The gunner answered the summons.
"Take Mr. Broadmayne on deck," ordered the pirate captain, "and bring Mr. Vyse to me."
Presently Rollo Vyse appeared. He was sorry he had missed an opportunity of speaking to his chum, as he was entirely in the dark as to what had occurred.
To him Captain Cain made a similar proposition, which he "turned down" even more forcibly than the Sub had done.
"So that's your attitude, is it?" exclaimed the pirate, losing control of his temper. "Very well. Here are pens, ink and paper. You will write a letter to your wealthy parent, informing him that you are detained on board a certain ship and that you will be deprived of your liberty until the sum of one thousand pounds is paid to the person named therein. You will add that it is useless to set the police upon my agent. He knows nothing and is acting in all good faith. Now then, one thousand pounds in Bank of England notes, none of which is to exceed ten pounds."
Lighting a cigarette and picking up a book, Captain Cain feigned to have lost interest in his victim.
For some moments Rollo sat quietly thinking. "S'pose I'll have to humour the silly ass," he decided, and took up a pen.
For nearly twenty minutes Vyse was engaged upon the demand for ransom. He was not writing all the time. There were intervals when the rapid movement of the scratchy pen ceased, causing the pirate captain to glance inquiringly over his book.
"How will that do?" asked Rollo at last.
Captain Cain took the proffered paper and read: