"We must follow," he declared. "Follow and punish."
At first that was the general cry. Then came the consideration
that only two of the buccaneer ships were seaworthy - and these
could not accommodate the whole force, particularly being at the
moment indifferently victualled for a long voyage. The crews of
the Lachesis and Atropos and with them their captains, Wolverstone
and Yberville, renounced the intention. After all, there would be
a deal of treasure still hidden in Cartagena. They would remain
behind to extort it whilst fitting their ships for sea. Let Blood
and Hagthorpe and those who sailed with them do as they pleased.
Then only did Blood realize the rashness of his proposal, and in
attempting to draw back he almost precipitated a battle between
the two parties into which that same proposal had now divided the
buccaneers. And meanwhile those French sails on the horizon were
growing less and less. Blood was reduced to despair. If he went
off now, Heaven knew what would happen to the town, the temper of
those whom he was leaving being what it was.
Pages:
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567