’Etta, here, quick. This is crabbed English writing, and the Marquis said that you were to help me to read it, and to write it out in fair Spanish, so that the council may deliberate on it. The boy who has accompanied the messenger cannot speak many words of Spanish, and will do nothing but shake his head. If I had my wish I would have both man and boy hung up on the tallest prickly palm of the estate.’ Etta in the meanwhile was deciphering the words, which had been written on the rind of the fruit of the cabbage-palm, which rind looked very much like a piece of parchment, and was indeed often used instead of it in the West Indies. The writing ran thus, though it took all the three some time to make it out-- ’To the Spanish Governor of the Island of St. Catherine. ’Hereby I, the world-wide famous Captain Henry Morgan, make known that if within a few hours you deliver not yourself and all your men into my hands, I do by my messenger swear unto you and all those that are in your company that I shall most certainly put you and them all to the sword, without granting quarter to any.’ Carlo flushed red with indignation when at last these words were made out and translated, then hurried away to his father and the officers, to give the writing into their hands. ’These words are an insult to our great country, my father. I hope you will give them a fitting answer. Such vile caitiffs deserve no pity.’ ’We must have two hours to deliberate on this paper, gentlemen,’ said the Governor, uneasily; ’for I hear there is great panic on the island, and that the people are leaving their homes and flocking to the fortresses. If so, a worse enemy than the pirates may trouble us, and that will be famine. Go, Carlo, and tell the messengers to return to him who sent them, and say that my answer shall be taken to Henry Morgan by my own trustworthy messengers, but that they must be promised a safe-conduct.’ Carlo had nothing to do but to obey. He found the man and the boy in the courtyard surrounded by a strong guard of Spaniards. He proudly gave his father’s message, but, thinking of Etta’s words, he could not help being struck with the noble bearing of the fair-haired youth, who appeared to be much disturbed by the rude looks and taunts of the soldiers about him, for he scarcely lifted his head till Carlo had done speaking, when he suddenly looked up at him, as if he were going to say something; but, evidently thinking better of it, he remained silent. ’Marry, then, in two hours our Captain will expect your answer,’ said the pirate, ’and it were best not to trifle with him, as he is sure to keep his word. ’Tis no time to dally.’ ’_Perros! nos veremos,_’ exclaimed a soldier after Carlo had turned away in silence--which words mean in English, ’Dogs, we shall meet you,’ and were accompanied by some insulting dumb show at the departing messengers.