eeded not to ask whether he had been faithful to his trust.

"I locked the door on 'em, Black Bart," said he, "and bade them cease
a idle remonstrancing. 'Little do you know,' say I to them, 'that
Black Bart the Avenger is now on the trail. Let any oppose him at
their peril,' says I to them. She give me candy, the fair captive did,
but I spurned her bribe. 'Beware,' says I to her. 'Little do you know
what lies before you.'"

CHAPTER XV

IN WHICH IS CONVERSATION WITH THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN

Jean Lafitte, who had so well executed the work assigned him in the
boarding party's plans, proved himself neither inefficient nor
unobservant. He approached me now, with a salute, which probably he
copied from Peterson.

"How now, good leftenant?" said I.

"If you please, Black Bart," he began, "how are we headed, and what
are our plans?"

"Our course on this river, Jean Lafitte, will box the compass, indeed
box an entire box of compasses, for no river is more winding. Yet in
time we shall reach its end, no doubt, since others have."

"And what about our good ship, the _Sea Rover_, that we have left
behind?"

"By Jove! Jean Lafitte," I exclaimed, "that is, indeed, a true word.
What, indeed? We left her riding at anchor just off the channel edge,
and so far as I recall, she had not her lights up, in accordance with
the law."

"Shall we put about and take her in tow, Black Bart?"

"By no means. That is the very last of my intentions."

"What'll become of her, then?"

"That is no concern of mine."

"But nobody'll know whose she is, and nobody can tell what may happen
to her----"

"Quite true. She may be stolen, or sunk. Why not?"

"But she cost a lot of money."

"On the contrary, she cost only twelve hundred dollars."

"Twelve hundred dollars!" Jean drew a long deep breath. "I didn't know
anybody had that much money in the world. Besides, look what you spent
for them pearls. Ain't you poor, then, Black Bart?"

"On the contrary, I have that much more money left, very likely. And I
do not, to say truth, care a jot, a rap or a stiver, what becomes of
the derelict _Sea Rover_ now. Have we not taken a better ship for our
own?"

"Yes, but suppose yon varlet boards the _Sea Rover_, an' chases us the
way we done him?"

"Again, by Jove! Jean Lafitte; an idea. But suppose he does? Much good
it will do him. For, look you, good leftenant, the _Belle Helene_ will
not stop to send any man ashore for baseball scores. S