"In my country, when one man strikes another the insult is washed out in blood. Your bold partner there has struck me, a weaker man than himself, and I cannot avenge the insult, for you cold islanders here boast of your courage, but you will not equalise the weak and strong by placing the sword, the knife, or the pistol in their hands. You say no; that is the law. You call in your police. Fools! cowards! do you think that will satisfy me?" "Did Mr Pugh strike you, then?" said Mr Parkley. "Yes, three cruel blows," hissed the Cuban, with his face distorted with rage. "Then you must have deserved it," cried Mr Parkley. "You think so," said the Cuban, growing unnaturally calm again. "Then I say I must have satisfaction somehow. Your partner makes me his enemy, and you must suffer. I shall not fulfil my contract. I will not take you where the galleons lie. You have made your preparations. Good. You must suffer for it, even as I suffer. I give up one of the dreams of my life. I will not go." A pang shot through Dutch Pugh's breast, for in this refusal to depart he saw an excuse to remain in England, and once more the hot blood rose to his face. "You absolutely refuse, then, to show Captain Studwick and me where the objects we seek are hid?" said Mr Parkley, turning up his cuffs as if he meant to fight; and the Cuban's hand went into his breast. "I absolutely refuse," said the Cuban, disdainfully. "You know, I suppose, that you forfeit half the result," said Mr Parkley. "Yes," said the Cuban, moving towards the gangway, "I know I lose half the result." "You know I have spent five thousand pounds in preparations," said Mr Parkley, calmly. "Yes," sneered the Cuban, "and you have your law. Go to it for revenge; it may please you." "No," said Mr Parkley, looking round at the frowning faces of his friends; "that means spending another thousand to gain the day, and nothing to be obtained of a beggarly Cuban adventurer, who has neither money nor honour." "Take care!" cried Laure, flashing into rage, and baring his teeth like some wild cat. But the next instant, with wonderful self-command, he cooled down, standing erect, proud and handsome, with his great black beard half-way down his breast. "Bah!" he exclaimed, "the English diving-master is angry, and stoops to utter coward's insults." "I'll show you, Mr Lorry, that I am no coward over this," said Mr Parkley, firmly. "You mean to throw us over, then, now that we are ready to start." "You threaten to throw me over," said the Cuban, smiling disdainfully. "If you mean, do I still refuse to go, I say yes! yes! yes! You and your partner shall never touch a single bar of the treasure. Ha! ha! What will you do now?" "Start without you," said Mr Parkley, coolly. "Captain Studwick, see that this man goes ashore." The Cuban was already close to the gangway, but he turned sharply round, and took a couple of steps towards the last speaker.