The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-12-22
CAPTAIN
BLOOD
By Rgfael Sabafini
. RAFAEL aABATINi
AppSr MA Npvicr NC \

general. Their presence might admit
anon of tho reopcning OF this auos.
ton. Meanwhile he must retire In
tho best order possible.
Il have considered that. too,' he
announced. And whilst my opinion
remains unaltercd. must confess
that since M. do Cuasy has pledged
us. II In for us to fulflll tho pledges.
The articles are confirmed. SIR"
Captain Blood bowed again. In
vain NJ. dc Rivarol booked searchlngly
for the least trace OF smile OF tri-
umph on those firm lips. The buc-
cancers face remained OF the utmost
gravity.
Wolvcrstone was set ~ liberty that
afternoon. and his assaiiant sontenc.
ed 10 two months detention. Thus
harmony was restored. But II had
been an unptbmising beginning. and
there was more 10 follow shortly of
a similar discordant kind.
Blood and his officers were sum.
moncd a week later 10 n council
which sat TO determine their opera.
tons against Spain. NJ. do Riynroi
laid besore them project for a raid
upon tho wealthy Spanish town OF
cartagcna. Captain Blood professed
astonishmcnt Sourly invited by NJ.
do Rvarol 10 state his grounds for r..
he did 30 with the utmost ffankness.
Were general OF tho kings
armies In America" said he. II
should have no doubt or hesitation rs
10 the best way In which 10 servo my
royal master and tho French nation.
That which think viii DO obvious
to NJ. de cussy. as Il Is TO me. Is that
we should ut oncc invade Spanish
Hispaniola and reduce tho whole OF
this fruitful and splendid island into
the possession OF the king of France .
THAT may follow" said NJ. dc Ri.
verol. 1T II my wish that we be-
sin with CArtagena."
You mean. sir. that we are 70 sail
across the Caribbean on an ndventur.
Gus expedition, neglcctlng that which
lies at our very door. In our ABB
sencc. Spanish invasion of French
Hispaniola Is possible. II we begin
by reducing tho spaniards here. that
possibility win be removed. We shall
have added TO the crown OF France
the most coveted possession in tho
West indies. The enterprise offers
no particular difficulty: Il may be
speedily accomplished. and once nc
complished. II would be time TO laok
farther afieid. That would seem tho
logical order IN which this cam
paign should proceed
He ceased. and there was silence.
NJ. de Rivarol sat back in his chair.
the feathercd end OF n quill between
his teeth. Presently no cleared his
throat and asked a question.
is there anybody elise who shares
Captain BIood's opinion7''
None answered him. His own Off.
GERS were oveEawcd by him; Blood >
followers naturally preferred carta-
gcna. because offering tho greater
chance OF loot. Loyalty TO their lead.
or kept them silent.
You seem TO DO aiono In your
opinion" said the baron with his
vinegary smile.
Captain Blood laughed outright. Hs
had suddenly read tho baron's mind.
HIS airs and graces and haughtiness
had so imposed upon Blood that IL
was only now that AT last no saw
thru them. into tho fellows pefdi.ng
spirit. Theref3rs he laughed: there
was really nothing else 10 do. But
his laughter was charged with more
anger even than coutsmpt. He had
been deludlag himself tina, he had
done with piracy. THE conviction
that this French service was free OF
any talnt OF that was the only con.
sideration that had Induced him TO no
cept II. Yet here was this naughty.
supercilious gentleman. who dubbed
himself general OF the armies OF
France, proposing n plundering.
thieying raid which. when stripped Of
It's mean. transparent mask OF leglti.
mate warfare, was revealed as piracy
Of tho most fragrant.
~. do Rivarol. intrigued by his
mlrth. scowIed upon him dlsapproy.
ingiy.
why do you laugh. monsieur"
Because discover hero an inony
that Is supremacy droli. You. NJ. 10
Baron. general OF tho kings armies
by land and sea In America, propose
an enterprise OF purely buccaneer.
ing character; whilst !, tho buc-
cancer. nm urging ono that il moro
concerned with upholding the honor
OF France. You perceive how dill
IL is"
~. dc Rlvaroi perceived nothing OF
the kind. ~. do Rivarol In fact was
extremely angry. lie bounded to his
feet, and every man In the room rose
with him-saye only NJ. do cussy.
who aat on with n grim smile on his
lips. He. tao. now read tho baron
like an open book. and reading him
despIsed him.
M. le filibustIer." cried flvarol in
a thick voice. ut seems that / must
again remind you that am your su-
perior officer"
My superior officerl Youi Lord
OF the Worldl Why. you are just
common plratei But you shall hear
tho truth FOR once. and that before
all these gentlemen who have the
honor to serve the king Of France. II
Is for me. a buccaneer, a sea-robber,
TO stand here and tell you what Ia In
the interest OF French honor and the
French crown. Whilst you, tho
French kings appointed general.
neglectlng this. are for spending the
kings resources against an outlying
settlement OF no account. shedding
French blood In seizing n place that
cannot be held. only because Il has
been reported 10 you that there is
much gold in Cartagcna, and that
the plumber OF 1t will enrich you. 10
Is worthy OF the huckster who sought
to haggle with US about our share,
and to beat us down after the articles
pledging you were already signed. II
am wrong-iet NJ. dc Cussy say so.
II ] am wrong. let me be proven
wrong. and ] will beg your pardon.
~