"And starving cold it is, too," grumbled Astbury.  "Best come to warm countries, Maester Dick!" and so flung himself on the wretched pallet in the corner of the room, and was snoring before many minutes were over.  Dick wrapped himself in his cloak and stretched himself on the settle, but sleep was far from him.  Many a man of good birth and education he had known driven to take the road and become a highwayman, and think himself none the worse gentleman for it.  Pah! that revolted him--that was little better than common thievery.  But to sail the South seas! to harry the Spaniard! to free the oppressed Indians!  A sort of fever seemed to possess him, and rouse him from the apathy that had fallen on him.  He tried to call up his cooler judgment, but in vain; pictures of sunny seas and waving palm groves, of gallant fights and sacked towns danced before him, and his broken slumbers only wove the fancies into dreams.  The morning found him still undecided.