"Let him alone!" he bawled; "I can defend myself."
Then suddenly controlling his fury, he said very slowly, addressing us both:
"Lay down your swords at once, or by Baal-Peor! within a quarter of an hour your heads shall be swinging from the highest battlement of this very tower!"
I knew that Adonibal was not a man to swear lightly by his god, and I knew, moreover, that a few heads more or less were a matter of no moment to him. Seeing, therefore, that he was somewhat calmer, I summoned all my courage, and said as firmly as I could:
"My lord suffect, you are bound to show justice to all mariners alike; you would not, I am sure, commit a Sidonian captain to the dungeons without giving him a fair hearing."
He had recovered his equanimity sufficiently to resume his bantering tone:
"They have gone for the handcuffs: they will soon be back; but perhaps you will have time to tell me what you want, while they are fetching them. And, really, I am curious to know what defence you can possibly make for your treachery to Bodmilcar, under whose command, as I see by his letters, you were placed by King Hiram."
"I have but one question to ask," I said; "and if the answer convicts me, why then you may behead me, hang me, or crucify me, as you like. Have you any documents bearing Bodmilcar's seal and signature?"
From a bag that was hanging beside him he drew out a papyrus-roll, which he opened and laid before me.