FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   246   247   248   249   250   251   252   253   254   255   256   257   258   259   260  
261   262   263   264   265   266   267   268   269   270   271   >>  
ty of the blind, that at this very moment they are not conning our sails and asking themselves who we are and what we intend." "But if they feel themselves secure from the north, as you suggest," cried the Baron impatiently, "that very security will lull them." "Perhaps. But, then, they are secure. Any attempt to land on this side is doomed to failure at the hands of Nature." "Nevertheless, we make the attempt," said the obstinate Baron, whose haughtiness would not allow him to yield before his officers. "If you still choose to do so after what I have said, you are, of course, the person to decide. But I do not lead my men into fruitless danger." "If I command you..." the Baron was beginning. But Blood unceremoniously interrupted him. "M. le Baron, when M. de Cussy engaged us on your behalf, it was as much on account of our knowledge and experience of this class of warfare as on account of our strength. I have placed my own knowledge and experience in this particular matter at your disposal. I will add that I abandoned my own project of raiding Cartagena, not being in sufficient strength at the time to force the entrance of the harbour, which is the only way into the city. The strength which you now command is ample for that purpose." "But whilst we are doing that, the Spaniards will have time to remove great part of the wealth this city holds. We must take them by surprise." Captain Blood shrugged. "If this is a mere pirating raid, that, of course, is a prime consideration. It was with me. But if you are concerned to abate the pride of Spain and plant the Lilies of France on the forts of this settlement, the loss of some treasure should not really weigh for much." M. de Rivarol bit his lip in chagrin. His gloomy eye smouldered as it considered the self-contained buccaneer. "But if I command you to go--to make the attempt?" he asked. "Answer me, monsieur, let us know once for all where we stand, and who commands this expedition." "Positively, I find you tiresome," said Captain Blood, and he swung to M. de Cussy, who sat there gnawing his lip, intensely uncomfortable. "I appeal to you, monsieur, to justify me to the General." M. de Cussy started out of his gloomy abstraction. He cleared his throat. He was extremely nervous. "In view of what Captain Blood has submitted...." "Oh, to the devil with that!" snapped Rivarol. "It seems that I am followed by poltroons. Look you, M. le Capitaine,
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   246   247   248   249   250   251   252   253   254   255   256   257   258   259   260  
261   262   263   264   265   266   267   268   269   270   271   >>  



Top keywords:

attempt

 

command

 

Captain

 
strength
 

monsieur

 
Rivarol
 

account

 

gloomy

 

knowledge

 
experience

secure

 

considered

 

smouldered

 

settlement

 

concerned

 

consideration

 

shrugged

 
pirating
 
Lilies
 
chagrin

treasure

 

France

 
throat
 

extremely

 

nervous

 

cleared

 

Capitaine

 
General
 

started

 

abstraction


poltroons

 

snapped

 

submitted

 

justify

 

appeal

 

Answer

 

contained

 
buccaneer
 

commands

 
expedition

gnawing

 

intensely

 

uncomfortable

 

Positively

 

tiresome

 

project

 

haughtiness

 

obstinate

 

Nevertheless

 

failure