oke
now for the first time.

"May I ask wha... what are your intentions?" he quavered.

"Why, nothing sinister, Colonel. Although ye deserve nothing less than
that same rope and yardarm, I assure you that it's to be employed only
as a last resource. Ye've said his lordship made a mistake when he
handed me the commission which the Secretary of State did me the honour
to design for me. I'm disposed to agree with you; so I'll take to the
sea again. Cras ingens iterabimus aequor. It's the fine Latin scholar
ye'll be when I've done with ye. I'll be getting back to Tortuga and my
buccaneers, who at least are honest, decent fellows. So I've fetched ye
aboard as a hostage."

"My God!" groaned the Deputy-Governor. "Ye... ye never mean that ye'll
carry me to Tortuga!"

Blood laughed outright. "Oh, I'd never serve ye such a bad turn as that.
No, no. All I want is that ye ensure my safe departure from Port Royal.
And, if ye're reasonable, I'll not even trouble you to swim for it this
time. Ye've given certain orders to your Harbour-Master, and others to
the Commandant of your plaguey fort. Ye'll be so good as to send for
them both aboard here, and inform them in my presence that the Arabella
is leaving this afternoon on the King's service and is to pass out
unmolested. And so as to make quite sure of their obedience, they shall
go a little voyage with us, themselves. Here's what you require. Now
write--unless you prefer the yardarm."

Colonel Bishop heaved himself up in a pet. "You constrain me with
violence..." he was beginning.

Blood smoothly interrupted him.

"Sure, now, I am not constraining you at all. I'm giving you a perfectly
free choice between the pen and the rope. It's a matter for yourself
entirely."

Bishop glared at him; then shrugging heavily, he took up the pen and
sat down at the table. In an unsteady hand he wrote that summons to his
officers. Blood despatched it ashore; and then bade his unwilling guest
to table.

"I trust, Colonel, your appetite is as stout as usual."

The wretched Bishop took the seat to which he was commanded. As for
eating, however, that was not easy to a man in his position; nor did
Blood press him. The Captain, himself, fell to with a good appetite.
But before he was midway through the meal came Hayton to inform him
that Lord Julian Wade had just come aboard, and was asking to see him
instantly.

"I was expecting him," said Blood. "Fetch him in."

Lord Julian came. He was