"Which they do by this: what else would bring the steel caps, and the Devil himself amongst us? besides, there's others off the coast, as well as we. Do you think old red-nosed Noll would come here about a drop of blood--a little murder, that could be settled at the 'sizes? There's something brooding in another direction, that 'ill set his hot blood boiling: but as it's purely political, all honest men, who have the free-trade at heart, will keep clear of it. May be he's heard the report that black-browed Charlie's thinking of pushing on this way,--though I don't believe it; it's too good to be true: it would soon make us tune up 'Hey for Cavaliers!' and bring the old days back again." "But let us," chimed in Springall--"let us keep clear of every thing of the sort till our ship's safe. Why, in half an hour they might split her spars as small as jack-straws!" "Which they won't, I think; because, if they know who she is, they know her cargo's safe--where Noll himself can't get at it, unless he drags the cellars--and the stomachs too, by this time--of half his prayer-loving subjects along the Kent and Essex coast." "Stuff, stuff! every enemy destroyed is a shade nearer safety," said Springall; "and Noll knows it." "That's well said, Spring," replied Jack, winking on his companion; "and I'll tell you what's true, too, shall I?" "Ay, ay." "Young geese are the greatest cacklers." "I'll tell you what," retorted the lad, drawing himself up with some dignity, and reddening to the eyes, "I may be but a boy; but have the goodness to remember, that every oak was a sapling, and every sapling an acorn. If men trample on the acorn, it will never grow to be the oak; for, little as it is, the spirit of the oak is in it.--D'ye read my riddle?" A good-humoured burst of approbation followed Springall's speech, which was hushed by some one of the party saying, "Here comes our Captain, and we can form no plan till he is present." The door accordingly opened after the hand, applied at last to the latch, had evidently wandered over the panel, seeking the fastening which at first it could not discover, and making outside a noise resembling the scratching of a cat.