Part 19 (1/2)
He looked over his shoulder, aft, at the advancing shi+ps, the forelance swept in passing over Miss Bishop and Lord Julian standing side by side some paces behind him He observed her pale and tense, with parted lips and startled eyes that were fixed upon hi of her fate He was thinking swiftly, reckoning the chances if by pistolling Ogle he were to provoke a mutiny That some of the men would rally to him, he was sure But he was no less sure that the main body would oppose hi the chance that holding Miss Bishop to ransom seemed to afford them And if they did that, one way or the other, Miss Bishop would be lost For even if Bishop yielded to their dele was growing iripped by Blood, he thrust his face into the Captain's
”What better way?” he demanded ”There is none better I'll not be bubbled by what Wolverstone has said HeWe'll test it It's our only chance, I've said, and we must take it”
The better way that was in Captain Blood's mind was the way that already he had proposed to Wolverstone Whether thethem would take a different view from Wolverstone's he did not know But he saw quite clearly now that if they consented, they would not on that account depart from their intention in the matter of Miss Bishop; they would make of Blood's own surrender ainst the Governor of Jale stor her to Ja to lose our lives as long as there's a chance to ain to the helle wrenched it free, with an oath But Blood's mind was now h it ht be to him, he must take it
”That is a desperate chance,” he cried ”Mine is the safe and easy way Wait!” He leaned over the rail ”Put the helnal to them to send a boat”
A silence of astonishment fell upon the shi+p - of astonishh he shared it, was pro the necessary orders, and after an instant's pause, a score of hands sprang to execute the sails as they swung aweather, and Captain Blood turned and beckoned Lord Julian forward His lordshi+p, after a moment's hesitation, advanced in surprise and mistrust - a mistrust shared by Miss Bishop, who, like his lordshi+p and all else aboard, though in a different way, had been taken aback by Blood's sudden sub now at the rail, with Lord Julian beside him, Captain Blood explained himself
Briefly and clearly he announced to all the object of Lord Julian's voyage to the Caribbean, and he informed them of the offer which yesterday Lord Julian had made to him
”That offer I rejected, as his lordshi+p will tell you, dee myself affronted by it Those of you who have suffered under the rule of King James will understand me But now in the desperate case in which we find ourselves - outsailed, and likely to be outfought, as Ogle has said - I a's commission and shelter us all behind it”
It was a thunderbolt that for a moment left them all dazed Then Babel was reenacted The main body of them welco to die can welcome a new lease of life But many could not resolve one way or the other until they were satisfied upon several questions, and chiefly upon one which was voiced by Ogle
”Will Bishop respect the commission when you hold it?”
It was Lord Julian who answered: ”It will go very hard with hih he should dare attempt it, be sure that his own officers will not dare to do other than oppose hile, ”that is true”
But there were soainst the course Of these was Wolverstone, who at once proclaimed his hostility
”I'll rot in hell or ever I serves the King,” he bawled in a great rage
But Blood quieted hiht as he did
”No 's service who is reluctant That is not in the bargain What is in the bargain is that I accept this service with such of you as ly For myself, I am entirely of Wolverstone's opinion I accept it as the only way to save us all froht us And even those of you who do not choose to follow me shall share the immunity of all, and shall afterwards be free to depart Those are the ter Let Lord Julian, the representative of the Secretary of State, say whether he agrees to thereement And that was practically the end of the ood-hued away to his cabin for the co at a turn of events which enabled hie the business on which he had been sent
Meanwhile the bo'sun signalled to the Jamaica shi+ps to send a boat, and theto line the bulwarks and view the great stately vessels that were racing doards thele left the quarter-deck, Blood turned, and ca hiht of his dejected countenance, and the deep frown that scarred his brow, her own expression changed She approached him with a hesitation entirely unusual to her She set a hand lightly upon his arm
”You have chosen wisely, sir,” she coainst your inclinations”
He looked with gloomy eyes upon her for whom he had ht I did,” he said
She did not understand ”Your resolve delivered er,” she admitted And she shi+vered at the memory of it ”But I do not understand why you should have hesitated when first it was proposed to you It is an honourable service”
”King Jaland's,” she corrected hiht King Jaland remains, to be honourably served by her sons, whatever rancour they ainst the man who rules her in their time”
He showed some surprise Then he smiled a little ”Shrewd advocacy,” he approved it ”You should have spoken to the crew”
And then, the note of irony deepening in his voice: ”Do you suppose now that this honourable service lance fell away Her voice faltered a little in replying ”If he needs redeeed too harshly”
The blue eyes flashed, and the firri her, an odd hunger in his glance, ”lifeJa beyond her, across the water, he observed a boat putting off fro gently soed He was like one recovering, taking hiear and your woman, you shall presently be sent aboard one of the shi+ps of the fleet” He pointed to the boat as he spoke
She left hi upon the rail, he watched the approach of that boat, ure seated stiffly in the stern sheets He levelled his telescope upon that figure
”It'll not be Bishop himself,” said Wolverstone, between question and assertion
”No” Blood closed his telescope ”I don't knoho it is”
”Ha!” Wolverstone vented an ejaculation of sneeringto come, hisself He's been aboard this hulk afore, and we made him swim for it that time He'll have his memories So he sends a deputy”
This deputy proved to be an officer naorous, self-sufficient fellow, coland, whose manner made it clear that he came fully instructed by Colonel Bishop upon the matter of how to handle the pirates
His air, as he stepped into the waist of the Arabella, was haughty, truculent, and disdainful
Blood, the King's co beside him, waited to receive hi himself confronted by twothat he had expected But he lost none of his haughty poise, and scarcely deigned a glance at the swar in a seround
”Good-day to you, sir,” Blood hailed hiive you welcome aboard the Arabella My name is Blood - Captain Blood, at your service You may have heard of me”
Captain Calverley stared hard The airy manner of this redoubtable buccaneer was hardly what he had looked for in a desperate fellow, conominious surrender A thin, sour shty lips
”You'll ruffle it to the gallows, no doubt,” he said contemptuously ”I suppose that is after the fashi+on of your kind Meanwhile it's your surrender I require, my man, not your impudence”
Captain Blood appeared surprised, pained He turned in appeal to Lord Julian
”D'ye hear that now? And did ye ever hear the like? But what did I tell ye? Ye see, the young gentleman's under a misapprehension entirely Perhaps it'll save broken bones if your lordshi+p explains just who and what I am”
Lord Julian advanced a step and bowed perfunctorily and rather disdainfully to that very disdainful but now dumbfounded officer Pitt, atched the scene from the quarter-deck rail, tells us that his lordshi+p was as grave as a parson at a hanging But I suspect this gravity for a mask under which Lord Julian was secretly amused
”I have the honour to inform you, sir,” he said stiffly, ”that Captain Blood holds a co's service under the seal of my Lord Sunderland, His Majesty's Secretary of State”
Captain Calverley's face eround chuckled and crowed and swore a moment Calverley stared in silence at his lordshi+p, observing the costly elegance of his dress, his air of calm assurance, and his cold, fastidious speech, all of which savoured distinctly of the great world to which he belonged
”And who the devil may you be?” he exploded at last
Colder still and rew his lordshi+p's voice