“What care I for fair maids?” demanded the other.  “Have I not a wife and seven little ones in old England?  What think you a dimple or a bright eye hath of weight with me?”

“Time was, Dick,” laughed Captain Tabor.

“Time that was no longer is,” answered the other, crossly; then to me, “Send down my goods by some of those black fellows, and no more parleying, sir.”

“But, sir,” I said, “’twill be a good fifteen pound for Mistress Watson and the little ones when the merchant be paid.”

“Go to,” he growled out, “what will that avail if I be put in prison?  What am I to say to my Lady Culpeper for the non-deliverment of her goods?  Answer me that.”  Then came Captain Tabor to my aid with his merry shrewdness. “’Tis as easy as the nose on thy face, Dick,” said he.  “Say but to my lady that you have searched and the goods be not in the hold of the Earl of Fairfax, and must have miscarried, as faith they have, and say that next voyage you will deliver them and hold thyself responsible for the cost, as you well can afford with Master Wingfield’s money.”

“Hast ever heard my Lady Culpeper’s tongue?” demanded the other.  “’Tis easy to advise.  Would you face her thyself without the goods in hand, Calvin Tabor?”

“Faith, and I’d face a dozen like her for fifteen pound,” declared Captain Tabor.  Then, with another great laugh.  “I have it; send thy mate, send thy deaf mate, Jack Tarbox, man.”

“But she will demand to see the captain.”

“Faith, and the captain will be on board the Earl of Fairfax seeing to a leak which she hath sprung, and cannot leave her,” said Tabor.

“But in two days’ time the governor sails in my ship for England.”

“Think ye the governor will concern himself about my lady’s adornments when he be headed for England and out of reach of her complaints?”

“But how to dodge her for so long?”

“Dick,” said the other, solemnly, “much I have it in mind that a case of fever will break out upon the Earl of Fairfax by to-morrow or next day.”

“Then think you that my lady will allow her lord the governor to sail?”

“Dick,” laughed Captain Tabor, “governors be great men and you but a poor sailor, but when it comes to coin in wifely value, thy weight in the heart of thy good Bridget would send the governor of Virginia higher than thy masthead.  None but my Lady Culpeper need have hint of the fever.”

“I have a sailor ailing,” said the other, doubtfully, “but he hath no sign of fever.”

“’Tis enough,” cried the other, gayly.  “His fever will rage in twelve hours enough to heat the ’tween decks.”

“But,” said Captain Watson, speaking angrily, and yet with a certain timidity, as men will do before a scoffing friend and their own accusing conscience, “you ask me to forswear myself.”