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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
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