Part 26 (1/2)
”An English shi+p!” he cried
He scanned the seas for the conqueror in the battle of which this grim evidence was added to that of the sounds they had heard, and when at last, as they drew closer to the doomed vessel, they made out the shadowy outlines of three tall shi+ps, so in toward Port Royal, the first and natural assu to the Ja vessel was a defeated buccaneer, and because of this they sped on to pick up the three boats that were standing away froh the telescope was exas apparent only to the eye of the trained est of these three vessels was Rivarol's Victorieuse
They took in sail and hove to as they ca boats, laden to capacity with survivors And there were others adrift on soe hich the sea was streho must be rescued
CHARTER XXIX THE SERVICE OF KING WILLIAM One of the boats buside the Arabella, and up the entrance ladder caentleold, whose wizened, yellow, rather peevish face was fra His modish and costly apparel had nowise suffered by the adventure through which he had passed, and he carried himself with the easy assurance of a man of rank Here, quite clearly, was no buccaneer He was closely followed by one who in every particular, save that of age, was his physical opposite, corpulent in a brawny, vigorous ith a full, round, weather-beaten face whoseHe ell dressed without fripperies, and bore with hiorous authority
As the little man stepped froone to receive him, his sharp, ferrety dark eyes swept the uncouth ranks of the assembled crew of the Arabella
”And where the devil lish, or what the devil are you?”
”Myself, I have the honour to be Irish, sir My name is Blood - Captain Peter Blood, and this is my shi+p the Arabella, all very much at your service
”Blood!” shrilled the littleto the Colossus who followed him - ”A damned pirate, van der Kuylen Rend my vitals, but we're coutturally, and again, ”So?” Then the humour of it took hih at, you porpoise?” spluttered mulberry-coat ”A fine tale this'll make at hoht, then has his flagshi+p fired under hi captured by a pirate I'hter Since for my sins I happen to be with you, I'm damned if I do”
”There's a misapprehension, if I may make so bold as to point it out,” put in Blood quietly ”You are not captured, gentlemen; you are rescued When you realize it, perhaps it will occur to you to acknowledge the hospitality I a you It may be poor, but it is the best at entleman stared at him ”Damme! Do you permit yourself to be ironical?” he disapproved hi any such tendency, proceeded to introduce hi William's Governor-General of the West Indies, and this is Admiral van der Kuylen, commander of His Majesty's West Indian fleet, at present mislaid so William?” quoth Blood, and he was conscious that Pitt and dyke, ere behind hi his oonder ”And who ?”
”What's that?” In a wonder greater than his own, Lord Willoughby stared back at hi Williae - ith Queen Mary, has been ruling England for two months and more”
There was atold
”D'ye mean, sir, that they've roused theang of ruffians?”
Aded his lordshi+p, a humourous twinkle in his blue eyes
”His bolitics are fery sound, I dink,” he growled
His lordshi+p's sashes into his leathery cheeks ”'Slife! hadn't you heard? Where the devil have you been at all?”
”Out of touch with the world for the last three months,” said Blood
”Stab me! You one so Ja under the protection of King Louis, wherefore, and for other reasons, England had joined the league against her, and was noith France That was how it happened that the Dutch Adshi+p had been attacked by M de Rivarol's fleet that e froena, the Frenchave him the news
After that, with renewed assurances that aboard his shi+p they should be honourably entreated, Captain Blood led the Governor-General and the Admiral to his cabin, what time the work of rescue went on The news he had received had set Blood'sJames was dethroned and banished, there was an end to his own outlawry for his alleged share in an earlier attempt to drive out that tyrant It becaain at the point where it was so unfortunately interrupted four years ago He was dazzled by the prospect so abruptly opened out to hi so filled his mind, moved hi so, he revealed of hientleman atched him so keenly the while
”Go home, if you will,” said his lordshi+p, when Blood paused ”You may be sure that none will harass you on the score of your piracy, considering what it was that drove you to it But why be in haste? We have heard of you, to be sure, and we knohat you are capable upon the seas Here is a great chance for you, since you declare yourself sick of piracy Should you choose to serve King Williae of the West Indies should render you a very valuable servant to His Majesty's Governrateful You should consider it Daiven
”That your lordshi+p gives rateful But at the reat news It alters the shape of the world I must accustom myself to view it as it now is, before I can determine my own place in it”
Pitt came in to report that the work of rescue was at an end, and the men picked up - some forty-five in all - safe aboard the two buccaneer shi+ps He asked for orders Blood rose
”I aent of your lordshi+p's concerns inme to land you at Port Royal”
”At Port Royal?” The little th he infor to find its Deputy-Governor absent ”He had gone on so the whole of the fleet with him”
Blood stared in surprise a hter
”He went, I suppose, before news reached hiovernment at home, and the ith France?”
”He did not,” snapped Willoughby ”He was infor before he set out”
”Oh, iht But I have the information frooverning in this fool's absence”
”But is he mad, to leave his post at such a ti the whole fleet with hi the place open to French attack That is the sort of Deputy-Governor that the late Governht fit to appoint: an epitouarded save by a ramshackle fort that can be reduced to rubble in an hour Stabsmile faded from Blood's face ”Is Rivarol aware of this?” he cried sharply
It was the Dutch Ado dere if he were not? M de Rivarol he take some of our men prisoners Berhabs dey dell hireat obbordunidy”
His lordshi+p snarled like a mountain-cat ”That rascal Bishop shall answer for it with his head if there's any h this desertion of his post What if it were deliberate, eh? What if he isJaenerous ”Hardly so ed hia,that while he's about it, I'd best be looking after Jahed, with more mirth than he had used in the last two months
”Set a course for Port Royal, Jeremy, and make all speed We'll be level yet with M de Rivarol, and wipe off sohby and the Admiral were on their feet
”But you are not equal to it, damme!” cried his lordshi+p ”Any one of the Frenchman's three shi+ps is a uns - aye,” said Blood, and he suns that matter in these affairs If your lordshi+p would like to see an action fought at sea as an action should be fought, this is your opportunity”
Both stared at him ”But the odds!” his lordshi+p insisted
”Id is ireat head ”Seauns”
”If I can't defeat him, I can sink my own shi+ps in the channel, and block hioose chase with his squadron, or until your own fleet turns up”
”And what good will that be, pray?” de you Rivarol is a fool to take this chance, considering what he's got aboard He carried in his hold the treasure plundered fro to forty million livres” They juone into Port Royal with it Whether he defeats ain, and sooner or later that treasure shall find its way into King William's coffers, after, say, one fifth share shall have been paid to hby?”
His lordshi+p stood up, and shaking back the cloud of lace from his wrist, held out a delicate white hand
”Captain Blood, I discover greatness in you,” said he