"I cannot tell what is ahead yet," said Arthur, concentrating his gaze in an easterly direction. "But there is somewhat approaching us." "A sea-gull," was the suggestion of Basset, with shut eyes. "Scantly," said Arthur good-humouredly. Half idly, half curiously, jack brought his powers to bear on the approaching object. Basset was not sufficiently interested to move. The object ere long revealed itself as a small vessel, rowing in all haste, and evidently anxious to reach the fleet without losing an hour. The "Revenge" stood out furthest of all the ships to eastward, and was therefore likely to receive the little vessel's news before any other. Almost before she came within speaking distance, at Arthur's request, Jack hailed her--that young gentleman being in possession of more stentorian lungs than his friend. The captain, who replied, was gifted with vocal powers of an equally amazing order. He announced his vessel as the "Falcon," [Note 3] himself as Thomas Fleming; and his news--enough to make every ear in the fleet tingle--that "the Spaniard" had been sighted that morning off the Lizard. Arthur darted away that instant in search of Drake: Jack and Basset (both wide awake now) stayed to hear the details,--the latter excited, the former sceptical. "'Tis all but deceiving!" sneered the incredulous Jack. "Thomas Fleming! why, who wist not that Thomas Fleming is more pirate than sea-captain, and that the `Falcon' is well enough known for no honest craft?" "`Fair and soft go far in a day,'" returned Basset. "What if he be a pirate? He is an Englishman. Even a known liar may speak truth." "As if the like of him should sight the Spaniard!" retorted Jack magnificently, "when the whole fleet have scoured the seas in vain!" "The whole fleet were not scouring the seas at three of the clock this morrow!" cried Basset, impatiently. "Hold thine idle tongue, and leave us hear the news." And he shouted with all the power of his lungs,--"What strength is he of?" "The strength of the very devil!" Fleming roared back. "Great wooden castles, the Lord wot how many, and coming as fast as a bird flieth." "Pish!" said Jack. Basset was on the point of shouting another question, when Sir Francis Drake's voice came, clear and sonorous, from no great distance. "What time shall the Don be hither?" "By to-morrow breaketh, as like as not," was Fleming's answer. "Now, my lads, we have work afore us," said Sir Francis, addressing his young friends. "Lieutenant Enville, see that all hands know at once,-- every man to his post! Tremayne, you shall have the honour to bear the news to the Lord Admiral: and Basset, you shall fight by my side. I would fain promote you all, an' I have the chance; allgates, I give you the means to win honour, an' you wot how to use them."