"You do not understand me, brother, or else I have explained myself badly," David replied. "If I asked you in what way you proposed to act, I was not at all impelled by a puerile curiosity, but because, in so serious a question, which interests the entire association, we have resolved to accompany you, and to die or conquer with you. We wish to share the honour of the triumph, or assume a part of the defeat." Montbarts felt involuntarily affected by these generous words, so nobly pronounced; and by a spontaneous movement he held out his hands to the filibusters, who pressed them energetically, and said,-- "You are right, brothers. We must all share in the great work which, I hope, will at length place us in the position to achieve great things. We will all go to Tortoise Island. But I will ask you--and believe me that I am not speaking thus through any ambitious motive--to let me conduct the expedition." "Are you not our chief?" the filibusters exclaimed. "We will obey you according to the laws of buccaneering," David added. "The man who conceives an expedition has alone the right to command. We will be your soldiers." "That is settled, brothers. Tomorrow morning, at eleven, after attending the sale of the new engagés, who arrived from France the day before yesterday, I will go to the governor, and tell him I am preparing a fresh expedition, and enlistment can begin at once." "Not one of us will be missing at the rendezvous," said Belle Tête. "I must buy two engagés to fill the places of two idlers, who have just died of sheer idleness." "That is settled," said Bartholomew. "At eleven o'clock we will all be at Basse Terre." They then rose and prepared to retire: for the whole night had passed away in these discussions, and the sun, although still beneath the horizon, was already beginning to tinge it with a purple hue, that testified it would soon appear. "By the way," Montbarts said, with an indifferent air to Morgan, whom with the rest he accompanied to the head of the path; "if you are not greatly attached to your Carib--I forget how you call him--" "Omopoua?" "Ah! yes. Well, I was saying that if you were not indisposed to part with him, I should feel obliged by your letting me have him." "Do you want him?" "Yes. I think he will be useful to me." "In that case, take him, brother. I yield him to you, although he is a good workman, and I am satisfied with him." "Thanks, brother. What value do you set on him?" "Well, I will not bargain with you, brother. I saw a rather handsome fusil in your house. Give it to me, and take the Indian, and we shall be quits." "Wait a minute, then." "Why?" "Because I will give you the fusil at once. You will send me the Indian; or, if I have time, I will call and fetch him during the day." The filibuster returned to the hatto, took down the fusil, and carried it to Morgan, who threw it on his shoulder with a movement of joy. "Well, that is settled," he said. "Good-bye, for the present."