To persuade her that all is well aboard, that we are
Spaniards, so that she may leave us to continue on our course."
"And how is that possible?" Hagthorpe asked.
"It isn't possible," said Blood. "If it...." And then he broke off,
and stood musing, his eyes upon the green water. Ogle, with a bent
for sarcasm, interposed a suggestion bitterly.
"We might send Don Diego de Espinosa in a boat manned by his
Spaniards to assure his brother the Admiral that we are all loyal
subjects of his Catholic Majesty."
The Captain swung round, and for an instant looked as if he would
have struck the gunner. Then his expression changed: the light of
inspiration Was in his glance.
"Bedad! ye've said it. He doesn't fear death, this damned pirate;
but his son may take a different view. Filial piety's mighty
strong in Spain." He swung on his heel abruptly, and strode back
to the knot of men about his prisoner. "Here!" he shouted to them.
"Bring him below." And he led the way down to the waist, and thence
by the booby hatch to the gloom of the 'tween-decks, where the air
was rank with the smell of tar and spun yarn.
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