"Why, nothing sinister, Colonel. Although ye deserve nothing less
than that same rope and yardarm, I assure you that it's to be
employed only as a last resource. Ye've said his lordship made a
mistake when he handed me the commission which the Secretary of
State did me the honour to design for me. I'm disposed to agree
with you; so I'll take to the sea again. Cras ingens iterabimus
aequor. It's the fine Latin scholar ye'll be when I've done with ye.
I'll be getting back to Tortuga and my buccaneers, who at least are
honest, decent fellows. So I've fetched ye aboard as a hostage."
"My God!" groaned the Deputy-Governor. "Ye... ye never mean that
ye'll carry me to Tortuga!"
Blood laughed outright. "Oh, I'd never serve ye such a bad turn
as that. No, no. All I want is that ye ensure my safe departure
from Port Royal. And, if ye're reasonable, I'll not even trouble
you to swim for it this time. Ye've given certain orders to your
Harbour-Master, and others to the Commandant of your plaguey fort.
Ye'll be so good as to send for them both aboard here, and inform
them in my presence that the Arabella is leaving this afternoon on
the King's service and is to pass out unmolested.
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