"
Captain Blood bowed, went out, and locked the door. Elbows on his
knees and face in his hands, Don Diego sat watching the rusty sands
as they filtered from the upper to the lower bulb. And what time
he watched, the lines in his lean brown face grew deeper. Punctually
as the last grains ran out, the door reopened.
The Spaniard sighed, and sat upright to face the returning Captain
Blood with the answer for which he came.
"I have thought of an alternative, sir captain; but it depends upon
your charity. It is that you put us ashore on one of the islands
of this pestilent archipelago, and leave us to shift for ourselves."
Captain Blood pursed his lips. "It has its difficulties," said he
slowly.
"I feared it would be so." Don Diego sighed again, and stood up.
"Let us say no more."
The light-blue eyes played over him like points of steel.
"You are not afraid to die, Don Diego?"
The Spaniard threw back his head, a frown between his eyes.
"The question is offensive, sir."
"Then let me put it in another way - perhaps more happily: You do
not desire to live?"
"Ah, that I can answer.
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