Europe knows my game, it doesn't matter how often she hears of me. Let
her hear, and come agen me, and I'll show my teeth. What we're out for
this journey is money, specie, pieces in piles, and we'll get that on
the lay of Rio-bound ships better than in any waters. It'll be quick
work, one against the rest of 'em; but I built this ship to fight, and
fight she shall--you agree on that, doctor?"

"Of course. The more fighting the men see the less trouble we shall
have with them."

"That's what I say--give 'em work to do, and they'll sleep like dogs
when it's done; give 'em money and drink, and you've got hogs to drive.
Now, let me get through the winter, and I'll run south a spell in
hiding, and then make northward with ten thousand pounds a man when the
fall comes. But first we'll have a week in Paris, I reckon, and stretch
our legs amongst them as is most anxious to shake with us--what do you
say, Dick?"

"Man," said the Scotsman deliberately, "if there's nae killing, I
misdoubt me o't a' thegither."

"You're a fool," replied the skipper testily, "and if you don't go to
bed, I'll kick you there."

The fellow rose at this, and coolly emptied half a tumbler of whisky;
but before he could leave "Four-Eyes" came off the bridge and said
laconically--

"Whaler on the port-bow."

"Signal 'em to come to, and drop a shot," cried Black rising; and then
he called to the Scotsman and gave his orders--

"Stand by the gun!" and with that we all went out to the gallery, and
saw by the clear power of the moon a full-rigged ship not a mile from
the shore. She was homeward bound, and seemed by her build to be a
Dane.

Upon our own deck there was already activity, some of the men getting
away the launch, and others putting empty barrels into it before they
swung it out over the sea. There was a method and quietness about it
all which showed long habit at the same practice; and when at last the
great gun before the funnel boomed out, the fine accuracy of the
shooting scarcely caused comment. The shot appeared to drop into the
water almost under the whaler's bob-stay, and sent up a cloud of foam
and spray, glistening in the moonlight; but the ship answered to it as
to a deadly summons; and the tide and wind setting off shore, she went
into the breeze easily, and lay to at the first demand. Then Black gave
his orders--

"You, John, go aboard and buy their oil up--I'm getting you notes from
my chest."

At the word _buy_, the m