de Rivarol to submit to the demands of the
buccaneers. He gave it with an extreme ill-grace, and only
because Blood made him realize at last that to withhold it longer
would be dangerous. In an engagement, he might conceivably defeat
Blood's followers. But conceivably he might not. And even if he
succeeded, the effort would be so costly to him in men that he
might not thereafter find himself in sufficient strength to
maintain his hold of what he had seized.
The end of it all was that he gave a promise at once to make the
necessary preparations, and if Captain Blood and his officers would
wait upon him on board the Victorieuse to-morrow morning, the
treasure should be produced, weighed in their presence, and their
fifth share surrendered there and then into their own keeping.
Among the buccaneers that night there was hilarity over the sudden
abatement of M. de Rivarol's monstrous pride. But when the next
dawn broke over Cartagena, they had the explanation of it. The
only ships to be seen in the harbour were the Arabella and the
Elizabeth riding at anchor, and the Atropos and the Lachesis
careened on the beach for repair of the damage sustained in the
bombardment.
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