Part 10 (1/2)
White-faced and tre Espinosa stared into the pitiless blue eyes that so steadily regarded hi the utter silence in which all were standing ”But, name of God, how should it be clear? How should I understand? Can you avert the fight? If you knoay, and if I, or these, can help you to it - if that is what you ht would be averted if Don Diego de Espinosa were to go aboard his brother's shi+p, and by his presence and assurances inforas, that she is indeed still a shi+p of Spain as her flag now announces But of course Don Diego cannot go in person, because he is otherwise engaged He has a slight touch of fever - shall we say? - that detains him in his cabin But you, his son, ether with his hoo in a boat uished Spaniard delivered from captivity in Barbados by your recent raid - will accompany you to keep you in countenance If I return alive, and without accident of any kind to hinder our free sailing hence, Don Diego shall have his life, as shall every one of you But if there is the least misadventure, be it from treachery or ill-fortune - I care not which - the battle, as I have had the honour to explain, will be opened on our side by this gun, and your father will be the first victim of the conflict”
He paused a moment There was a hu the Spanish prisoners Young Espinosa stood before hi in his cheeks He waited for soo's courage, it see limply in his fearful bonds, and was silent Evidently he dared not encourage his son to defiance, and presue him to yield Thus, he left decision entirely with the youth
”Coh, I think What do you say?”
Don Esteban moistened his parched lips, and with the back of his hand azed wildly a uidance But his father re like a sob escaped the boy
”I I accept,” he answered at last, and swung to the Spaniards ”And you - you will accept too,” he insisted passionately ”For Don Diego's sake and for your own - for all our sakes If you do not, this man will butcher us all without mercy”
Since he yielded, and their leader himself counselled no resistance, why should they encoesture of futile heroism? They answered without much hesitation that they would do as was required of theo
”I am sorry to inconvenience you in this fashi+on, but” For a second he checked and frowned as his eyes intently observed the prisoner Then, after that scarcely perceptible pause, he continued, ”but I do not think that you have anything beyond this inconvenience to apprehend, and you o made hi him; then he bowed and stepped back
CHAPTER XII
DON PEDRO SANGRE
The Cinco Llagas and the Encarnacion, after a proper exchange of signals, lay hove to within a quarter of a ently heaving, sunlit waters sped a boat fro in her stern sheets Don Esteban de Espinosa and Captain Peter Blood
She also bore two treasure-chests containing fifty thousand pieces of eight Gold has at all tiood faith, and Blood was determined that in all respects appearances should be entirely on his side His followers had accounted this a supererogation of pretence But Blood's will in the e addressed to a grande of Spain, heavily sealed with the arms of Espinosa - another piece of evidence hastily as - and he was spending these lastco uneasiness: ”But if you should betray yourself?” he cried
”It will be unfortunate for everybody I advised your father to say a prayer for our success I depend upon you to help me more materially”
”I will do my best God knoill do htfully, and nomass of the Encarnadon Up the ladder went Don Esteban closely followed by Captain Blood In the waist stood the Admiral himself to receive them, a handsome, self-sufficient reyer than Don Diego, whom he closely resembled He was supported by four officers and a friar in the black and white habit of St Douel opened his ar panic heenfolded hireet Don Esteban's coracefully, entirely at his ease, so far as ed fro a literal translation of his naentleman of Leon, lately delivered froallant father” And in a feords he sketched the iined conditions of his capture by, and deliverance from, those accursed heretics who held the island of Barbados ”Benedicamus Domino,” said the friar to his tale
”Ex hoc nunc et usque in seculum,” replied Blood, the occasional papist, with lowered eyes
The Adave hi and a cordial welcome Then came the dreaded question
”But where is reetEspinosa who answered this: ”My father is afflicted at denying himself that honour and pleasure But unfortunately, sir uncle, he is a little indisposed - oh, nothing grave; merely sufficient to make hiht wound taken in the recent raid upon Barbados, which resulted in this gentleuel protested with ironic repudiation ”I can have no knowledge of these things I have the honour to represent upon the seas His Catholic Majesty, who is at peace with the King of England Already you have told ood for et it, and I will ask you, sirs,” he added, glancing at his officers, ”to forget it also” But he winked into the twinkling eyes of Captain Blood; then added o cannot coo across to him”
For a moment Don Esteban's face was ain a lowered, confidential voice that admirably blended suavity, iuel, but that is the very thing you o does not wish you to do You must not see him until his wounds are healed That is his oish That is the real reason why he is not here For the truth is that his wounds are not so grave as to have prevented his co It was his consideration of himself and the false position in which you would be placed if you had direct word from him of what has happened As your excellency has said, there is peace between His Catholic Majesty and the King of England, and your brother Don Diego” He paused a moment ”I am sure that I need say no more What you hear from us is no more than a mere rumour Your excellency understands”
His excellency frowned thoughtfully ”I understand in part,” said he
Captain Blood had a moment's uneasiness Did the Spaniard doubt his bona fides? Yet in dress and speech he knew himself to be impeccably Spanish, and was not Don Esteban there to confirm him? He swept on to afford further confirmation before the Admiral could say another word
”And we have in the boat beloo chests containing fifty thousand pieces of eight, which we are to deliver to your excellency”
His excellency ju his officers
”They are the ransoo from the Governor of”
”Not another word, in the name of Heaven!” cried the Ade of this money, to carry it to Spain for him? Well, that is a family matter between my brother and myself So, it can be done But I a in my cabin, if you please,” he invited theave his orders touching the eally appointed cabin, his four officers and the friar following by particular invitation
Seated at table there, with the taine before theuel laughed and stroked his pointed, grizzled beard
”Virgen santisi Left to ht have co aboard his shi+p at such a s which as Adnore”
Both Esteban and Blood lass, and drank to the glory of Spain and the daland The latter part of his toast was at least sincere
The Adhed
”Sir, sir, you need my brother here to curb your imprudences You should reland are very good friends That is not a toast to propose in this cabin But since it has been proposed, and by one who has such particular personal cause to hate these English hounds, ill honour it - but unofficially”
They laughed, and drank the da James - quite unofficially, but the more fervently on that account Then Don Esteban, uneasy on the score of his father, and re protracted with every moment that they left him in his dreadful position, rose and announced that they
”My father,” he explained, ”is in haste to reach San Doer than necessary to eive us leave, then, sir uncle”
In the circumstances ”sir uncle” did not insist
As they returned to the shi+p's side, Blood's eyes anxiously scanned the line of sea over the bulwarks in idle talk with the Spaniards in the cock-boat that waited at the ladder's foot But their round for his anxiety The boat's crew had been wisely reticent
The Admiral took leave of them - of Esteban affectionately, of Blood cereret to lose you so soon, Don Pedro I wish that you could have er visit to the Encarnacion”
”I am indeed unfortunate,” said Captain Blood politely
”But I hope that we ain”
”That is to flatter me beyond all that I deserve”