Captain Blood

Cinco Llagas, so confident-and with good reason-were the Spaniards of the complete subjection of the islanders. And when I say t

feasting on the gun-deck upon the wine and the fresh meats fetched out to them from shore. Above, two sentinels only kept vigil, at stem and stern. Nor were they as vigilant as they should have be

d taken him ashore. The sentry on guard in the stern, coming presently round this gallery, was

but without alarm, suppos

eter Blood in the fluent Cas

?" The Spaniard c

I doubt I'll not be the

h the sentr

," said M

as he struck the water, narrowly missing one of the crowded boats that waited under the counter, not a sound ann

is waiting rebels-convict. "Co

itself. Lights showed ahead. Under the great lantern in the prow they saw the black figure of the other sentry, pacing on the forecastle. From

s usos de Casti

well believe it," said Mr. Blood,

wo thirds of them were armed with muskets, some of which they had found in the overseer's house, and others supplied from the secre

nvenient fellow in the prow. Their first attention must be for him. Mr. Blood, himself, crept forward with two companions, leaving th

he rejoined his comrades there was

ashore in complete possession of the town, glutting themselves hideously upon the fruits of victory. What, then, was there to fear? Even when their quarters were invaded and they found th

f forgotten plantation-slaves would hav

, the song perishing on their lips, stared, stricken and bew

a slim, tall fellow with light-blue eyes in a tawny face, eyes in which glin

arding yourselves my prisoners, and suffering you

, which did no justice at all t

en of Spain were induced without further trouble beyond a mu

Spaniards. To taste palatable Christian food after months of salt fish and maize dumplings was in itself a feast to these u

a preliminary skirmish, although it was one that afforded them the key to the situation. It remained to dispose so that the utmost profit might be drawn from it. Those dispositions occup

nced the approach of a boat. It was Don Diego de Espinosa y Valdez coming aboard with four great treasure-chests, containing each twenty-five thousand

had disposed effectively. It was not for nothing that he had served under de Ruyter. The swings were waiting, and the windlass manned. Below, a gun-crew held itself in readiness under the command of Ogle, who-as I have said

upon the deck, alone, and entirely unsusp

to receive him, a tap over the head with a capstan bar efficient

ily accomplished, Don Esteban and the fellows who had manned the boat came up the ladder, one by one, to be handled with the same quiet efficiency. Peter Blood

wall beside him, they glumly watched the departure of the eight boats containing the weary

ss enemies, and despair at the wild ravages which, temporarily at l

were still flinging taunts across the water at their surviving victims. They had come mid

burst from them like an explosion. Angrily voluble they anathematized this dangerous carelessness on the part of their gunner, who should know better than to fire a salute from a cannon load

boats. From each the suspended oars stood out poised over the water, whilst on their feet in the excitement the Spani

nd splashing of oars, as they attempted to pull in every direction at once. Some were for going ashore, others for heading straight to the vessel and there discovering what might be amiss. That some

g his claims to know something of gunnery. In their consternation th

As with one accord they went about, or attempted to do so, for be

elves with their more unfortunate fellows, who were str

Spain come down from the mainmast of the Cinco Llagas, and the flag of England soar to its empty place. Even then some bewilderment persisted, and

. After the fleeing Spaniards went his shots. The last of their boats flew into splinters

e upon threescore survivors contrived to reach the shore. Whether they had cause for congratulation, I am unable to say in the absence of any records in which their fate may be traced. That lack of

Cinco Llagas was now in friendly hands could no longer be doubted after the proofs it had given. But who, the people of Bridgetown asked one another, were the men in possession of her, and whence had they come? The only possible

rmitting him to go in person-went Colonel Bishop a

main hatch, the four treasure-chests, the contents of one of which had been contributed al

rdered files, with breasts and backs of steel, polished Spanish morions on

lantations. Still less could he be expected to recognize at once the courtly gentleman who advanced to greet him-a lean, graceful gentleman, dressed in the Spanish fashion, all in blac

ly yourself we had dared hope to expect. You find yourself among friends-old friends of yours, all." The Colonel stared in stupefaction. Mr. Blood tricked out in all this splendour-indulging therei

on of amazement. Satisfaction foll

Mr. Blood tossed back the fine lace from his wrist, to wave

f foolish jubilation. "And it was with these fellows that you took the

ic! Ye begin to perceive the b

on the hatch-coaming, took off h

to have seized this fine ship and all she'll hold! It will be something to set agai

rely of yo

well, and damme, you s

od. "The question is how well we deser

d him. There was a shado

ccount of your exploit, and maybe some po

Nathaniel Hagthorpe, who was standing by, and amongs

e first pang of uneasiness. It occurred to him t

at's due to me. Ye're a man of your word in such matters, Colonel-if not perhaps in

matter aside. Almost i

deed of yours, do you suppose I

t come to-day instead of yesterday, or it's in the same plight as Jeremy Pitt I'd be this minute. A

eak of

son to you, a lesson that ye'll remember-for the sake of others who may come after us. There's Jeremy up there in the round-house with a back that's every colour of

ll, vigorous man with a clear-cut, attractive

ndered that sometime officer in the Royal Navy

n his head. "What the devil

ly, Colonel, though ye don't gues

-eyed Wolverstone, less mercifully dispose

deep voice harsh and angry, and more than one

led. Mr. Blood turne

ooked along the ranks, making it plain that he addressed them all. "I desire that Colonel Bishop should have his life. One reason is

od hang-dog and half-mutinous before him, sa

again to the startled Colonel. "Though I promise you your life, I must-as you've heard-keep you aboard

olonel Bishop from echoing the re

ccompanied the Colonel. "The boat is waiting, gentlemen. You'll have

.." one of

of war from Don Diego de Espinosa y Valdez, who is my prisoner aboard. You are to understand that I have turned the tables on more than

olonel Bishop, whose monstrous rage was fanned by terror at finding himself at

d a superficial knowledge of seamanship. Hagthorpe, although he had been a fighting officer, untraine

, they stood out for the open before a gentl

Blood returned to the Colonel, who, under guard and panic-stricken

swim,

ow and seemed in that moment of a preternatural f

ceiving still no answer from the Colonel, continued: "It's a mercy for you I'm not by nature as bloodthirsty as some of my friends here.

e thought of Arabella Bishop that had urged him to mercy, and had led him to oppose the natural vindictiveness of his fellow-slaves until he had been in danger of precipitating

and with ordinary luck ye should manage it. Faith, you're fat enough to float. Come on! Now, don't be hesitating or it's a

e need for restraint in all these years, he was doomed by ironic fate to practise res

A plank was run out over th

" said he, with a gracef

nd putting the best face upon it, since no other could help him here, he kicked off his

d the ratlines, looking down in terror at the green

lonel, darling," said a smoo

rks lined with swarthy faces-the faces of men that as lately as yesterday wo

coherently, then loosed his hold and stepped out upon the plank. Three steps h

urlongs to leeward. But the roaring cheer of mocking valediction from the rebels-convic