r all I care, or for all the good
ye're likely to be to us in this present pass."

"It is to my men to decide," Cahusac retorted, swallowing his fury, and
on that stalked out to talk to them, leaving the others to deliberate in
peace.

Next morning early he sought Captain Blood again. He found him alone
in the patio, pacing to and fro, his head sunk on his breast. Cahusac
mistook consideration for dejection. Each of us carries in himself a
standard by which to measure his neighbour.

"We have take' you at your word, Captain," he announced, between
sullenness and defiance. Captain Blood paused, shoulders hunched, hands
behind his back, and mildly regarded the buccaneer in silence. Cahusac
explained himself. "Last night I send one of my men to the Spanish
Admiral with a letter. I make him offer to capitulate if he will accord
us passage with the honours of war. This morning I receive his answer.
He accord us this on the understanding that we carry nothing away with
us. My men they are embarking them on the sloop. We sail at once."

"Bon voyage," said Captain Blood, and with a nod he turned on his heel
again to resume his interrupted mediation.

"Is that all that you have to say to me?" cried Cahusac.

"There are other things," said Blood over his shoulder. "But I know ye
wouldn't like them."

"Ha! Then it's adieu, my Captain." Venomously he added: "It is my belief
that we shall not meet again."

"Your belief is my hope," said Captain Blood.

Cahusac flung away, obscenely vituperative. Before noon he was under way
with his followers, some sixty dejected men who had allowed themselves
to be persuaded by him into that empty-handed departure--in spite even
of all that Yberville could do to prevent it. The Admiral kept faith
with him, and allowed him free passage out to sea, which, from his
knowledge of Spaniards, was more than Captain Blood had expected.

Meanwhile, no sooner had the deserters weighed anchor than Captain Blood
received word that the Deputy-Governor begged to be allowed to see him
again. Admitted, Don Francisco at once displayed the fact that a night's
reflection had quickened his apprehensions for the city of Maracaybo and
his condemnation of the Admiral's intransigence.

Captain Blood received him pleasantly.

"Good-morning to you, Don Francisco. I have postponed the bonfire until
nightfall. It will make a better show in the dark."

Don Francisco, a slight, nervous, elderly man of high lineage