This done I caused the captain to be awakened and told him briefly that
as the gale had abated and tide and wind served, I desired to sail
at once. He stared at me, thinking me mad, whom he knew to have been
married but that day.
Surely, he said, I should wait for the light and to gather up those of
the ship's company who were still ashore. I answered that I would wait
for nothing, and when he asked why, was inspired to tell him that it was
because I went about the King's business, having letters from his Grace
to deliver to his Envoys in the South Seas that brooked of no delay,
since on them hung peace or war.
"Beware," I said to him, "how you, or any of you, dare to disobey the
King's orders, for you know that the fate of such is a short shrift and
a long rope."
Then that captain grew frightened and summoned the sailors, who by
now had slept off their drink, and to them he told my commands. They
murmured, pointing to the sky, but when they saw me standing there,
wearing a knight's armour and looking very stern with my hand upon my
sword, when also through Kari I promised them double pay for the voyage,
they, too, grew frightened, and having set some small sails, got up the
anchors.
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