“Look here, now, Mr. Perrin,” the captain went on. “One gentleman to another, now. Here am I sailing-master. I’m to navigate this ship to Virginia, and then to another port to be named when we leave England. I don’t know what you want me to do, do I, James? Well, then, can’t you give me a quiet hint, like, so I’ll know when to shoot? If you don’t like that, well, you’re my employers, you needn’t. But don’t blame me if trouble comes. You’re going to the Main. Oh, don’t start; I’ve got eyes, sir. Now I know the Main; you don’t. Nor you don’t know seamen. All you know is a lot of town pimps skipping around like burnt cats. Here now, Mr. Perrin, fair and square. Are you going on the account?” “As pirates?” “As privateers.” “Well, you see, captain,” said Perrin, “it’s like this. Captain Margaret. I don’t know. You know that, in Darien, the Spaniards--they--they--they drove out the Indians very brutally.” Captain Cammock smiled, as though pleased with a distant memory. “Oh, them,” he said lightly. “Well,” continued Perrin. “You’d have been told to-day, anyhow; so it doesn’t much matter my telling you now. What he wants to do is this. He wants to get in with the Indians there, and open up a trade; keeping back the Spaniards till the English are thoroughly settled. Then, when we are strong enough, to cut in on the Spanish treasure-trains, like Sir Francis Drake did. But first of all, our aim is to open up a trade. Gold dust.” Captain Cammock’s face grew serious. He gazed, with unseeing eyes, at the swans in the reach. “Oh,” he said. “What give you that idea?” “Do you think it possible?” “I’ll think it over,” he said curtly. “I’m obliged to you for telling me.” He made one or two quick turns about the deck. “Here you, boy,” he cried, “coil them ropes up on the pins.” He glanced down at the quarter-deck guns to see if the leaden aprons were secured over the touch-holes. “Mr. Perrin,” he continued, “about Captain Margaret. Has he got anything on his mind?” “Yes, captain. He’s had a lot of trouble. A woman.” “I thought it was something of that sort. Rum or women, I say. Them and lawyers. They get us all into trouble sooner or later.” “He was in love with a girl,” said Perrin. “He was in love with her for four years. Now she’s gone and married some one else.” “I suppose she was a society lady,” said Cammock, investing that class with the idea of vices practised by his own. “She was very beautiful,” said Perrin. “And now she’s married,” said Cammock. “Yes. Married a blackguard.” “Yes?” said the captain. “And now she’ll learn her error. Women aren’t rational beings, not like men are. What would a beautiful woman want more, with Captain Margaret?” “It’s about done for him,” said Perrin. “He’ll never be the man he was. And as for her. The man she married cheated a lad out of all his money at cards, and then shot him in a duel.” “I’ve heard of that being done,” said the captain.