in thought. Lord Julian took a turn in the long low
cabin, which was lighted by a skylight above and great square windows
astern. It was luxuriously appointed: there were rich Eastern rugs on
the floor, well-filled bookcases stood against the bulkheads, and there
was a carved walnut sideboard laden with silverware. On a long, low
chest standing under the middle stern port lay a guitar that was gay
with ribbons. Lord Julian picked it up, twanged the strings once as if
moved by nervous irritation, and put it down.

He turned again to face Miss Bishop.

"I came out here," he said, "to put down piracy. But--blister me!--I
begin to think that the French are right in desiring piracy to continue
as a curb upon these Spanish scoundrels."

He was to be strongly confirmed in that opinion before many hours
were past. Meanwhile their treatment at the hands of Don Miguel was
considerate and courteous. It confirmed the opinion, contemptuously
expressed to his lordship by Miss Bishop, that since they were to be
held to ransom they need not fear any violence or hurt. A cabin was
placed at the disposal of the lady and her terrified woman, and another
at Lord Julian's. They were given the freedom of the ship, and bidden to
dine at the Admiral's table; nor were his further intentions regarding
them mentioned, nor yet his immediate destination.

The Milagrosa, with her consort the Hidalga rolling after her, steered
a south by westerly course, then veered to the southeast round Cape
Tiburon, and thereafter, standing well out to sea, with the land no more
than a cloudy outline to larboard, she headed directly east, and so ran
straight into the arms of Captain Blood, who was making for the Windward
Passage, as we know. That happened early on the following morning. After
having systematically hunted his enemy in vain for a year, Don Miguel
chanced upon him in this unexpected and entirely fortuitous fashion. But
that is the ironic way of Fortune. It was also the way of Fortune that
Don Miguel should thus come upon the Arabella at a time when, separated
from the rest of the fleet, she was alone and at a disadvantage. It
looked to Don Miguel as if the luck which so long had been on Blood's
side had at last veered in his own favour.

Miss Bishop, newly risen, had come out to take the air on the
quarter-deck with his lordship in attendance--as you would expect of so
gallant a gentleman--when she beheld the big red ship that had once been
the