Page:A Mainsail Haul - Masefield - 1913.djvu/80

68 gang, at such a time, was disquieting. The recusant resolved to run no risks. He went aboard the little bark and conveyed ashore his "ready chinkes," with all his plate and jewels.

When the light began to fail, Ward's company took their boat and rowed to the bark. They laid her aboard very quietly, and carried her without opposition, for there were only "two poor sneaks" in charge of her. They thrust this couple below, while some of them hove up the anchor, and got sail upon her. In a few minutes they were under way. They ran out to sea with a shout to the battery, and shaped a course to the westward.

It did not take the pirates many minutes to discover that they had been duped, and that the gold they had risked their necks for was not aboard. It took them sadly aback, and caused them "to be ranck mad," for there was no returning to Portsmouth. It was one of those awkward situations in which the great man gets an opportunity to explain himself. It was Ward's opportunity; and he rose to it at once. The recusant had provisioned the ship for the voyage with a profusion which did him honour. Although he had