ch sat worse
upon his countenance than a frown, "I will thank you to sign this
order," producing the skipper's bank-draft, and a pen and ink all ready
for the purpose. "Just sign it, and I will put you and your brother
Englishmen ashore at once."

"Where are we?" asked the captain.

"On the coast of Greece," was the answer, "not far from Salonica, where
I am going with the felucca to dispose of my cargo," with a naive
candour which made Charley Onslow laugh outright.

"His cargo, indeed," he whispered to Tom. "You have often talked of my
Irish impudence, but, bedad, that beats Banagher."

"Be quiet," replied Tom; "you'll only get us into a row."

But the leader of the pirates took no heed of the interruption; he was
too busy about the money order.

"Come, sign," he repeated to the captain.

"And suppose I don't?" said he.

"Then you and your companions will be imprisoned in the mountains until
you do, up to a certain period--until I have time to complete my
business at Salonica, that is--and if, on my return from thence, you
still continue obdurate, why, then all of you had better say your
prayers--" completing his sentence with an emphatic gesture which could
not be misunderstood.

The captain was obstinate. He thought that now they were near a
well-known port, and in comparatively civilised regions, the pirate
chief would not dare to carry out his threat, and after a time, if he
only held out, would be satisfied with the share of booty he had already
secured, particularly, as from some remarks which he casually let fall
when the cargo was being shifted, it had turned out to be more valuable
than he had anticipated.

Once he had made up his mind, nothing would make the captain budge an
inch from the position he had taken up. He could be as obstinate as a
mule when he liked.

"I refuse to sign the draft, and you may whistle for the money," he said
doggedly.

"You better had," urged the other. "I only advise you for your own
good. Those brigand friends of mine in the mountains, who will be your
jailers, are a rough lot, and not to be trifled with."

"I will see you hanged first!" shouted out the captain, out of all
patience, and he then closed his lips together tightly to show that he
did not intend saying another word.

"Absit omen," quoted the corsair; "hanging is a ticklish subject.
Polydori," turning to one of the Greeks, "take charge of these
Englishmen, with ten others of your best men. Yo