The louts of Lis were chuckling and nudging each other with suppressed laughter, for it was obvious that Wise Jan Pettigrew had been looking most unwisely upon the Hollands when it gave its color aright in the cup. However, they hastened to plant their parcels and stores in the long-boat, and meantime they gazed with wide-open eyes at Wat and Scarlett.
"These honest gentlemen," said the wise and reticent Jan, "are for the fishing. Oh yes, they are for the fishing"—his finger went to his nose—"you all understand, lads, the fishing. Then when we come back to Lis here to make a declaration to the burgomeister of the number and weight of the fine fish we have taken on the Banks, why, there will be drink at the Three Castles for every honest fellow here!"
He would have said more, but Scarlett, growing suddenly tired of his clatter, tumbled him unceremoniously into the boat, and cried out to the men of Lis:
"Here's good silver for whoever will give us a hand that the boat may be launched—silver to drink the health of the prince this very night at the inn of Lis in sound, stark Hollands!"
The men and boys, hearing this, gave a rousing cheer, and setting their strength to the long-boat of the Sea Unicorn, they rattled it down the pebbles and out into the heave and murmur of the incoming tide. Scarlett ran his hands through the pockets of Jan Pettigrew's clothing, and handed all the small silver which he found there—a round handful—to the tallest of the 'prentice lads.
"There," he said, "drink the prince's health, and if there be any over, drink to the health of Captain Smith of the Sea Unicorn, and of all his crew and passengers."
And at this liberal and comprehensive toast the lads on shore again cheered, as men with drink in prospect will cheer at anything.
There was still a rousing breeze astern, and making Jan Pettigrew keep awake so that he might at least direct them in the necessary manœuvres, Wat and Scarlett proceeded to erect the mast and unbend the sail with ignorant, unseamanlike hands. But after a little, under guidance, they did featly enough, so that the distance widened, and they saw with delight the shores of Holland drop back and the solemn, waffing windmills stand up in a long row out of the polder.
"Now for England and Kate!" cried Wat, as though they had already found both.
Jan Pettigrew, who had become noisier and more oracular, so soon as he found himself on the lift and heave of the sea, and the boat began to cradle buoyantly among the short waves, cried out to Wat and Scarlett to set the foresail. This Wat attempted to do, but, though he found the small triangular sail readily enough, he could neither attach it to the bowsprit nor yet bend it properly.