“At a call from me,” said Iberville reflectively, “my Canadians would put you all to the stake.”
“Undoubtedly, but you would be in no position to enjoy the spectacle, I assure you!”
“True. Yet I am rather warm in the notion of taking that bark and her cargo into Placentia.”
“And, my dear Iberville, I am most devilish warm in the necessity of having her myself. Egad, man! Do you want me to go down to Carbonear Island and head these English against you? They have no officers, no leaders, and are helpless, but if I undertake to lead them, I’ll guarantee to cut you off from Placentia——”
Iberville broke into a laugh and clapped him on the shoulder.
“Monsieur Crawford, Satan take me if you’re not a man after my own heart! You shall have the bark. My word upon it. Call your men and I’ll give you boats to get aboard.”
“I can’t do it, Iberville. I’ve promised to wait here until after midnight for some of the escaped Irish slaves who are coming to join me.”
“What?” exclaimed Iberville. “Faith, you can’t expect to keep the three of us prisoners here until after midnight, without my voyageurs hacking at the hinges of hell to find us! Unless, of course, you propose to use us as hostages——”
“Not in the least,” said Crawford quickly. “It will give me great pleasure if you’ll take that Abnaki devil with you and keep him quiet until we get off. Bienville, of course, will know nothing of the entire matter; it remains between the two of us alone. If you will see to it that your men are off the bark, and that your Canadians do not interfere with us, we shall come down to the beach as soon as my Irish arrive, go aboard, and sail away. As you will perceive, it is all very simple.”
Iberville stared at him for a moment.