“You’ve a wife and children, take it for them and for your expenses returning to the North, where I wish you to go for me on a special errand.”
So it is arranged that Haring departs at once for North Holland, taking orders with him to Dalton to bring the Dover Lass straight to Flushing, and, not finding Guy and the Esperanza there, to sail the ship at once to the South Beveland shore and anchor in the Krom Vliet. There will not be any great risk in this, nearly all the Spanish galleys having gone to Amsterdam to help the Haarlem leaguer.
The next morning Haring leaves for the North, and Guy and Bodé Volcker take boat to Flushing, where the Esperanza is lying.
Guy has left some ten men on board this ship, and they are sufficient to navigate it to Dunquerque, where he takes cargo from Bodé Volcker’s agents at that place and obtains proper clearance papers to Antwerp.
Setting sail from this port they make Flushing, to find to Chester’s delight the Dover Lass already there, Haring has traveled so rapidly, Dalton has obeyed his orders so promptly, and the Dover Lass, the ice having all melted in Enkhuysen harbor, is so fleet under favorable breezes.
“By all the mermaids!” cries his first officer, on seeing his captain, “we thought you dead—drowned at that cursed Diemerdyk fight. This is glorious news.”
“I’ve got better for you,” laughs Guy.
“What’s that?”
“Money to pay off the crew!” At which the British tars set up a wild cheer and become very happy indeed.
Then drawing upon Bodé Volcker’s money bags Chester makes settlement with his mariners.