ardarm. Your only hope, Colonel, lies in the
fact that I shall send them word of that intention. And so that you may
mend as far as you can the harm you have done, it's yourself shall bear
them the message, my lord."

"I'll see you damned before I do," fumed his lordship.

"Why, that's unreasonable and unreasoning. But if ye insist, why,
another messenger will do as well, and another hostage aboard--as I had
originally intended--will make my hand the stronger."

Lord Julian stared at him, realizing exactly what he had refused.

"You'll think better of it now that ye understand?" quoth Blood.

"Aye, in God's name, go, my lord," spluttered Bishop, "and make yourself
obeyed. This damned pirate has me by the throat."

His lordship surveyed him with an eye that was not by any means
admiring. "Why, if that is your wish..." he began. Then he shrugged, and
turned again to Blood.

"I suppose I can trust you that no harm will come to Colonel Bishop if
you are allowed to sail?"

"You have my word for it," said Blood. "And also that I shall put him
safely ashore again without delay."

Lord Julian bowed stiffly to the cowering Deputy-Governor. "You
understand, sir, that I do as you desire," he said coldly.

"Aye, man, aye!" Bishop assented hastily.

"Very well." Lord Julian bowed again and took his departure. Blood
escorted him to the entrance ladder at the foot of which still swung the
Arabella's own cock-boat.

"It's good-bye, my lord," said Blood. "And there's another thing."
He proffered a parchment that he had drawn from his pocket. "It's the
commission. Bishop was right when he said it was a mistake."

Lord Julian considered him, and considering him his expression softened.

"I am sorry," he said sincerely.

"In other circumstances..." began Blood. "Oh, but there! Ye'll
understand. The boat's waiting."

Yet with his foot on the first rung of the ladder, Lord Julian
hesitated.

"I still do not perceive--blister me if I do!--why you should not have
found some one else to carry your message to the Commandant, and kept me
aboard as an added hostage for his obedience to your wishes."

Blood's vivid eyes looked into the other's that were clear and honest,
and he smiled, a little wistfully. A moment he seemed to hesitate. Then
he explained himself quite fully.

"Why shouldn't I tell you? It's the same reason that's been urging me
to pick a quarrel with you so that I might have the satisfaction of
slipping a co