At these words Carlo hung his head, but he did not answer, nor did he
look at all as if he meant to give way; so that now Harry Fenn clearly
understood what was taking place, and secretly much admired the Spanish
boy; but he knew only too well that in the end he would have to yield.
As well try to bend a full-grown oak as turn the iron will of Henry
Morgan.
’And what good will that toy blade do for you?’ asked the pirate
captain, laughing scornfully; and when he laughed he was more to be
dreaded than when he swore. ’It is no tried steel, young jackanapes,
but a somewhat spick-and-span new plaything.’
’I demand a free pass for myself, for my father, and the women in this
house,’ said Carlo, not daunted, but flushing with anger; ’for it is a
shame to remain under the same roof with such as you.’
’A shame! Come, enough of thy vapouring and huffing! We’ll see whose
shame it will be. Here, Cross, Simon, Watkins: seize that young scorpion
and fling him into the dungeons here; for I guess there are some down
below in which brave Englishmen have before now groaned away their
lives. "A tooth for a tooth" is no bad saying, and in the dark thou
mayest learn that "haste makes waste."’
’Prithee, Captain,’ said Harry, rushing between Carlo and the advancing
men, ’spare this young Spaniard: he was as brave as a lion under the
walls, and bravery ought to find favour with you--he rallied a mere
handful of men when there was no hope for him.’
’Pshaw, Harry! away, boy, and mind thine own business. I hear there are
girls here, and that one is an English prisoner or slave: go and tell
them to come here--that is work more befitting thee--and leave this boy
alone.’
[Illustration: _CARLO BEFORE CAPTAIN MORGAN_.]
In a moment Carlo was seized by the three strong, lusty men; his sword
was wrenched from him; and with two long Spanish scarves his arms were
bound tightly behind him, and in this helpless state he was dragged from
the hall; whilst the Marquis, rising to his feet, protested in vain
against the outrage to his son. The truth was that Captain Morgan
wished to make an example of some one, and Carlo, being the Governor’s
son, would satisfy any murmurs his men might be inclined to raise at the
death of their comrades.
All was now noise and confusion, for the men began loudly to make all
kinds of requests to the Captain; and, seeing nothing would be got out
of them in the way of going to seek for cattle and provisions in the
island till they had finished their feast, Captain Morgan (who was a
very abstemious man himself) left the hall, begging the Marquis somewhat
roughly to show him over the place and to give him all the keys of the
stores. Harry Fenn was also commanded to be of the company, which
request he was glad enough to comply with, so as to get away from the
sight of the carouse and the sound of the rude jokes and laughter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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