"No," was the reply; "I know the Pool well; this shallow runs right across. I've seen the shoals of little fish sunning themselves here by the thousand till some evil-minded pirate of a luce has darted amongst them and scattered them like a silver fleet in the Spanish main. You follow me, skipper, and let me lead thee for once in thy life." "You were disobeying my orders, Wat," said Gil, in a low whisper, as he followed his lieutenant. "What were you doing in Master Cobbe's garden?" "Courting. Thank God for the ability to court!" growled Wat. "You dare to own it to my face!" "Nay, thou'rt behind my back," growled Wat; "but I own it all the same. Where would'st have been if I had not said to myself, `there's that pretty little soul Janet longing to see me once again, and as it's loving--night, and the skipper's courting the mistress, faith I'll go and court the maid?'" "After I had forbidden it, Wat!" "I am a man, all a man, good Captain Gilbert Carr, and I say thank God for the ability to love, and liking to taste sweet lips." "Thou arrant old coxcomb," cried Gil, angrily. "Why thou art woman mad!" "I am, thank God!" said Wat. "Hah, skipper, what would the world be without women? Bless their bright eyes, and red lips, and pretty prattling tongues--mind that hole, it's a bit deeper--I don't know whether I love best to be kissed or pooked by them." "You old fool!" "Ay, to be sure, skipper, it's a man's nature to be a fool over a woman. It's nature's remedy to keep us from being too wise. As I was saying, I don't know which I like best. If she kisses and fondles you without a kick, why it's all sweet sugar and milk and honey, and I smack my lips. If she cries `kiss me not, old bear,' and struggles and pooks me, and pretends to tear out my eyes with the ends of her pretty fingers, and tugs my beard, and pulls out the hairs, why it is pickles and sharp sorrel-sauce, and hot peppers, and I smack my lips and like it all the same. Ah, skipper, take all the women out of the world, and you may heave me overboard whenever you like!" "Women will be thy ruin," said Gil. "That's what Mas' Peasegood says, and then he went on at me for an hour as good as to say if ever I'm damned it will be for a woman's sake, bless her for it. Mind, here's another hole here. Zooks, I touched a big eel with my boot." "But once for all," said Gil, "I will not have thee hanging like a chicken-thief about Master Cobbe's garden." "An' where would'st have been if I had not been here to-night, skipper? Suppose the founder had come running at thee with his naked sword? The sight of a naked sword always was too much for thee, my lad. Remember how I taught thee to fence, and you pook me your point the second time into my thigh. Why, it would have been out sword and at him, and thou mightest have hurt the old boy." "Old boy! He's fifteen years younger than you if a day, Wat."