His lips move as if to protest.
I cut him short, however, with an imperious wave of the hand.
Several of the sailors, noticing the pallor which had overspread the captain’s face, drew near and stood gazing upon us, half wonderingly, half inquiringly.
“Captain!” said I calmly, but quite loud enough to be overheard by the men standing in a group near by, “my pistols were made by the Emperor’s armorer. They never miss fire. Let me find you changing this vessel’s course a single point east or west of south and I’ll kill you in your tracks!”
Saying this I walked away.
From that moment all went well.
The ship’s master saw that I was determined to have my way, even if I lost my life in consequence, and he yielded.
Turning around to the group of sailors, I called out:
“A thousand ducats to the man who first sights land!”
A hearty cheer rent the air, and calling to Bulger to follow me, I went below to think.