"
The impudence of it left Cahusac speechless. But among the English
buccaneers in the square there were many who savoured the audacious
humour of the trapped dictating terms to the trappers. Laughter
broke from them. It spread into a roar of acclamation; for bluff
is a weapon dear to every adventurer. Presently, when they
understood it, even Cahusac's French followers were carried off
their feet by that wave of jocular enthusiasm, until in his truculent
obstinacy Cahusac remained the only dissentient. He withdrew in
mortification. Nor was he to be mollified until the following day
brought him his revenge. This came in the shape of a messenger from
Don Miguel with a letter in which the Spanish Admiral solemnly vowed
to God that, since the pirates had refused his magnanimous offer to
permit them to surrender with the honours of war, he would now await
them at the mouth of the lake there to destroy them on their coming
forth. He added that should they delay their departure, he would
so soon as he was reenforced by a fifth ship, the Santo Nino, on its
way to join him from La Guayra, himself come inside to seek them at
Maracaybo.
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