That this was the Arabella he could no longer
doubt. That being so, he must think before he spoke. What the devil
should the Arabella be doing here, when he had left her in Jamaica?
And was Captain Blood aboard and in command, or had the remainder of
her hands made off with her, leaving the Captain in Port Royal?
Dyke repeated his question. This time Wolverstone answered him.
"Ye've two eyes to see with, and ye ask me, who's only got one,
what it is ye see!"
"But I see the Arabella."
"Of course, since there she rides. What else was you expecting?"
"Expecting?" Dyke stared at him, open-mouthed. "Was you expecting
to find the Arabella here?"
Wolverstone looked him over in contempt, then laughed and spoke
loud enough to be heard by all around him. "Of course. What else?"
And he laughed again, a laugh that seemed to Dyke to be calling him
a fool. On that Wolverstone turned to give his attention to the
operation of anchoring.
Anon when ashore he was beset by questioning buccaneers, it was
from their very questions that he gathered exactly how matters
stood, and perceived that either from lack of courage or other
motive Blood, himself, had refused to render any account of his
doings since the Arabella had separated from her sister ships.
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