since you are afraid
to undertake this thing, I will myself undertake it. The weather is
calm, and I count upon making good my landing. If I do so, I shall have
proved you wrong, and I shall have a word to say to you to-morrow which
you may not like. I am being very generous with you, sir." He waved his
hand regally. "You have leave to go."

It was sheer obstinacy and empty pride that drove him, and he received
the lesson he deserved. The fleet stood in during the afternoon to
within a mile of the coast, and under cover of darkness three hundred
men, of whom two hundred were negroes--the whole of the negro contingent
having been pressed into the undertaking--were pulled away for the shore
in the canoes, piraguas, and ships' boats. Rivarol's pride compelled
him, however much he may have disliked the venture, to lead them in
person.

The first six boats were caught in the surf, and pounded into fragments
before their occupants could extricate themselves. The thunder of the
breakers and the cries of the shipwrecked warned those who followed,
and thereby saved them from sharing the same fate. By the Baron's urgent
orders they pulled away again out of danger, and stood about to pick
up such survivors as contrived to battle towards them. Close upon fifty
lives were lost in the adventure, together with half-a-dozen boats
stored with ammunition and light guns.

The Baron went back to his flagship an infuriated, but by no means a
wiser man. Wisdom--not even the pungent wisdom experience thrusts upon
us--is not for such as M. de Rivarol. His anger embraced all things, but
focussed chiefly upon Captain Blood. In some warped process of reasoning
he held the buccaneer chiefly responsible for this misadventure. He went
to bed considering furiously what he should say to Captain Blood upon
the morrow.

He was awakened at dawn by the rolling thunder of guns. Emerging upon
the poop in nightcap and slippers, he beheld a sight that increased his
unreasonable and unreasoning fury. The four buccaneer ships under canvas
were going through extraordinary manoeuvre half a mile off the Boca
Chica and little more than half a mile away from the remainder of the
fleet, and from their flanks flame and smoke were belching each time
they swung broadside to the great round fort that guarded that narrow
entrance. The fort was returning the fire vigorously and viciously. But
the buccaneers timed their broadsides with extraordinary judgment to
catch t