.

Therefore she lingered there in the garden, awaiting his return that she
might make amends; that she might set a term to all misunderstanding.
In impatience she awaited him. Yet her patience, it seemed, was to be
tested further. For when at last he came, it was in company--unusually
close and intimate company--with her uncle. In vexation she realized
that explanations must be postponed. Could she have guessed the extent
of that postponement, vexation would have been changed into despair.

He passed, with his companion, from that fragrant garden into the
courtyard of the fort. Here the Commandant, who had been instructed to
hold himself in readiness with the necessary men against the need to
effect the arrest of Captain Blood, was amazed by the curious spectacle
of the Deputy-Governor of Jamaica strolling forth arm in arm and
apparently on the friendliest terms with the intended prisoner. For as
they went, Blood was chatting and laughing briskly.

They passed out of the gates unchallenged, and so came to the mole where
the cock-boat from the Arabella was waiting. They took their places side
by side in the stern sheets, and were pulled away together, always very
close and friendly, to the great red ship where Jeremy Pitt so anxiously
awaited news.

You conceive the master's amazement to see the Deputy-Governor come
toiling up the entrance ladder, with Blood following very close behind
him.

"Sure, I walked into a trap, as ye feared, Jeremy," Blood hailed him.
"But I walked out again, and fetched the trapper with me. He loves his
life, does this fat rascal."

Colonel Bishop stood in the waist, his great face blenched to the colour
of clay, his mouth loose, almost afraid to look at the sturdy ruffians
who lounged about the shot-rack on the main hatch.

Blood shouted an order to the bo'sun, who was leaning against the
forecastle bulkhead.

"Throw me a rope with a running noose over the yardarm there, against
the need of it. Now, don't be alarming yourself, Colonel, darling. It's
no more than a provision against your being unreasonable, which I am
sure ye'll not be. We'll talk the matter over whiles we are dining, for
I trust ye'll not refuse to honour my table by your company."

He led away the will-less, cowed bully to the great cabin. Benjamin,
the negro steward, in white drawers and cotton shirt, made haste by his
command to serve dinner.

Colonel Bishop collapsed on the locker under the stern ports, and sp