The recently appointed first mate of the Noank, taking Sam Prentice's place and responsibilities, broke up the study of civil war evils.
"Where away now, Captain?" he inquired. "Our being here'll be known wide enough."
"We won't be here, Morgan," replied the captain. "We are goin' right up St. George's Channel. We may run all the way around the islands and reach Amsterdam from the north."
"That is," said Morgan, "if we get there at all. It's just as that dragoon said: there are a good many king's cruisers hereaway. Big ones, too."
"We are safest in a crowd," replied the captain. "Our best plan is to be where they won't dream of our darin' to go."
"No doubt about that," said Morgan. "I'm agreed we're likely to pick up something worth taking if we watch, while we're making such a run as that."
"We'll go ashore, here and there, too," laughed the captain, "and show 'em the flag."