midday
For with Flushing in the hands of the patriots , and the sea swarming with the craft of the beggars , foreign vessels bound for ports in the hands of the Spaniards did not dare singly to approach the mouth of the Scheldt . Ned received a hearty welcome from the other sailors when they learned from their skipper and his companion who he was , and before he had been ten minutes on board they asked him to give them the full details of the fight off Enkhuizen , and how it was that the Spaniards thus interfered with an English ship . Ned told them the story , and the sailors when he had finished had each some tale to tell of oppression and cruelty to friends or relatives on the part of the Spaniards . When they had finished their midday meal , which was the heartiest the sailors had enjoyed for some days , for the landlord when making the bargain had paid them five crowns in advance , and the empty larder had been accordingly replenished , the skipper said to Ned , `` I think that it will be just as well you did something , in case the magistrates should take it into their heads to send down to search the craft along the wharves . The landlord said that they might make inquiries as to what had become of the man who stayed last night at his inn . You may be sure he did not put down in his guest list a description which would help them much in their search for you , should they make one , still they keep a pretty sharp lookout over us , and if they search at all are likely to come to try here to begin with . '' `` I am quite ready to do anything you may set me to , '' Ned said .