ng out from Brest under the command of M. le Baron
de Rivarol for that purpose. I have letters from him desiring me to
equip a supplementary squadron and raise a body of not less than a
thousand men to reenforce him on his arrival. What I have come to
propose to you, my Captain, at the suggestion of our good friend M.
d'Ogeron, is, in brief, that you enroll your ships and your force under
M. de Rivarol's flag."

Blood looked at him with a faint kindling of interest. "You are
offering to take us into the French service?" he asked. "On what terms,
monsieur?"

"With the rank of Capitaine de Vaisseau for yourself, and suitable ranks
for the officers serving under you. You will enjoy the pay of that rank,
and you will be entitled, together with your men, to one-tenth share in
all prizes taken."

"My men will hardly account it generous. They will tell you that they
can sail out of here to-morrow, disembowel a Spanish settlement, and
keep the whole of the plunder."

"Ah, yes, but with the risks attaching to acts of piracy. With us your
position will be regular and official, and considering the powerful
fleet by which M. de Rivarol is backed, the enterprises to be undertaken
will be on a much vaster scale than anything you could attempt on your
own account. So that the one tenth in this case may be equal to more
than the whole in the other."

Captain Blood considered. This, after all, was not piracy that was being
proposed. It was honourable employment in the service of the King of
France.

"I will consult my officers," he said; and he sent for them.

They came and the matter was laid before them by M. de Cussy himself.
Hagthorpe announced at once that the proposal was opportune. The men
were grumbling at their protracted inaction, and would no doubt be ready
to accept the service which M. de Cussy offered on behalf of France.
Hagthorpe looked at Blood as he spoke. Blood nodded gloomy agreement.
Emboldened by this, they went on to discuss the terms. Yberville, the
young French filibuster, had the honour to point out to M. de Cussy
that the share offered was too small. For one fifth of the prizes, the
officers would answer for their men; not for less.

M. de Cussy was distressed. He had his instructions. It was taking a
deal upon himself to exceed them. The buccaneers were firm. Unless M. de
Cussy could make it one fifth there was no more to be said. M. de Cussy
finally consenting to exceed his instructions, the articl