with me, and especially those Englishmen who have done their
utmost to ruin me! You, monsieur, are one of them; by your own
confession you belong to an English man-o'-war engaged in the
suppression of that trade by which I am striving to make a living; and
do you suppose that because you happen to have suffered shipwreck you
are entitled to claim from me succour and hospitality, and ultimate
restoration to your own people in order that you and others like you may
do your utmost to ruin me? I tell you no! I do not admit the claim;
you are an enemy--an implacable enemy--and you shall be treated as such.
The fact of your shipwreck is merely an accident that has placed you in
my power, and you shall die! I will revenge upon you some few of the
countless injuries that I have suffered at the hands of your accursed
countrymen!"

"Shame upon you, monsieur!" I cried. "Are you coward enough to revenge
yourself upon a mere lad like myself? I will not ask you what your crew
will think of you, but what will you think of yourself, in your calmer
moments, when you come to reflect--"

"Silence, boy!" he thundered; "silence, you English dog! How dare you
speak--" Then, suddenly interrupting himself, he turned to the chief
mate and exclaimed:

"Leroy, have that insolent young puppy confined below in irons until I
can make up my mind how to dispose of him."

The chief mate approached and took me by the arm. "Come with me,
Monsieur John Bulldogue," said he, not unkindly, as he led me away; "and
do not allow yourself to be more anxious as to your fate than you can
help. I tell you candidly that I cannot form the slightest idea what
that fate will eventually be; many men, knowing the skipper as well as I
do, would no doubt say that you will be thrown to the sharks before you
are an hour older--and it may be; yes, it certainly may be; for you are
the first who has ever dared to assume a defiant attitude toward him and
he is an inordinately vain man, as well as a man of unbridled temper.
But, somehow, I am inclined to think that your defiance, which some
people would say must seal your fate, will be more likely to tell in
your favour than against you. Yes; although you have the misfortune to
be an Englishman, I really think I may venture to encourage you to hope
for the best. Now, here we are; and here comes Moulineux with the
irons. I must obey orders and see that they are put on you; but make
yourself as comfortable as you c