onomize expressions. Transported at first to heights of dizzy
satisfaction by the swift and easy victory of their inferior force that
morning, the Frenchman was now plunged back and more deeply than ever
into the abyss of hopelessness. And his mood infected at least the main
body of his own followers.

"It is the end," he told Captain Blood. "This time we are checkmated."

"I'll take the liberty of reminding you that you said the same before,"
Captain Blood answered him as patiently as he could. "Yet you've seen
what you've seen, and you'll not deny that in ships and guns we are
returning stronger than we went. Look at our present fleet, man."

"I am looking at it," said Cahusac.

"Pish! Ye're a white-livered cur when all is said."

"You call me a coward?"

"I'll take that liberty."

The Breton glared at him, breathing hard. But he had no mind to ask
satisfaction for the insult. He knew too well the kind of satisfaction
that Captain Blood was likely to afford him. He remembered the fate of
Levasseur. So he confined himself to words.

"It is too much! You go too far!" he complained bitterly.

"Look you, Cahusac: it's sick and tired I am of your perpetual whining
and complaining when things are not as smooth as a convent dining-table.
If ye wanted things smooth and easy, ye shouldn't have taken to the sea,
and ye should never ha' sailed with me, for with me things are never
smooth and easy. And that, I think, is all I have to say to you this
morning."

Cahusac flung away cursing, and went to take the feeling of his men.

Captain Blood went off to give his surgeon's skill to the wounded, among
whom he remained engaged until late afternoon. Then, at last, he went
ashore, his mind made up, and returned to the house of the Governor, to
indite a truculent but very scholarly letter in purest Castilian to Don
Miguel.

"I have shown your excellency this morning of what I am capable," he
wrote. "Although outnumbered by more than two to one in men, in ships,
and in guns, I have sunk or captured the vessels of the great fleet with
which you were to come to Maracaybo to destroy us. So that you are no
longer in case to carry out your boast, even when your reenforcements
on the Santo Nino, reach you from La Guayra. From what has occurred, you
may judge of what must occur. I should not trouble your excellency with
this letter but that I am a humane man, abhorring bloodshed. Therefore
before proceeding to deal with your for