The pirates were strongly bound and carried away; then, after calling in the various detachments, the whole band again bent their way to the camp.
Great had been the surprise of the captain at the exclamation of Loyal Heart; but that surprise was changed into terror, when he saw the general, whom he thought so safely guarded by his men, standing before him.
He saw at once that all his measures were defeated, and his tricks circumvented, and that this time he was lost without resource.
The blood mounted to his throat, his eyes darted lightning, and turning towards Loyal Heart, he said, in a hoarse loud voice—
"Well played! but all is not yet ended between us. By God's help I shall have my revenge!"
He made a gesture as if to put his horse in motion; but Loyal Heart held it resolutely by the bridle.
"We have not done yet," he remarked.
The pirate looked at him for an instant with eyes injected with blood, and then said in a voice broken by passion, whilst urging on his horse to oblige the hunter to quit his hold.
"What more do you want with me?"
Loyal Heart, thanks to a wrist of iron, still held the horse, which plunged furiously.