Back to the ship the gig drifted on the tide, and Captain Crang, dismissed with a curt nod, stepped on to the ladder again, turned, and saluted profoundly.
As he did so, the Major, erect above the bulwarks, found speech.
"Your Royal Highness!" he cried.

"Nay, but pardon me, your Royal Highness! If I may crave the favour--explanation--a prisoner, unjustly detained--" The Prince Regent lifted his eyes lazily as the bowman thrust off.
"What a dam funny-looking little man!" commented he aloud, nudging the Port Admiral, who had risen and was calling out the order to give way for shore.
"But, your Royal Highness!--" The Major raised himself on tiptoe with arms outstretched after the receding boat.

On the instant the ship shook under him as with an earthquake, and drowned his voice in the thunders of a royal salute.
"The Emperor Jovinian, Mr.Jope--" "Who was 'e ?" Mr.Jope interrupted.
Two days had passed, and the better part of a third.

They seemed as many years to our hero as, seated on the carriage of one of the _Vesuvius's_ starboard guns in company with the boatswain and Bill Adams, he watched through its open port the many-twinkling smiles of the sea, and, scarce two leagues away, the coast of France golden against the sunset.
"I am not precisely aware when he flourished," said the Major, "but will make a point of inquiring when I return home.

To tell you the truth, I heard the story in church, in a sermon of our worthy Vicar's, little dreaming under what circumstances I should recall it as applicable to my own lot." "If it's out of a sermon," said Mr.Jope, "you may fire ahead.
But if, as you say, the man was taken for someone else, I thought it would be clearer to start by knowing who he _was_." "It happened in this way.