ass--"won't be worth much more to me, and that gives you only
two more than ourselves in the casualty list. But I won't grumble. I'm
satisfied to cry quits, and call a truce to hostilities."

"And, after that?" said the captain.--"I don't suppose you attacked us
for nothing!"

"Your remark," said the pirate, smiling, "does credit to your good
sense. I am not in the habit, strange to say, even in these heroic
days, of doing anything for nothing. Am I, Calchas?" he added, turning
to a ferocious-looking villain at his right hand.

The man evidently did not understand him, as he spoke still in English
for the benefit of the captain's party; but he grinned in sympathy with
the smile on the pirate chief's face--such a cruel, crafty smile as it
was!

"You have got possession of the ship," said Captain Harding; "what more
do you want, if you don't wish to murder us like the rest of my poor
crew?"

"My dear sir, you certainly use very strong language; and I can't say I
like it," said the pirate, playing carelessly with the handle of a long
yataghan that was thrust through his crimson sash. "Murder is a nasty
word, which should not really be mentioned in the company of gentlemen!
Your men fell in fair fighting."

"Yes, when they were taken unawares by a pack of traitors," put in the
captain hotly. The other's cool assurance was more than he could
stomach.

"Pray don't interrupt me," said the pirate. "It is, to say the least of
it, rude. But, now to business. I have possession of your ship, you
say? That is true without doubt; now, my difficulty is, how to utilise
that possession; and here, Captain Harding, I shall have to claim your
assistance--"

"You may claim away till doomsday," said the captain with grim humour;
"but as to my giving it, that's quite a different matter."

"Allow me to finish my sentence," continued the other--"claim your
assistance in return for the lives of yourself and the remainder of your
crew. Else, I shall be extremely sorry, but circumstances will compel
my wishing you all a speedy adieu."

And the cold-blooded desperado drew his hand across his throat and then
pointed to the water over the ship's side, in a very suggestive way.

"What do you want me to do?" asked Captain Harding curtly.

"Nothing very alarming, or calculated to wound your honourable
feelings," replied the pirate. "I simply want you to remain in command
of your vessel."

The bluff, honest sailor stared at t