here he was dropped； with his feet （luckily for him mailed） in the fire。
〃I say；〃 quoth Amyas； 〃some of you had better take him up； if he is to be of any use。 Unlace his helm； Will Cary。〃
〃Pull his feet out of the embers； I dare say he would have been glad enough to put us to the scarpines； but that's no reason we should put him to them。〃
As has been hinted； there was no love lost between Admiral Winter and Amyas； and Amyas might certainly have reported himself in a more ceremonious manner。 So Winter； whom Amyas either had not seen； or had not chosen to see； asked him pretty sharply； 〃What the plague he had to do with bringing dead men into camp？〃
〃If he's dead； it's not my fault。 He was alive enough when I started with him； and I kept him right end uppermost all the way； and what would you have more； sir？〃
〃Mr。 Leigh！〃 said Winter； 〃it behoves you to speak with somewhat more courtesy； if not respect； to captains who are your elders and commanders。〃
〃Ask your pardon； sir；〃 said the giant； as he stood in front of the fire with the rain steaming and smoking off his armor； 〃but I was bred in a school where getting good service done was more esteemed than making fine speeches。〃
〃Whatsoever school you were trained in； sir；〃 said Winter； nettled at the hint about Drake； 〃it does not seem to have been one in which you learned to obey orders。 Why did you not come in when the recall was sounded？〃
〃Because；〃 said Amyas； very coolly； 〃in the first place I did not hear it； and in the next； in my school I was taught when I had once started not to come home empty…handed。〃
This was too pointed； and Winter sprang up with an oath〃Do you mean to insult me； sir？〃
〃I am sorry； sir； that you should take a compliment to Sir Francis Drake as an insult to yourself。 I brought in this gentleman because I thought he might give you good information； if he dies meanwhile； the loss will be yours； or rather the queen's。〃
〃Help me； then；〃 said Cary； glad to create a diversion in Amyas's favor； 〃and we will bring him round；〃 while Raleigh rose； and catching Winter's arm； drew him aside； and began talking earnestly。
〃What a murrain have you； Leigh； to quarrel with Winter？〃 asked two or three。
〃I say； my reverend fathers and dear children； do get the Don's talking tackle free again； and leave me and the admiral to settle it our own way。〃
There was more than one captain sitting in the ring； but discipline； and the degrees of rank； were not so severely defined as now； and Amyas； as a 〃gentleman adventurer；〃 was； on land； in a position very difficult to be settled； though at sea he was as liable to be hanged as any other person on board； and on the whole it was found expedient to patch the matter up。 So Captain Raleigh returning； said that though Admiral Winter had doubtless taken umbrage at certain words of Mr。 Leigh's； yet that he had no doubt that Mr。 Leigh meant nothing thereby but what was consistent with the profession of a soldier and a gentleman； and worthy both of himself and of the admiral。
From which proposition Amyas found it impossible to dissent； whereon Raleigh went back； and informed Winter that Leigh had freely retracted his words； and fully wiped off any imputation which Mr。 Winter might conceive to have been put upon him； and so forth。 So Winter returned； and Amyas said frankly enough
〃Admiral Winter； I hope； as a loyal soldier； that you will understand thus far； that naught which has passed to…night shall in any way prevent you finding me a forward and obedient servant to all your commands； be they what they may； and a supporter of your authority among the men； and honor against the foe； even with my life。 For I should he ashamed if private differences should ever prejudice by a grain the public weal。〃
This was a great effort of oratory for Amyas； and he therefore； in order to be safe by following precedent； tried to talk as much as he could like Sir Richard Grenville。 Of course Winter could answer nothing to it； in spite of the plain hint of private differences； but that he should not fail to show himself a captain worthy of so valiant and trusty a gentleman； whereon the whole party turned their attention to the captive； who； thanks to Will Cary； was by this time sitting up； standing much in need of a handkerchief； and looking about him； having been unhelmed； in a confused and doleful manner。
〃Take the gentleman to my tent；〃 said Winter； 〃and let the surgeon see to him。 Mr。 Leigh； who is he？〃
〃An enemy； but whether Spaniard or Italian I know not； but he seemed somebody among them； I thought the captain of a company。 He and I cut at each other twice or thrice at first； and then lost each other； and after that I came on him among the sand…hills； trying to rally his men； and swearing like the mouth of the pit； whereby I guess him a Spaniard。 But his men ran； so I brought him in。〃
〃And how？〃 asked Raleigh。 〃Thou art giving us all the play but the murders and the marriages。〃
〃Why； I bid him yield； and he would not。 Then I bid him run； and he would not。 And it was too pitch…dark for fighting； so I took him by the ears； and shook the wind out of him； and so brought him in。〃
〃Shook the wind out of him？〃 cried Cary； amid the roar of laughter which followed。 〃Dost know thou hast nearly wrung his neck in two？ His vizor was full of blood。〃
〃He should have run or yielded； then；〃 said Amyas； and getting up； slipped off to find some ale； and then to sleep comfortably in a dry burrow which he scratched out of a sandbank。
The next morning； as Amyas was discussing a scanty breakfast of biscuit （for provisions were running very short in camp）； Raleigh came up to him。
〃What； eating？ That's more than I have done to…day。〃
〃Sit down； and share； then。〃
〃Nay； lad； I did not come a…begging。 I have set some of my rogues to dig rabbits； but as I live； young Colbrand； you may thank your stars that you are alive to…day to eat。 Poor young CheekSir John Cheek； the grammarian's songot his quittance last night by a Spanish pike； rushing headlong on； just as you did。 But have you seen your prisoner？〃
〃No； nor shall； while he is in Winter's tent。〃
〃Why not； then？ What quarrel have you against the admiral； friend Bobadil？ Cannot you let Francis Drake fight his own battles； without thrusting your head in between them？〃
〃Well； that is good！ As if the quarrel was not just as much mine； and every man's in the ship。 Why； when he left Drake； he left us all； did he not？〃
〃And what if he did？ Let bygones be bygones is the rule of a Christian； and of a wise man too； Amyas。 Here the man is； at least； safe home； in favor and in power； and a prudent youth will just hold his tongue； mumchance； and swim with the stream。〃
〃But that's just what makes me mad； to see this fellow； after deserting us there in unknown seas； win credit and rank at home here for being the first man who ever sailed back through the Straits。 What had he to do with sailing back at all！ As well make the fox a knight for being the first that ever jumped down a jakes to escape the hounds。 The fiercer the flight the fouler the fear； say I。〃
〃Amyas！ Amyas！ thou art a hard hitter； but a soft politician。〃
〃I am no politician； Captain Raleigh； nor ever wish to be。 An honest man's my friend； and a rogue's my foe； and I'll tell both as much； as long as I breathe。〃
〃And die a poor saint；〃 said Raleigh； laughing。 〃But if Winter invites you to his tent himself； you won't refuse to come？〃
〃Why； no； considering his years and rank； but he knows too well to do that。〃
〃He knows too well not to do it；〃 said Raleigh； laughing as he walked away。 And verily in half…an…hour came an invitation； extracted of course； from the admiral by Raleigh's silver tongue； which Amyas could not but obey。
〃We all owe you thanks for last night's service； sir；〃 said Winter； who had for some good reasons changed his tone。 〃Your prisoner is found to be a gentleman of birth and experience； and the leader of the assault last night。 He has already told us more than we had hoped； for which also we are beholden to you； and； indeed； my Lord Grey has been asking for you already。〃
〃I have； young sir；〃 said a quiet and lofty voice； and Amyas saw limping from the inner tent the proud and stately figure of the stern deputy； Lord Grey of Wilton； a brave and wise man； but with a naturally harsh temper； which had been soured still more by the wound which had crippled him； while yet a boy； at the battle of Leith。 He owed that limp to Mary Queen of Scots； and he did not forget the debt。
〃I have been asking for you； having heard from many； both of your last night's prowess； and of your conduct and courage beyond the promise of your years； displayed in that ever…memorable voyage； which may well be ranked with the deeds of the ancient Argonauts。〃
Amyas bowed low； and the lord deputy went on； 〃You will needs wish to see your prisoner。 You will find him such a one as you need not be ashamed to have taken； and as need not be ashamed to have been taken by you： but here he is； and will； I doubt not； answer as much for himself。 Know each other better； gentlemen both： last night was an ill one for making acquaintances。 Don Guzman Maria Magdalena Sotomayor de Soto； know the hidalgo； Amyas Leigh！〃
As he spoke； the Spaniard came forward； still in his armor； all save his head； which was bound up in a handkerchief。
He was an exceedingly tall and graceful personage； of that sangre azul which marked high Visigothic descent； golden…haired and fair… skinned； with hands as small and white as a woman's； his lips were delicate but thin； and compressed closely at the corners of the mouth； and his pale blue eye had a glassy dulness。 In spite of his beauty and his carriage； Amyas shrank from him instinctively； and yet he could not help holding out his hand in return； as the Spaniard； holding out his； said languidly； in most sweet and sonorous Spanish
〃I kiss his hands and feet。 The senor speaks； I am told； my native tongue？〃
〃I have that honor。〃
〃Then accept in it （for I can better express myself therein than in English； though I am not altogether ignorant of that witty and learned language） the expression of my pleasure at having fallen into th