Mr. Blood's answer took the form of another question. «How many do you number aboard the Bonaventure?»
«Something less than two hundred men.»
«And the twenty men who are with me make such a difference that you deem it worth while to bring us this proposal?»
Easterling laughed outright, a deep, guttural laugh. «I see that ye don't understand at all.» His voice bore a familiar echo of Mr. Blood's Irish intonation. «It's not the men I lack so much as a stout ship in which to guard the treasure when we have it. In a bottom such as this we'ld be as snug as in a fort, and I'ld snap my fingers at any Spanish galleon that attempted to molest me.»
«Faith, now I understand,» said Wolverstone, and Pitt and Dyke and Hagthorpe nodded with him. But the glittering blue eye of Peter Blood continued to stare unwinkingly upon the bulky pirate.
«As Wolverstone says, it's understandable. But a tenth of the prize which, by heads, is all that would come to the Cinco Llagas, is far from adequate in the circumstances.»
Easterling blew out his cheeks and waved his great hand in a gesture of bonhomie. «What share would you propose?»
«That's to be considered. But it would not be less than one fifth.»
The buccaneer's face remained impassive. He bowed his gaudily swathed head. «Bring these friends of yours to dine to–morrow aboard the Bonaventure, and we'll draw up the articles.»
For a moment Blood seemed to hesitate. Then in courteous terms he accepted the invitation.