Harold Lamb

“ The rank smell of decay was stronger on the air. And then the black pinnace glided out of sight in the mist, vanishing without guidance from living hand and bearing with it that strange crew of inanimate beings.
With its disappearance the spirits of the men on the Edward revived perceptibly, some saying that it must have been a plague ship, or a craft from Dane-marke that had been taken by pirates.
“Be that as it may,” muttered Peter, “it bodes no good to us. Those chaps had been strung up for many a day by the looks of them, and still it keeps the sea.” ”

“ Ralph glanced at the mariner curiously.
“Would you run from a woman, Peter?”
“Aye, younker, that would I. Signs and portents are sent for our understanding. Whatever befalls, some chap on the Bona Esperanza is doomed.”
The big boatswain glanced at him sidewise and shook his head soberly.
“Lad, I be fair 'mazed at 'e. Thou'lt say next there is no black magic as well as white; aye, no powers of numbers or planets.”
“It seems to me,” quoth the armiger, “that a man stands or falls by his own deeds. I have come upon no spell that a sword would not sever.” ”

“ Peter winked at the armiger—“but I say it's enough and more to spoil the beer to have it under hatches along of you, Jacks.”
He took Ralph aside for a word of advice.
“Bide here for a time. Y'are a landsman, mind, and Master Dickon and his bullies will stand for no favorites. Be a swabber for a while, then we'll make shift to have ye out of the orlop. By then thy natural mother, Ralph, 'ud not know ye for her son.”
THIS proved to be true. For days Ralph labored in the dark hold, at duties that turned his stomach even more than the pitching of the Edward. ”