"'Tis but justice," says I, "these men are pirates and murderers—"
"This is no justice!" cries she breathlessly, her face all pale and drawn, "And these men are sore hurt beside—Ah God—look! Stop them, Martin—O stop them! Nay then I will!" And here, or ever I could let or stay her, she begins to clamber down into the cove. Howbeit, quick and sure-footed though she was, I was presently before her and so came running, knife in hand. Nor was I any too soon, for as I reached the tree Tressady and Mings were dragged, choking, from their feet; but with a couple of strokes my keen knife had cut those deadly ropes asunder, and as the two fell gasping on the sand I turned to stare into the scowling eyes of Adam Penfeather.
Now as I stood thus someone spoke 'twixt sigh and groan: "Bartlemy—'tis Bartlemy!" and the word was taken up by others, "Bartlemy—Black Bartlemy!" and all men fell back from me whiles Adam scowled at me above levelled pistol.
"Hold off—Adam!" I panted. "Let be, Adam Penfeather—let be!"
"What?" says he, peering, "And is it—Martin? Lord love me, now what fool's ploy is this?"
"What you will," quoth I, "only here has been enough of death for one night—"
"'Tis but you do think so, Martin, and you was ever a fool! I came ashore to see these two rogues hang, and hang they shall!"
"Now look you, Adam Penfeather," says I, scowling in turn, "you have cozened and tricked me since first you crossed my path, well, let that go! But mark this—according to your letter three-quarters of this treasure is mine. Very well—take it back—I'll buy these rogues' lives of you—"
"Lord love me!" says he, staring in blank amaze, "What new fool craze is this? Will ye save this bloody murderer Tressady that drugged ye aboard ship, the man that was our bane and plague all along? The rogue hath been my deadliest enemy seeking my destruction these fifteen years, and you would save him alive! It seemeth my pistol-butt must ha' harmed what little brain you have and you be run stark, staring mad, Martin!"
"Howbeit," says I, mighty determined, "you don't hang these men whiles I live!"