And now being masters of both ships, the pirates make great rejoicing, for though there were yet those in the roundhouse of the Faithful Friend who were unfettered, yet were they close prisoners and powerless to recover their ship, or do mischief, except in foolhardy desperation, to their captors.
To every pirate was dealt out double allowance of meat and drink, but the latter not of a strong kind, for Rodrigues knew full well that a drunken bout might prove their undoing. As for the prisoners they got naught to eat, but only jeers and derision.
While his men were yet carousing, Rodrigues goes on the poop deck of the Faithful Friend, and stamping his heel to call attention to those below, he cried out to know if Sir Bartlemy Pengilly was yet alive; to which Sir Bartlemy himself replied:
"Ay," says he, "and I hope to live yet to see you hanged, villain!"
"Well," replies the other, "you'll not get that chance unless you accept my conditions."
"I will make no conditions with such as you," cried my uncle.
"You had better, my friend," says Rodrigues, jeeringly; "'twill save you a deal of trouble in the long run."
To this my uncle made no reply but one of his sea oaths.
"I shall leave you to the better guidance of your company," says Rodrigues "who, I have no doubt, will bring you to reason when they begin to feel the pinch of starvation. But, mark this, if you hurt only by accident a single hair of my men with the arms you hold so precious, I will cannonade you where you are, and spare not one single life."
Then calling to his boatswain he bade him whistle his company to their posts, and pointing to the deck, all hampered with dead and dying men, he cried: