about noon
has not more loyal subjects in his dominions , than those who dwell in his American provinces . '' Bulstrode smiled , nodded in assent , waved his hand , and we parted . I had plenty of occupation for the remainder of that day . Yaap arrived with his ` brigade of sleighs ' about noon , and I went in search of Guert , in whose company I repaired once more to the office of the contractor . Horses , harness , sleighs , provisions and all were taken at high prices , and I was paid for the whole in Spanish gold ; joes and half-joes being quite as much in use among us in that day as the coin of the realm . Spanish silver has always formed our smaller currency , such a thing as an English shilling , or a sixpence , being quite a stranger among us . Pieces of eight , or dollars , are our commonest coin , it is true , but we make good use of the half-joe in all heavy transactions .