His face shone with what, I am persuaded, was entirely honest emotion.
"They are big as frigates," I answered. "How did your company come by such craft?"
He chuckled.
"I ha' heard tell the captain had the James from the Frenchies in some funny way. A Injyman she was—the Esperance. But Flint and a few o' us took the Walrus with our own hands on the Smyrna v'yage. She's better nor she was then, but she can't sail wi' the James yet."
"Is she as heavy armed as the James?" I asked, for the leading ship partly blanketed her from our view.
"Pierced the same, she is, Master Ormerod, and both has eighteen-pounder carronades below, but where the Walrus carries long twelves on the main deck, the James has long eighteens."
As Murray nodded dismissal to Bones, Silver left us and hopped up to him.
"All set and ready below, captain," he announced.
My great-uncle cast his eye at the approaching ships, now so near that we could make out quite distinctly the contour of their hulls, painted yellow, with a white band delimiting the ports, man-o'-war fashion. The James was already beginning to take in some of her top canvas.
"Very good, Silver," he answered. "Master Bones! You will bring the ship to and put over the boats."