"It wasn't the Lamb of God walking upon the waters, Mr. Marsh. I am changing course two points. Sou'-sou'east, d'you hear? Call that fool Manuel from aloft, who wouldn't be seeing the entire Royal Navy and it half a mile to wind'ard. He and Dummy will make ready to haul me the tack--will you move, man?" Marsh vanished forward; Ben heard his thin snarl crying Manuel down from the masthead. "Well, Cory?--get to the mizzen, damn you!" Ready in his place--what else?--Ben presently heard Marsh's advisory shout. "Cory, Mother of God, can't _you_ speak up like a seaman?" "Ready!" "_Lee-oh!_" The _Diana_ answered calmly, undismayed. "Trim her!" Ben had already done so, handily. "Will you sheet her in, you bloody farmer? Oh, dear Mother of God, for _men_ to sail with me!..." Undismayed, the _Diana_ settled to her new course under the friendly wind. A small maneuver--a crew of boys could have done it in this soft landsman's weather. Ben knew that Shawn had no cause to rave at his part in it; knew also in a moment that the crying voice climbing from the region of the helm was no longer concerned with him. "Speak plainer! I cannot hear you.... Oh, but I will go alone if I must. Have I not alway gone alone? Have I not alway made mine own law--as I am directed, as I am directed--but thou knowest I am compassed about.... Plainer! Speak _plain_!--or send me a wind and not this damned crawling breeze! Am I to meet them in a bloody calm?... Then, most soberly and quietly: "Ben--aft with you!" Ben returned aft, being on duty and having perhaps no choice. "Am I to take the helm again?" "First look, only once more. Man dear, don't you see?--it could be I'm growing old and foolish, but--but for all you hate me, you can't call me fool, Beneen, you can't do that." "I never have." "Then look once more--the way I might've been deceived--the way the Devil's minions are in the thing tonight, now that's no lie. I waited too long, so I did. I cast about, while time wasted, praying for the easier course--a fleet--men enough--seeing I could not have the support of those who should have understood me. I prayed for the easier course, so I did, but I tell you now, Beneen, a man must never do that." And Ben looked again, and found nothing. "It was a sail?" "I thought so. I thought so, Ben." "If you'll call Manuel aft, whose eyes are good as mine----" "Manuel is it? Have I time for the witless, when--but I may have been deceived. Not there, you say, and I'm believing you. Nothing?" "Nothing. Sometimes, Mr. Shawn, I've been fooled at night by a whale's spouting. The spray of him seems to hang in the air a while, and I suppose moonlight may lend it the look of a sail." Shawn laughed a little, his breathing slower. He seemed not annoyed that an untamed pup should be instructing him concerning sea-born illusions. "Well, do you take the helm again, and this'll be your bearing, steady as she goes." "May I ask, Mr. Shawn, is this course for Martinique?"