He looked at me straight in the eyes, but I met his gaze fearlessly.
"What's your name, my lad?"
"Richard Tretheway."
"That is not your real name?"
"No."
"You are sure you are doing nothing wrong in concealing your true name? Be perfectly honest."
"I am doing nothing wrong. I am doing what's right."
"I'll take you," he said.
I thanked him.
"Look you," he said, "expect no favours; you must do your work fair and square like the rest. We go from here to Padstow, then on to Falmouth, from there to Plymouth, then to London. From there, if you behave well, I'll take you to France and down the Mediterranean. Do what you have to do here quickly. It's high tide at six this evening, and then we shall sail."