ing down too much frightened
to stir.

"Well, what then?" said the captain, impatiently. "Be quick with your
palaver or I'll fire."

"You'll do so at your peril," retorted the other. "Captain Harding, you
are a brave man, or I wouldn't waste so many words on you or spare your
life. You are powerless to resist us, as I said before, for you are but
six in number, including your boys and that cur aloft; you have three
other men down in the foc's'le, but they cannot join you. We are fifty.
Show yourselves, my lads," he cried to his followers, who instantly
ranged themselves, across the _Muscadine_ four deep, exhibiting their
full strength, which was even more than he had stated.

"You see!" said the pirate chief, complacently. "Look, and count them."

"I see that we're outnumbered by a gang of cut-throats," said Captain
Harding, bitterly.

"Gently, my friend," said the other, suavely. "Some of my men
understand English like myself, and might not relish your compliments,
although, as a man of the world, I can make excuses for you--ah--want of
tact; yes, that's the word, is it not?"

"Cease your humbugging, sir, and come to the point," said the captain,
trying to curb his anger, which he could hardly control in the face of
the pirate's cynical impertinence. Had it not been for the sake of the
boys by his side he would have let drive at the scoundrel at once, and
risked his fate.

"That's just what I am about to do," said the other coolly, not one whit
put out of his even temper apparently. "You confess you are
outnumbered? Good! I, on my part, do not wish for any further
bloodshed, if I can effect my purpose without it. Besides which, I have
conceived quite an affection for you and those young gentlemen there,
whom I first had the pleasure of meeting at Beyrout. Good morning,
signors," he interposed, taking off his Greek cap and bowing politely to
Tom and Charley. "It is morning, for it's nearly one o'clock now. I
hope I see you well? But to resume, captain. As I said, there's no
further necessity for our fighting that I can see. You have killed
three of my men, whom I considerately placed on board your ship before
she left port so as to get possession of her without any bloodshed at
all, although the fates willed otherwise; and we, I believe, six of
yours; so in losses we may, perhaps, have the advantage of you, although
that fellow there"--pointing to the Greek sailor Tom had cut down with
his cutl