“Well,” Cammock said, “let’s have the message. Here’s Captain Pete waiting on us.” “Right,” Stukeley said, sitting down at the table. “Then I’m to tell you that the men of war want to know when they’re going to have what they came for. They’re sick of doing sentry-go in the ant-heap yonder. They signed for a roving life.” “They signed to obey our orders,” Cammock said. “They’ll get all the roving they’ve a need for soon enough.” “So they say,” Stukeley answered. “If you don’t give it them they’ll take it, and half your crew besides.” “I’ll look after my crew,” Cammock said. “Not with Captain Tucket and Captain Pain here,” said Stukeley, grinning. “You see. If you cut up nasty, Cammock. Why. You’ve a very good ship, and a lot of useful weapons in your hold. Long eighteens. Eh? Carry a mile and a quarter. What’s to stop us putting you ashore. Eh?” “That’s what we did to the Frenchman,” Cammock said. “D’you remember, Pete?” “At the Isla Vache,” said Pain, looking down modestly. “I remember.” He spoke with such a strange inflection that none there could guess his meaning, though all looked at him curiously. He turned to Stukeley with attention, as though expecting something more. “So,” Stukeley continued, “your humble servants of the ’tween-decks ask that you will give them a brush. Or----” “Or what?” “They’ll ask Captain Pain here to find them hammock-space.” Captain Pain seemed to search Stukeley’s face for something further. “You seem determined to put me in a queer position, mister,” he said. “But come now, Mr. Margaret. What’s wrong with having a go at Tolu? We’ve a hundred and ninety men. Why not?” “I must trade, or try to trade. I’ve told you. I’m a merchant.” “Quite right, sir,” said Tucket. “I’m a merchant, too. I’d be only too glad to trade.” “They won’t let you,” said Stukeley. “So why not look at the position honestly.” “Well. Trade. Try it,” said Pain. “If you try it, you’ll get a sickener. Then you’ll fight all the better, after.” “They used to trade,” said Cammock. “I’ve known a lot of interloping done. At Maracaibo they traded.” “They won’t now,” Pain said. “Any man caught trading without the King’s license is up for the everlasting prison remediless. You don’t believe me. You try.” “I shall try,” Margaret said. “Right O,” said Pain. “Then we’ll sail to-morrow. Our two ships will keep out of sight of land. We could lie by among them Bernadoes. You can send in samples with your interpreter in Captain Tucket’s sloop. If they see a big ship standing in they’ll fire at her. So send the sloop. They’ll not listen to you. They’ll likely fire at the sloop. So the next morning we’ll land and take the town. There’s twenty pound a man in Tolu. Silver.”