"As for you, you dogs, who would question your captain and his
doings, stay where you are, if you would not be lessoned in
earnest!"
Sheer audacity is at times the surest steed a man can bestride. Now
at least it did me good service. With oaths and grunts of
admiration the pirates stayed where they were, and went about
their business of launching the boats and stripping the body of Red
Gil, while the man in black and silver, the Spaniard, the two
gravediggers, the knave with the wounded shoulder, and myself
walked briskly up the beach.
With these five at my heels I strode up to the dying fire and to
those who had sprung to their feet at our approach. "Sparrow," I
said easily, "luck being with us as usual, I have fallen in with a
party of rovers. I have told them who I am, - that Kirby, to wit,
whom an injurious world calls the blackest pirate unhanged, - and
have recounted to them how the great galleon which I took some
months ago went down yesterday with all on board, you and I with
these others being the sole survivors. By dint of a little persuasion
they have elected me their captain, and we will go on board
directly and set sail for the Indies, a hunting ground which we
never should have left. You need not look so blank; you shall be
my mate and right hand still." I turned to the five who formed my
escort.
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