Here are eleven large ships, and two admirals; now what portion of these ships are under your particular orders, and what portion under those of Sir Gervaise Oakes ?" "The vice-admiral has assigned to himself a division of six of the ships, and left me the other five.

Each of us has his frigates and smaller vessels.

But an order that the commander-in-chief may choose to give any captain must be obeyed by him, as the inferior submits, as a rule, to the last order." "And _you_," resumed Sir Reginald, with quickness; "how are _you_ situated, as respects these captains ?" "Should I give a direct order to any captain in the fleet, it would certainly be his duty to obey it; though circumstances might occur which would render it obligatory on him to let me know that he had different instructions from our common superior.

But, why these questions, Sir Reginald ?" "Your patience, my dear admiral;--and what ships have you specifically under your care ?" "The Caesar, my own; the Dublin, the Elizabeth, the York, and the Dover.
To these must be added the Druid frigate, the sloop of war, and the Gnat.

My division numbers eight in all." "What a magnificent force to possess at a moment as critical as this!--But where are all these vessels?
I see but four and a cutter, and only two of these seem to be large." "The light you perceive there, along the land to the westward, is on board the Elizabeth; and that broad off here, in the channel, is on board the York.