But what could be the tie of interest between a colonel in the Army of the King of Spain and an outlaw who had defied the whole structure of civilization? A Jacobite plot? It seemed preposterous!
"'Tis my daughter I was thinking of," explained O'Donnell as they reached the starboard gangway close by where I stood over Peter's prostrate form.
"Ah!"
My great-uncle went through his courtly formula of taking snuff, and I watched him, fascinated.
"Your forebodings do you credit, chevalier. But you have no cause for concern. For reasons which I need not go into I have with me here men from the crew of my associate. On board the Royal James I think I may promise you and your daughter all the deference you might receive upon a King's ship. I will go so far as to say that I have taken steps to secure you additional protection. My great-nephew—and heir—of whom I have spoken to you, sails with me, a fine youth who shall yet make his mark in the world."
"But a woman on a pirate ship!" protested O'Donnell anew.
"My dear sir, Rule Four of the Code of Articles under which our company is governed—does it surprize you that we have our own laws?—forbids the taking and keeping of women as spoil aboard our ships. We have had experience in the past of the evils which flow in the wake of a struggle for women's favors."
"Shall you not flout your own rule if my daughter comes aboard?" pressed the Irishman.
"She will not come as a prisoner, but as a guest," returned Murray blandly. "After all, colonel, the Royal James is my ship—and in that respect differs from most outlaw craft which are held by the entire crew as a community. No, no; you need not concern yourself."
"I like it not, I say!" persisted O'Donnell. "Why did you bid me bring her? You were hot for her coming so soon as you heard I had a daughter."