"Good!" nodded the admiral. "And I doubt not you can manage a small boat if need be?"
"Ay, or a large," said Jacob. "I am well trained in navigation, as Sir Richard Grenville can avouch."
"Enough," said Lord Thomas. And then, becoming more familiar in his tone of speech, he told Jacob that he had a mind to send him off for a cruise to the westward with the purpose of keeping an outlook for the appearance of the Spanish treasure-ships. "You shall have a good, swift-sailing fly-boat," he said, "and may choose your own companions for crew. And when you catch sight of the plate fleet it shall be your object to hasten back with all speed to our anchorage here and warn us of their coming."
"Right well do I understand," agreed Jacob. "Prithee, when do I set off?"
"When you list," said Lord Thomas; "but at noon to-day at the latest, for it may be that they are already within a day's sail of the islands."
So Jacob Hartop, having received full instructions, returned to the upper deck. And as he was passing the main-mast he caught sight of Timothy Trollope and touched him on the elbow, bidding him follow him.
"I am glad to see thee aboard of us, Master Timothy," said he, shaking the lad by the hand. "And in truth you are in goodly time. Art willing for an adventure, lad?"
"Ay, in faith am I that," said Tim. "I am ill of this weary waiting and ceaseless idleness. But what mean you by adventure, Master Hartop?"
Then Jacob opened out to him his plans for the cruise in search of the enemy, and asked him to be one of his little crew.