Evening star., 1924-11-22
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr
CHAPTER XXI.
IIOstilities.

Hostilities.
Royal, spacious enough to have
given moorings to all the ships of
all the navies of the world. the
Arabella rode at anchor. Almost she
had the air of a prisoner, for a quar-
ter of a mile ahead. to starboard,
rose the lofty, massive single round
tower of the fort, whilst a couple of
cables'-length astern, and to lar
board, rode the six men-ofwar that
composed the Jamaica squadron.
Abeam with the Arabella. across
the harbor. We're the f1atfrontec
white buildings of that imposing city
that came down to the very water S
edge. Behind these the red roofs
rose like terraces, marking the gentle
slope upon which the city was built,
dominated here by a turret. there by
a spire, and behind these again "A
range of green hills with for ulti-
mate background a sky that was Ike
dome of polished steel.
On a cane day-bed that had been
set for him on the quarterback,
sheltered from the dazzling, blister
ing sunshine by an improvised avn
ing of brown Sailcloth, lounged Peter
Blood. a calf bound. well-thumbed
his hands.
From Immediately below him came
the swish of mops and the gurgle
of water in the scuppers, for 1t was
still early morning, and under the
directions of Hayton. the bo'sun, the
Swabbers were at work In the waist
and forecastle. Despite the heat and
the stagnant air, one of the toilers
found breath to croak d ribald buc-
caneering ditty:
For we laid her board and board,
And we put her to the sword.
And we sank her in the deep blue sea.
So it's heigh-ho. and heave-a-ho.
Who'll sail for the Main with me?"
Blood fetched a sigh. and the ghost
of smile played over his keen, lean
untanned face. Then the black
brows came together above the vivid
blue eyes, and thought swiftly closed
the door upon his immediate sur
roupdings.
Things had not sped at all well
with him in the past fortnight since
his acceptance of the Kings com
mission. There had been trouble with
Bishop from the moment of landing
As Blood and Lord Julian had step
ped ashore together. they had been
/ met by a man who took no pains tt
| dlSsemb!c his chagrin at the turn OF
/ events and his determination tt
! change il. He awaited them on thu
mole, supported by a group of Off
! GERS.
You are Lord Julian Wade.
| understand, was his truculent gree t.
| ing. For Blood at the moment he hac
nothing beyond a malignant glance
| Lord Julian bowed. Il take it
have the honor to address Col
Bishop, Deputy Governor OF Jamaica
! 1t was almost as if his lordship Wer,
| giving the Colonel a lesson in de.
! pertinent. The Colonel accepted it
and belatedly bowed, removing hi:
| broad hat. Then he plunged on.
You have granted, L am told, tht
Kings commission to this man
His very tone betrayed the bitter
ness of his rancor. Your motive.
| were no doubt worthy Youl
! gratitude to him for delivering yoI
! from the Spaniards. But the thins
itself is unthinkable. my lord. Tn,
| commission must be cancelled"
II don't think ! understand" sale
! Lord Julian distantly.
| ITO be sure you don't. or you't
never ha' done it. The fellows bub.
bled you. Why, he's first a rebel
then an escaped slave, and lastly Z
tiiS year past.
II assure you, sir, that 1 was fully
informed of all. l do not grant The
Kings commission lightly"
Don't you. by God. And what
else do You call this? But as Hi.
Majesty's Deputy Governor of ia.
| maica. I'll take leave to correct your
mistake in my own way
An! And what way may that be p
There's gailows waiting for thi!
rascal here in Port Royal
Blood would have intervened a
that, but Lord Julian forestalled him
Il see. sir, that you do not yet quite
| apprehend the circumstances. If +
is mistake to grant Capt. Blood {
commission, the mistake is not mine
| am acting upon the Instructions o.
my Lord Sunderland: and with a full
knowledge of all the facts. his lord
ship expressly designated Capt. Blood
for this commission if Capt. BLOOD
could be persuaded to accept it."
Col. Bishops mouth fell open il
surprise and dismay.
Lord Sunderland designated him.
he asked, amazed.
Expressly"
His lordship waited q moment for 2
reply. None coming from the speech
less deputy governor, he asked a
question: Would you still venture tc
describe the matter as a mistake, sir:
And dare you take the risk of cor
recting it?"
II / had not dreamed >
u understand, sir. Let me present
Capt Blood"
Perforce Bishop must put on the
best face he could command. But
that it was no more than a mask fol
his fury and his venom was plain tc
all.
From that unpromising beginning
matters had not improved; rather hat
they grown worse.
Blood's thoughts were upon thi.
and other things as he Iounged there