o prevent my escape, or shoot me down
in the act. Why? Because they know that the people are longing to
hail me as President again. Suppose you and your men took me to
Pernambuco----"

"S'pose hell!" snapped Coke.

"Please listen. You can but refuse when you look at the facts fairly.
If, as I say, I were put ashore at Pernambuco, or at any other of half
a dozen ports I can name, I should be among my own followers. You,
Captain Coke, and every officer and man of your ship, and her owners,
and the relatives of those who have lost their lives, would not only be
paid all just claims by the new Government, but adequately rewarded.
In your own case, the recompense would be princely. But, assuming that
we board a vessel bound for Europe, what certainty have you that you
will ever receive a penny?"

"Oh, reely, that's comin' it a bit thick, mister," growled Coke.

"You believe I am exaggerating the difficulties of your position? Pray
consider. Your vessel is broken up. She was fired on while at anchor
on the wrong side of the island, on the very day selected for my
escape. You and your men manage to dodge the bullets, and, under my
leadership, assisted by Captain San Benavides, you overrun the place by
night, kill several soldiers, seize a launch, despoil peasants of their
crops and stores, and make off with a good deal of property belonging
to the Brazilian Government, not to mention the presence in your midst
of such a significant personage as myself. Speaking candidly, Senhor
Captain, what chance have you of convincing any international court of
your innocence? Who will believe that you were not a true filibuster?
That is what Brazil will say you are. How will you disprove it? In
any event, who will enforce your claims against my country? English
public opinion would never compel your Government to take action in
such an exceedingly doubtful case, now would it?"

"If we was to try and land you in Brazil, we'd bust up our claim for
good an' all," muttered Coke. Though this was a powerful argument
against De Sylva's theory, it revealed certain qualms of perplexity.
The other man's brilliant eyes gleamed for an instant, but he guarded
his voice. He was in his element now. When words were weapons he
could vanquish a thousand such adversaries.

"I think otherwise," he said slowly. "A judge might well hold that in
a small vessel like the launch you were entitled to make for the
nearest land. But I grant