"What is wanted now?" cried the captain angrily, leaning out of the hammock. To this question the stranger replied quietly:
"Not another word, sir. I am Robert Barthelemy."
The captain was rigid with fright. The pirate placed no pistol at his breast, did not threaten him with death; he merely said: "I am Robert Barthelemy."
"What do you desire?" asked the captain with chattering teeth.
"Nothing at all," answered the pirate, "except an answer to a single question: can you tell me which of these forty-two ships has the richest cargo?"
"You ask which has the richest cargo?"
"If it is against your principles to answer my question, I will take your own ship, and if you should make it compatible with honor to deceive me by false statements, you may rest assured that you shall eat steel and drink sea-water."
The pirate's resolute language, the sight of the fierce fellows in the doorway, speedily brought the captain to terms and he promised to point out the vessel in question, especially as he felt perfectly sure that, if the pirates ventured to attack it, they would certainly be defeated.
"Dress yourself and come with us," said Barthelemy.
"What? To your ship?"