s at home, and kicked out
that scoundrel James and his gang of ruffians?"

Admiral van der Kuylen nudged his lordship, a humourous twinkle in his
blue eyes.

"His bolitics are fery sound, I dink," he growled.

His lordship's smile brought lines like gashes into his leathery cheeks.
"'Slife! hadn't you heard? Where the devil have you been at all?"

"Out of touch with the world for the last three months," said Blood.

"Stab me! You must have been. And in that three months the world has
undergone some changes." Briefly he added an account of them. King
James was fled to France, and living under the protection of King Louis,
wherefore, and for other reasons, England had joined the league against
her, and was now at war with France. That was how it happened that the
Dutch Admiral's flagship had been attacked by M. de Rivarol's fleet
that morning, from which it clearly followed that in his voyage from
Cartagena, the Frenchman must have spoken some ship that gave him the
news.

After that, with renewed assurances that aboard his ship they should
be honourably entreated, Captain Blood led the Governor-General and the
Admiral to his cabin, what time the work of rescue went on. The news
he had received had set Blood's mind in a turmoil. If King James was
dethroned and banished, there was an end to his own outlawry for his
alleged share in an earlier attempt to drive out that tyrant. It became
possible for him to return home and take up his life again at the point
where it was so unfortunately interrupted four years ago. He was dazzled
by the prospect so abruptly opened out to him. The thing so filled his
mind, moved him so deeply, that he must afford it expression. In doing
so, he revealed of himself more than he knew or intended to the astute
little gentleman who watched him so keenly the while.

"Go home, if you will," said his lordship, when Blood paused. "You
may be sure that none will harass you on the score of your piracy,
considering what it was that drove you to it. But why be in haste? We
have heard of you, to be sure, and we know of what you are capable upon
the seas. Here is a great chance for you, since you declare yourself
sick of piracy. Should you choose to serve King William out here during
this war, your knowledge of the West Indies should render you a very
valuable servant to His Majesty's Government, which you would not find
ungrateful. You should consider it. Damme, sir, I repeat: it is a great
chance