Brand laughed. "The _Experiment_ was not so very terrible. For armament we had three shotguns, eight axes, a sword, and our pistols--that is until we raided a town and got some rifles. Our next necessity was a modern etheric ship able to ram, to defend herself, and to destroy explosives. We found the _Revenge_ at Denver, in charge of state officials who had the audacity to deny my ownership. After a fight, we got possession, only to find ourselves in a steel prison with neither food nor water. The crew of the _Revenge_ had been dispersed, her engines were disabled, we were attacked by federal troops, and on the fourth day when we were half dead with thirst and hunger, a battery of artillery opened fire. There were only eight of us left when we got the _Revenge_ afloat. She was riddled with shell fire, her splintered sides gaping open, her cabins all in flames, and the shells were screaming past. She rolled till we thought she would turn over, the engines were rocking loose in their bed, she fluttered once as though she were foundering, and my men came about me waiting for the end. I told them of the old _Revenge_, and how Sir Richard Greville fought a great Spanish Fleet, his courage against their galleons--and how he died breathing the name of his Queen. Could we not fight the new _Revenge_ for Margaret? They sang the National Anthem while I was testing for strains, and they stopped the singing to cheer when I said the _Revenge_ would live. "Denver will never forget the _Revenge_. I held the city to ransom. The officials must find me my own seamen and engineers, provisions, water, yes, and salute your Union Jack, or I swore I'd not leave one man alive in their streets. They did not know I was helpless." Margaret's eyes were growing moist as she listened, and when she turned away her head lest he should see her-- "Don't turn away," he cried, "I can hardly hear myself speak for this roaring sound in my ears. I've gone stark, staring mad with love, and I can't bear it if you turn away." "You must not talk like that," said Margaret, and her white hand stole out within his reach. "Go on, sir," she added stiffly, and he went on.