this, you will admit, is a matter
that asks serious thought."

Captain Blood stood up. From a shelf he took a half-hour glass, reversed
it so that the bulb containing the red sand was uppermost, and stood it
on the table.

"I am sorry to press you in such a matter, Don Diego, but one glass is
all that I can give you. If by the time those sands have run out you can
propose no acceptable alternative, I shall most reluctantly be driven to
ask you to go over the side with your friends."

Captain Blood bowed, went out, and locked the door. Elbows on his knees
and face in his hands, Don Diego sat watching the rusty sands as they
filtered from the upper to the lower bulb. And what time he watched, the
lines in his lean brown face grew deeper. Punctually as the last grains
ran out, the door reopened.

The Spaniard sighed, and sat upright to face the returning Captain Blood
with the answer for which he came.

"I have thought of an alternative, sir captain; but it depends upon
your charity. It is that you put us ashore on one of the islands of this
pestilent archipelago, and leave us to shift for ourselves."

Captain Blood pursed his lips. "It has its difficulties," said he
slowly.

"I feared it would be so." Don Diego sighed again, and stood up. "Let us
say no more."

The light-blue eyes played over him like points of steel.

"You are not afraid to die, Don Diego?"

The Spaniard threw back his head, a frown between his eyes.

"The question is offensive, sir."

"Then let me put it in another way--perhaps more happily: You do not
desire to live?"

"Ah, that I can answer. I do desire to live; and even more do I desire
that my son may live. But the desire shall not make a coward of me for
your amusement, master mocker." It was the first sign he had shown of
the least heat or resentment.

Captain Blood did not directly answer. As before he perched himself on
the corner of the table.

"Would you be willing, sir, to earn life and liberty--for yourself, your
son, and the other Spaniards who are on board?"

"To earn it?" said Don Diego, and the watchful blue eyes did not miss
the quiver that ran through him. "To earn it, do you say? Why, if the
service you would propose is one that cannot hurt my honour...."

"Could I be guilty of that?" protested the Captain. "I realize that even
a pirate has his honour." And forthwith he propounded his offer. "If you
will look from those windows, Don Diego, you will see what appe