Captain Hawkins has his own more mature approach to the issue of the crew's bounty, which is approved by the crew. The scheme was as follows: two for the captain and helmsman, 11/2 for the adjutant, boatswain, gunner, cook, doctor and craftsman, and one for each of the rest of the crew.

Isabel Walton didn't think there would be any problems with this distribution, she only questioned the bounty of John Hawkins, who served as captain on the Nemesis, "Captain, I didn't hear the title of captain in your proposal. So, I wonder how much your son John's bounty will be. ”

Captain Hawkins, unconsciously, learned the habit of smoking a bucket of cigarettes after a meal. Of course, taking some Spanish medicine after a meal did stimulate his nerves, causing him to reach a state of euphoria.

"John...?" Captain Hawkins rubbed his fingers over the pipe that had smoked a bucket of tobacco leaves, focused on Isabel's question. Then he focused his gaze on the other party's face and nodded, "According to the family's previous practice, John can only get a bounty for the trainee sailor. However, because of your trust in John, let him take the position of Captain of the Sea......"

Richard Hawkins, who was sitting in his seat, looked sideways at his brother as he fiddled with his glass, knowing that the question was a bit difficult for him. Coughing lightly, he smiled at Isabel on the other side and said, "Miss, although John is the son of his brother, his brother only sees John as an ordinary sailor most of the time. You know, this will be good for John's future. ”

"I know the purpose of the captain's assignment in this way." Isabel supported her chin with her right hand, rested her left arm flat on the table and gently turned the wine glass with her hand, and looked at Richard with a smile and said, "Well, let John speak for himself." ”

John Hawkins was led from his room to the dining room by the servant, and Isabel turned to look at the navigator under the age of twelve, who was standing at the end of the long table, "John, tell me, do you want the same bounty as Boatswain Brady?" ”

"Bounty? Miss, uh, how many? John looked intently at Miss Noble, and there was a little excitement in his heart. Because, he was well aware of the bounty system that his father had set up for the crew of the family fleet. However, when he saw the eyes of his father sitting at the top, he lowered his head timidly and slightly.

"11/2 servings! John, what do you think? Isabel still intends to be fair to the navigator who once performed his duties strictly.

John just stood in silence before he looked at Isabel and said, "Miss, I... I'm not going to ask for a bounty. ”

"John, I'm amazed at your request. However, I do not agree, unless you are willing to accept the bounty of an ordinary sailor. Isabel looked calmly at the child, who was no different from child labor, and insisted on paying him a bounty.

"Miss," Captain Hawkins said, "I, as the patriarch of the Hawkins family, am willing to follow your decision. ”

Later, John said goodbye to Isabel, his father, and his uncle and left the restaurant, meeting his cousin Brady in the hallway outside the restaurant. For a moment, John's face showed a child's expression again, "Brady, are you waiting for your father to go back with you?" ”

Brady put his arm around his shoulders excitedly, and said in his ear as he walked down the brightly lit corridor, "John, this time the patriarch will give out the bounty, and you kid can get at least 11/2 of it, right?" ”

John turned his head to look at his cousin and shook his head, "If it weren't for Miss Isabel's decision, I wouldn't have wanted even a bounty for an ordinary sailor." ”

"You're an idiot. The fleet sailed to an island we've never heard of before, and you have every reason to get the same bounty as I did. Brady didn't understand his cousin's thoughts.

When the two of them reached the gate of the house, a sly glint crossed John's eyes, and he whispered, "Brady, when we grow up, we can sail to any island or land, are you still worried that we won't be able to make more money?" ”

Brady was stunned for a moment, and quickly chuckled and patted his cousin on the shoulder, "John, you are more cunning than a fox, even with a Spanish arquebus, you can't hit you." ”

"Hahaha... Brady, why don't we use the bounty to buy two arquebuses, you say? John and Brady giggled as they walked out the door when John's voice came from outside the door.

At this moment, Brady's voice was heard again, "In addition to the arquebus, I also bought a sword of the kind worn by the captain." ”

"Brady, I've heard that kind of sword is very expensive, a few hundred pounds a piece."

"God above, a few hundred pounds??"

"Brady, you've got more bounty than mine, and it's your turn to buy meat and ale tonight."

………………

As the maid Rose and her companion walked cautiously ahead with an oil lamp each, they looked back at Isabel who was following them from time to time, and whispered, "Miss, be careful. ”

"yes, I know." With the weight ball at the end of the hilt of her saber in her left hand, Isabel raised her noble head and walked behind the maid.

As the three of them hurried to the gate of the house to the west, they suddenly heard a song in a deep and rough voice coming from the direction of the gate of the Hawkins family's domain. The two maids slowed their pace and turned their heads suspiciously to look at Isabel behind them.

"Rose, wait." Isabel called to the maid at the door of the house, and turned to look at the path, wondering which of the guards of the ducal palace had run out to get drunk, and had only now come back to rest.

Two maids stood on the grass to the left of the gate with oil lamps, and Isabel paced back and forth in front of the door with her arms folded on her chest, thinking to herself, "The goods have been sold, and a lot of money has been made, and the merchant ships have been converted into money for the Hawkins family to make a second investment." ”

"Now, there's also the issue of bringing the newly formed Marines back to the North for training."

"If Henry had real power in the Admiralty, he would have been able to establish a Marine Corps base in the South."

Just as the singing or wolf-like howls of several men were getting closer and closer, she suddenly remembered a surname—Seymour. She had had some contact with a family member associated with the surname, Sir Thomas Seymour, a few years earlier.

However, since the rebellion in the North, she has not been in contact with any member of the Seymour family for a long time. It wasn't until yesterday that she saw again the name of a member of the Seymour family from the Duke of Richmond's letters: Edward Seymour.