Evening star., 1924-11-28

Royal? What a plague do it matter
IL it is an English settlement? It's
commanded by Col. Bishop. and
there's no lack Of rascals in your
| company d follow you to hell il IT
meant getting Coll Bishop by the
| throat. It could be done, I tell you.
We've but to spy the chance when
| the Jamaica feet is away. There's
| enough plunder in the town to tempt
the lads. and there's the wench for
you. Shall I sound them on TT"
Blood was on his feet, his eyes
| blazing. his livid face distorted.
"Ye'll leave my cabin this minute. so
ye will. or, by Heaven. It's your
| corpserl be carried out Of it. Ye
NANCY hound. dye dare come to me
with such proposals?"
He fell to cursing his faithful
officer with a virulence the like Of
| which he had never yet been known
to use. And Wolverstone, in terror
| before that fury. went out without
another word. Tho subject was not
raised again. and Capt. Blood was
LETT to his idle abstraction.
But at last, ae his buccaneers were
growing desperate, something hap
pened, brought about by the cap
morning the Governor of Tortuga
came aboard the Arabella, accom-
panied by a chubby little gentleman.
amiable of countenance, amiable and
seif-sufficient OF manner.
MY Captain" NJ. d'Ogeron de-
livered himself. 81 bring you NJ. de
Cussy, the Governor Of French His
PAMELA, who desires a word with
YOU"
Out Of consideration for his friend,
Capt. Blood pulled the pipe from his
mouth, shook some OF the rum out
Of his wits, and rose and made a leg
to NJ de Cussy.
"Seryiteur!" said he.
NJ. dc Cussy returned the bow and
accepted a seat on the locker under
the stern windows.
You have a good force hero under
your command. my captain" said he.
Some 500 men,"
And understand they grow
restive in idleness."
They may go to the devil when
they please"
NJ. dc Cussy took snuff delicately.
''I have something better than that
to PROPOSE" said he.
Propose It, then" said Blood, with
out interest.
NJ. de Cussy looked at NJ. d'ogeron.
and raised his eyebrows a little. He
did not find Capt. Blood encouraging.
with pursed lips. and the Governor
OF Hispaniola propounded his tusi-
ness.
News has reached US from France
that there Ii war with Spain"
THAT is news, is it?' growled
Blood.
'T am speaking officially. my cap
tain. I am not aiiuding to unomcial
skirmishes, and unofficiai predatory
measures which we have condoned
out here. There is war-formally
war-between France and Spain in
Europe It is the intention Of France
that this war shall be carried into the
New World. A fleet is coming out
from Brest under tho command of
NJ. le Baron de Rivarol for that pur-
pose. I have letters from him desir-
squadron and raise a body of not
less than a thousand men to re-
enforce him on his arrival. What
I have come to propose to you. my
captain. at the suggestion OF our
good friend NJ. d'Ogeron, Is. in brief.
that you enroll your ships and your
force under NJ. de RivaFsi's nag"
Blood looked at him with q faint
kindlinR OF interest. You arc offer
ing to take us into the French serv-
ice?" he asked. "On what terms,
monsieur --.
with the rank of capitaine de
vaisseau for yourself. and suitable
ranks for the officers serving under
you. You will enjoy the pay OF that
rank, and you will be entitled, to-
gether with your men. to one.tenth
share In all prizes taken"
generous. They will tell you that
they can sail out of here tomorrow,
disembowel 4 Spanish settlement. and
keep the whole Of the plunder."
"Ah, yes, but with the risks at
taohink to acts Of piracy. With US
your position will be regular and
official, and considering the power
ful fleet by which NJ. de Rivarol is
backed, the enterprises to be UNDER
taken will be on a much vaster
scale. than anything you could at
tempt on your own account. So that
the one-tAnth in this case may be
equal to more than the whole in the
other
Captain Blood considered This.
after all, was not piracy that was
being proposed. 1t was honorable
employment In the service Of tho
King Of France.
I II Will consult my officers" he
said: ahd he sent for them.
+ (CoRtinued in Tomorrow's star.)
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II vnu usA -arv,o ,rox~r - .n.f~