iguel," it said. "I hope you are satisfied.
Although the meeting may not be exactly as you pictured it, at least it
has been very ardently sought and desired by you."

Speechless, livid of face, his mouth distorted and his breathing
laboured, Don Miguel de Espinosa received the irony of that man to whom
he attributed his ruin and more beside. Then he uttered an inarticulate
cry of rage, and his hand swept to his sword. But even as his fingers
closed upon the hilt, the other's closed upon his wrist to arrest the
action.

"Calm, Don Miguel!" he was quietly but firmly enjoined. "Do not
recklessly invite the ugly extremes such as you would, yourself, have
practised had the situation been reversed."

A moment they stood looking into each other's eyes.

"What do you intend by me?" the Spaniard enquired at last, his voice
hoarse.

Captain Blood shrugged. The firm lips smiled a little. "All that I
intend has been already accomplished. And lest it increase your rancour,
I beg you to observe that you have brought it entirely upon yourself.
You would have it so." He turned and pointed to the boats, which his men
were heaving from the boom amidships. "Your boats are being launched.
You are at liberty to embark in them with your men before we scuttle
this ship. Yonder are the shores of Hispaniola. You should make them
safely. And if you'll take my advice, sir, you'll not hunt me again.
I think I am unlucky to you. Get you home to Spain, Don Miguel, and to
concerns that you understand better than this trade of the sea."

For a long moment the defeated Admiral continued to stare his hatred
in silence, then, still without speaking, he went down the companion,
staggering like a drunken man, his useless rapier clattering behind him.
His conqueror, who had not even troubled to disarm him, watched him go,
then turned and faced those two immediately above him on the poop. Lord
Julian might have observed, had he been less taken up with other things,
that the fellow seemed suddenly to stiffen, and that he turned pale
under his deep tan. A moment he stood at gaze; then suddenly and swiftly
he came up the steps. Lord Julian stood forward to meet him.

"Ye don't mean, sir, that you'll let that Spanish scoundrel go free?" he
cried.

The gentleman in the black corselet appeared to become aware of his
lordship for the first time.

"And who the devil may you be?" he asked, with a marked Irish accent.
"And what business may it be of yours,