“Why?”
“Is there no chance of something coming along,” said I, “in which we can send her to a port this side America?”
“She knows there is a big treasure on board.”
“That’s sure.”
“She knows that it is Spanish money, and how got by us.”
“True.”
“Well, now, send her out of this brig with our secret in her head, and we stand to be chased by the chap we put her aboard of.”
“Not if she be an English ship.”
“I’d trust no Englishman in this part of the world. Figure a craft as heavily armed again as our little brig; figure that, and then count our crew forward there. I’ll have no risks. I’ll speak nothing. We have got what we came to fetch, and this is to be my last voyage. I am a rich man now. There are thirty-six thousand pounds belonging to me below. No, Fielding, the lady will have to go along with us. You shall teach her English, she shall teach me Spanish. She shall pour out tea, act the hostess, sing; the very spirit of melody swells her fine throat every time she opens her lips. She shall make dresses for herself and under-linen.”
“And the two Spaniards?”