As for Tressady, he gaped, scowled, fumbled with the dagger in his girdle, loosed it, slapped his thigh and burst into a roar of laughter.
"Oh, burn me, here's a soul!" he cried. "'Tis a wench o' spirit, all hell-fire spirit and deviltry, rot me! Go to't, lass, drink hearty—here's you and me agin world and damn all, says I. Let me perish!" quoth he, when he had drunk the toast and viewing Joanna with something of respect. "Here's never a man, woman or child dared so much wi' Jolly Roger all his days—oh, sink me! Why ha' we never met afore—you and me might rule the Main—"
"I do!" said she.
"And how came ye here—in an open boat?"
"By reason of Adam Penfeather!"
"What, Adam again, curse him!"
"He sank the Happy Despatch!"
"Burn me! And there's a stout ship lost to us."
"But then—we stayed to fight, yes!"
"What then?" said Tressady, clenching his fist. "Will ye say I ran away—we beat him off!"