Evening star., 1924-10-31
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Star.)

And there's another matter" Mr.
Blood resumed There's a matter of
a nogging that's due to me- Ye're q
man of youA word in such matters,
colonei-ff not perhaps in others
and ye said, / think, that ye'd not
leave a square inch of skin on my
back"
The planter waved the matter
aside. Almost it seemed to offend
him.
"Tush. Tush, After this splendid
be thinking of such things?"
I'm glad ye feel like that about
it. But I'm thinking it's mighty
lucky for me the Spaniards didn't
come today instead of yesterday, or
it's in the same plight as Jeremy
Pitt I'd be this minute And in that
case where was the genius that
would have turned the tables on
these rascally SpaniardsT'
why speak of it now?''
Il must, colonel, darling. Ye've
cruelty in your time, and 1 want this
to be a lesson to you, lesson that
yell remember-for the sake of
others who may come after US.
There's Jeremy up there in the
roundhouse with a back that's every
color of the rainbow, and the poor
lad'1l not be himself again for
month. And if it hadn't been for
the Spaniards maybe it's dead he'd
be by now, and maybe myself with
him"
Hagthorpe lounged forward. He
was a fairly tall. vigorous man. with
clear-cut. attractive face, which in
itself announced his breeding.
why will you be wasting words
on the hog?" wondered that some
time officer in the royal navy Filing
him overheard and have done with
him"
head. What the devil do you meanT'
he clustered.
Its the lucky man We are en-
tirely, colonel, though ye don't guess
the source of your good fortune"
And now another interven ed-the
brawny. one-eyed Wolverstone, less
mercifully disposed than his more
gentlemanly fellow-convict
String him up from the yardarm, :"
he cried, his deep voice harsh and
angry, and more than one Of the
slaves standing to their arms made
echo.
Col. Bishop trembled. Mr. Blood
turned. He was quite calm.
IF you please, Wolverstone," said
he, Il conduct affairs in my own way
That is the pact. You'll please to
rememb Der it." His eyes looked along
the ranks, making it plain that he
addressed them all. Il desire that
Col. Bishop should have his life. one
reason is that I require him as a
hostage. IF ye insist on hanging him
yell have to hang me with him, or
in the alternative I'll go ashore"
He paused. There was no answer.
But they stood hang-dog and half
mutinous before him, save Hagthorpe,
who shrugged and smiled wea rily.
Mr. Blood resumed: Yell please to
understand that aboard a ship there
is one captain. So He swung again
promise you your life, I must-as
you've heard-keep you aboard as a
hostage for the good behavior of
Gov Steed and what's left of the fort
until we put to sea-
Until YOU :" Horror prevent
ed Col. Bishop from echoing the re-
mainder of that incredible speech.
Just So said Peter Blood. and
he turned to the officers who had ac-
waiting, gentlemen. Youth have heard
what said. Convey it with my COM
pliments TO his excellency.'
But, sir - one of them be-
gan.
There is no more to be said, gentle
men. Ny name is Blood-Capt Blood,
if you please, of this ship the Cinco
Llagas, taken as a prize Of war from
Don Diego de Espinosa y Valdez. who
is my prisoner aboard. You are to
understand that l have turned the
tables on more than the Spaniards.
There's the ladder. You'll find 1t more
convenient than being heaved over
the side, which is whatll happen if
you linger'
They went. though not without
some hustling, regardless of the bel
lowings of Col. Bishop. whose
monstrous rage was famed by terror
at finding himself at the mercy Of
these men Of whose cause to hate
him he was very fully conscious.
a half-dozen of them, apart from
Jeremy Pitt, who was utterly in
capaciated for the present, possessed
a superficial knowledge of seaman
ship Hagthorpe, although he had
been a fighting officer, unframed in
navigation. knew how to handle a
ship, and under his directions they
set about getting under way
The anchor Gated and the mafnsail
unfurled. they stood out for the open