Part 30 (1/2)

”That's very true, also; and I will swear fidelity so far as this, that you never shall be betrayed by me, and I never will appear as a witness against one of you; it were most ungrateful if I did. While I am on board, I will do any duty you please to put me to, for I cannot expect to eat my bread for nothing.”

”And suppose we come to action?”

”There's the difficulty,” replied I; ”against an English s.h.i.+p I never will fight.”

”But if we are opposed to any other nation, and there is a chance of our being overpowered?”

”Why, then, if you are overpowered, as I shall be flung along with the rest, I think I must do all I can to save my own life; but, overpowered or not, I will not fire a shot or draw a cutla.s.s against my own countrymen.”

”Well, I cannot deny but that's all very fair.”

”I think,” replied I, ”it is as much as you can expect; especially as I never will share any prize-money.”

”Well; I will talk to the men, and hear what they say; but, now, answer me one question--Are you not a seaman?”

”I will answer the truth to everything; I am a seaman, and I have commanded a privateer. I have served many years in privateers, and have seen a great deal of hard fighting.”

”So I thought,” replied he; ”and now answer me another question,--Was it not you that played that trick to that French privateer captain at Bordeaux?”

”Yes it was,” replied I; ”but how came you to know that?”

”Because I was the mate of a merchant vessel that had been captured, and I saw you three or four times as you pa.s.sed the vessel I was on board of; for, being put in quarantine, we were not sent to prison till the pratique was given. I thought that I knew you again.”

”I have no concealment to make.”

”No: but I will tell you candidly, my men, if they knew all this, would not allow you to leave the vessel. Indeed, you might be captain if you pleased, for I do not suit them. Our captain--for I was his officer-- was killed about six months ago; and I really am not fit for the office--I am too tender-hearted.”

”Well; you don't look so,” replied I, laughing.

”Can't judge of outsides,” replied he; ”but it's a fact. They say that they will be all condemned if taken, from my not destroying the crews of the vessels we take; that they will be so many witnesses against them; and I cannot make up my mind to cold-blooded murder. I am bad enough; I rob on the high seas; I kill on the high seas--for we must kill when we fight; but I cannot commit deliberate murder either at sea or on sh.o.r.e, and so I tell them. If any one else could navigate the vessel, I should be superseded immediately.”

”I am glad to hear you say what you have, captain; it makes me less dissatisfied at finding myself here. Well; I have said all I can, and I must trust to you to manage with your s.h.i.+p's company.”

”It will be a difficult job,” said he, musing.

”Tell them,” replied I, ”that I was once a captain of a vessel like this (after all, there is not so much difference between a pirate and a privateer as you may think)--and that I will not be under the command of any one.”

”If they hear that, they will give you the command of this vessel.”

”I will refuse to take it; and give my reasons.”

”Well; I'll tell them that: I leave you to settle with them how you can; but,” added he, in a low tone, ”there are some desperate villains among them.”

”That I take for granted,” replied I; ”so now I leave you to speak to them.”

Toplift did so. He told them that I was a pirate captain, who had lost his vessel and been thrown on sh.o.r.e, but I refused to join any s.h.i.+p except as captain of her; that I would not serve as first officer, and would obey no one. He told them that he knew me before, and he narrated the business at Bordeaux when I commanded a privateer, extolling me, as I afterwards found, beyond all measure.

The crew, having heard what he had to say, went forward, and, after consultation, came to Toplift and said that I must take the oath.

Toplift replied that he had desired me so to do, and that I had answered that I would not. ”But,” said he, ”you had better speak to him yourselves. Call all hands aft and hear what he has to say.”