y mother?"

The captain's lips and the muscles of his face quivered, but he did not
reply.

"_Blood for blood_!" cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol at Cain,
who staggered, and fell on the deck.

Hawkhurst and several of the pirates hastened to the captain, and raised
him.

"She must have told him last night," said Cain, speaking with
difficulty, as the blood flowed from the wound.

"He told me so himself," said Francisco, turning round to those who
stood by him.

Cain was taken down into the cabin. On examination, his wound was not
mortal, although his loss of blood had been rapid and very great. In a
few minutes Hawkhurst joined the party on the quarter deck. He found
that the tide had turned more in Francisco's favour than he had
expected; the law of "Blood for blood" was held most sacred: indeed, it
was but the knowledge that it was solemnly recognised, and that, if one
pirate wounded another, the other was at liberty to take his life,
without punishment, which prevented constant affrays between parties,
whose knives would otherwise have been the answer to every affront. It
was a more debased law of duelling, which kept such profligate
associates on good terms. Finding, therefore, that this feeling
predominated, even among those who were opposed to Francisco on the
other question, Hawkhurst thought it advisable to parley.

"Hawkhurst," said Francisco, "I have but one request to make, which, if
complied with, will put an end to this contention; it is, that you will
put me on shore at the first land that we make. If you and your party
engage to do this, I will desire those who support me to return to their
obedience."

"I grant it," replied Hawkhurst; "and so will the others. Will you not,
my men?"

"Agreed--agreed upon all sides," cried the pirates, throwing away their
weapons, and mingling with each other, as if they had never been
opposed.

There is an old saying, that there is honour amongst thieves; and so it
often proves. Every man in the vessel knew that this agreement would be
strictly adhered to; and Francisco now walked the deck with as much
composure as if nothing had occurred.

Hawkhurst, who was aware that he must fulfil his promise, carefully
examined the charts when he went down below, came up and altered the
course of the schooner two points more to the northward. The next
morning he was up at the mast-head nearly half an hour, when he
descended, and again altered the cours