interrupts Gomez, in a tone of
determination. "I admit no dispute in the matter. If these gentlemen
insist, there's but one way of settling. First, however, I'll say a
word to explain. One of these ladies is my sweetheart--was, before I
ever saw any of you. Senor Hernandez here can say the same of the
other. Nay, I may tell you more; they are pledged to us."

"It's a lie!" cries Blew, confronting the slanderer, and looking him
straight in the face. "A lie, Gil Gomez, from the bottom o' your black
heart!"

"Enough!" exclaims Gomez, now purple with rage. "No man can give Frank
Lara the lie, and live after."

"Frank Lara; or whatever you may call yerself, I'll live long enough to
see you under ground--or what's more like, hangin' high above it wi'
your throat in a halter. Don't make any mistake about me. I can shoot
straight as you."

"Avast theer!" shouts Striker to Gomez, now calling himself De Lara,
seeing him about to draw a pistol. "Keep yer hand off that wepun! If
theer must be a fight, let it be a fair one. But, before it begin, Jack
Striker has a word to say."

While speaking, he has stepped between the two men, staying their
encounter.

"Yes; let the fight be a fair one!" demand several voices, as the
pirates come clustering around.

"Look here, shipmates!" continues Striker, still standing between the
two angry men, and alternately eyeing them. "What's the use o' spillin'
blood about it--maybe killin' one the other? All for the sake o' a pair
o' petticoats, or a couple o' pairs, as it be. Take my advice, an'
settle the thing in a pacifical way. Maybe ye will, after ye've heerd
what I intend proposin'; which I daresay 'll be satisfactory to all."

"What is it, Jack?" asks one of the outsiders.

"First, then, I'm goin' to make the observashun, that fightin' an't the
way to get them weemen, whoever's fools enough to fight for 'em.
Theer's somethin' to be done besides."

"Explain yourself, old Sydney! What's to be done besides?"

"If the gals are goin' to be fought for, they've first got to be _paid_
for."

"How that?"

"How? What humbuggin' stuff askin' such a questyin! Han't we all equil
shares in 'em? Coorse we hev. Tharfore, them as wants 'em, must pay
for 'em. An' they as wants 'em so bad as to do shootin' for 'em, surely
won't objek to that. Theer appear to be four candydates in the field,
an', kewrous enuf, they're set in pairs, two for each one o' the gals.
Now, 'ith