Amber,' Ebrow answered, 'it was your duty just now to administer a
reproof to your friend; I hope you will not force me to reprove you in
your turn. I have given my word, and there is an end of it; and if you
were to hold me by the strong hand I should think you more worthy to
consort with those pirates than with me.'

It was now Lancelot's turn to blush. Then he gripped Mr. Ebrow's hand.

'I beg your pardon,' he said, and there were tears in his eyes as he
spoke. 'You have taught me a noble lesson.'

Mr. Ebrow seemed as if he would be going, but I stayed him.

'Reverend sir,' said I, 'may I make so bold as to ask what is this
message that you have to deliver to us?'

For, as a matter of fact, we had so plied him with questions, and he had
been so busy in answering us, that he had not as yet delivered to us the
pirates' message, of which he was the spokesman.

There came a spot of colour on his grey jaws as I spoke.

'True. I fear I make but a poor intermediary,' he said. 'The pirates
propose, in the first place, that you make common cause with them, and
recognise the authority of Cornelys Jensen as your captain, in the which
case Cornelys Jensen guarantees you your share of the spoiling of the
Royal Christopher, and in future a fitting proportion of whatever
profits may come from their enterprises.'

'I suppose you do not expect us to consider that proposition?' said
Lancelot.

Mr. Ebrow almost smiled.

'No, indeed,' he said, 'and I do but discharge my promise in repeating
it to you. I must tell you too that he added that he was wishful to make
your sister his wife.'

There came into Lancelot's eyes the ugliest look I ever saw there, and
for myself I know not how I looked, I know only how I felt, and I will
not put my feelings into words. I suppose Mr. Ebrow understood us and
our silence, for he went on with his embassy. 'In the second place,
then, they call upon you to swear that you will take no part against
them, and will, on the contrary, do your endeavour to protect them in
case they should be attacked by other forces.'

'That also needs no consideration,' said Lancelot.

Mr. Ebrow nodded.

'Of course not, of course not. Then, in the third place, they call upon
you to throw down your weapons and to surrender yourselves to them as
prisoners of war, in which case they pledge themselves to respect your
lives and preserve you all as hostages for their own safety.'

'And if we refuse even this offer,'