup of him, "it is not acting a good part to moot th natter again, and I shall have great cause to be vexed with make angry

if you you one who hath done you such true service."

At this Harry Daring said nothing, for he always had paid most extreme attention to what was said of the other, but presently moved slowly away. In a short time, however, it appeared as if all trace of his disappointment had vanished utterly, for having dared some of the nimblest of the mariners to follow him, he rapidly ascended the yards, and after leap

ing and scrambling along the rigging like a very wild cat, from one part of the ship to the other, he at last got himself up to a point so high, and a place so fearfully dangerous, that his companions halted below with dread and wonder, and would come anigh him on no account, whilst he continued to shout to them all manner of taunts and bravadoes, and played such tricks as proved he felt himself quite at his ease.

Sir Walter Raleigh had said nothing to either of the young friends after Master Francis spoke, but he had listened and observed the two with a deep and lively interest.

"O' my life this barber-chirurgeon is as famous a little desperado as ever I saw," observed he to his secretary. "He bids fair to be of some note, but his too great hastiness must be put down, or he must needs be his own destruction before he is much older."

"I have feared that often, and have checked him as much as I could," replied Master Francis, "but he hath always been of this humour after any sort of danger or mischief, which he seeketh entirely heedless of consequences, and merely for the kind of sport he findeth in it. At present and for some time past, the expectation of sharing in the danger of actual warfare hath so excited him that he can scarce contain himself. Still, however mischievously inclined he may be, it is ever from sheer

thoughtlessness. Although his tricks have often been to the great loss of some one or another, he hath not an atom of malice in his heart. He cannot see any wrong in what he doth, let it be ever so full of harm; every thing of the kind to him appeareth only to be 'exquisite fine fun!' and that seemeth sufficient excuse."

"He wanteth only a little disciplining," said his patron," he must be got out of that recklessness, which I doubt not will be no great difficult matter as he gets older; and then his valorous spirit will carry him forward wherever he goes. But what thought you of the Padre Bartolomé ?" "He seems exceeding pious," remarked the secretary.

"Few are what they seem," replied the other. "Piety is a cloak that appeareth to fit all who wear it, and beateth every thing for excellence in the hiding of defects; and though I was somewhat impressed with the padre's spiritual countenance and benevolent manner, I now do suspect that when religion is ma such a display of as was apparent in him, it is but cloak I have stated; and concealeth something which requireth so to be hid. I shall watch him well."

"At the first it did strike me I had seen him before," observed Master Francis, "but as I cannot bring to my mind under what circumstances, methinks I must have been mistaken."