"Likely enough; I have a goodly stock of them, and one jumps out at times if it happens to be near the top. How didst thou recognize it for Spanish?" "Because I have some knowledge of that tongue." The sailor turned sharp on the speaker, halted, and scrutinized him closely. "Thy face is yellow enough for a subject of King Philip," he said slowly; "but the general cut of thee is English." "I am English." "Hast sailed the Spanish Main?" "No; I am a scholar, not a sailor. I am as well acquainted with French, Latin, and Greek as with Spanish and English." "What a gift!" exclaimed the sailor admiringly. "There is not much body about thee; but now I look into thy face and mark thine eyes, forehead, and jowl, can well credit thee with brains. I wish I had met thee in Plymouth." "Why, friend?" "Because I have some papers writ in Spanish that I'd give much to decipher. Confidence for confidence, let me tell thee that I am no scholar, but just a simple sailor--" "Who knows the Spanish Main, eh?" "As a farmer knows his own duck pond." "Ah! these are fine times for the brave lads who sail the seas." "My own opinion, brother. I thank God I became a man whilst Queen Bess was a woman! The west wind blows fortunes into Devon ports nowadays. Mayhap thou hast no love for the sea?" "'Tis the sea that hath no love for me. I am fixed ashore, and yet I love travel and adventure, and have seen sights in more lands than England." "So! now. I'm glad thou hast not lived a worm 'twixt book covers. Thou art a fellow of some parts, I'll warrant me. There's plenty of spring in thy walk for one who hath pored much over books. How art thou now with, say, the sword?" "I have held my own with fellows of more inches than myself." The sailor pinched his companion's biceps, and took a grip of his wrist. "Supple enough, brother, or I'm no judge." "Oh! I should second thee well in a tussle, never fear," laughed the little man. "And give me a merry time should we draw on one another." "Oh! we are not going to fight. I am a peaceable wayfarer, glad of a cheery companion on a dull day. But I would offer thee a scrap of advice. Jingle not thy money so easily to the first man that offers thee a friendly greeting. I have known the chink of gold turn a good friend into an ill foe." "True, true. But I'll swear to thy honesty." "A thousand thanks for the compliment." Thus the two chance companions trudged on side by side to the south gate of Gloucester. There the pressure of a crowd brought them to a halt for a few minutes. There was a noise of yelling and booing, and some exclamations that caused the sailor's companion to wince. The pressure at the gate slackening, the two pushed through and hurried after the noisy throng. "Some fellow being whipped at the cart-tail," exclaimed the man of Devon, stretching his tall form to look over the heads of the swaying mob. "Two of 'em, friend; Papishers both," remarked a delighted citizen.