sible suspicion. With the amiable
familiarity he used, Lord Julian slipped an arm through one of the
Captain's, and fell into step beside him.

"What's this?" snapped Blood, whose mood was fierce and raw. His
lordship was not disturbed.

"I desire, sir, that we be friends," said he suavely.

"That's mighty condescending of you!"

Lord Julian ignored the obvious sarcasm.

"It's an odd coincidence that we should have been brought together in
this fashion, considering that I came out to the Indies especially to
seek you."

"Ye're not by any means the first to do that," the other scoffed. "But
they've mainly been Spaniards, and they hadn't your luck."

"You misapprehend me completely," said Lord Julian. And on that he
proceeded to explain himself and his mission.

When he had done, Captain Blood, who until that moment had stood
still under the spell of his astonishment, disengaged his arm from his
lordship's, and stood squarely before him.

"Ye're my guest aboard this ship," said he, "and I still have some
notion of decent behaviour left me from other days, thief and pirate
though I may be. So I'll not be telling you what I think of you for
daring to bring me this offer, or of my Lord Sunderland--since he's your
kinsman for having the impudence to send it. But it does not surprise me
at all that one who is a minister of James Stuart's should conceive
that every man is to be seduced by bribes into betraying those who trust
him." He flung out an arm in the direction of the waist, whence came the
half-melancholy chant of the lounging buccaneers.

"Again you misapprehend me," cried Lord Julian, between concern and
indignation. "That is not intended. Your followers will be included in
your commission."

"And d' ye think they'll go with me to hunt their brethren--the
Brethren of the Coast? On my soul, Lord Julian, it is yourself does the
misapprehending. Are there not even notions of honour left in England?
Oh, and there's more to it than that, even. D'ye think I could take a
commission of King James's? I tell you I wouldn't be soiling my hands
with it--thief and pirate's hands though they be. Thief and pirate is
what you heard Miss Bishop call me to-day--a thing of scorn, an outcast.
And who made me that? Who made me thief and pirate?"

"If you were a rebel...?" his lordship was beginning.

"Ye must know that I was no such thing--no rebel at all. It wasn't even
pretended. If it were, I could forgive them. But not