Ben blinked to catch the drift of that.
"Devil take their majesties!" he ejaculated. "He's king who conquers!"
"No need to talk of conquering when one is master already," corrected M. de Radisson.
"Shiver my soul," blurts out Ben, "I haven't a tongue like an eel, but that's what I mean; and I'm king here, and welcome to you, Radisson!"
"And that's what I mean," laughed M. Radisson, with a bow, quietly motioning us to follow ashore. "No need to conquer where one is master, and welcome to you, Captain Gillam!"
And they embraced each other like spider and fly, each with a free hand to his sword-hilt, and a questioning look on the other's face.
Says M. Radisson: "I've seen that ship before!"
Ben laughs awkwardly. "We captured her from a Dutchman," he begins.
"Oh!" says Sieur Radisson. "I meant outside the straits after the storm!"
Gillam's eyes widen. "Were those your ships?" he asks. Then both men laugh.