"She has the cut of one, sir," said I; "and in any case her hurry to come at us, her careful luff and heavy press of sail, should justify us in suspecting her intentions and preparing for her as an enemy." "Will the Englishman fight, think ye, captain, if it comes to that?" exclaimed Van Vogelaar, in his harshest, most scoffing voice. Taking no notice of the mate, I said in a low voice to Imogene, speaking quickly, "_They_ have nothing to fear. It is not for a Frenchman's cutlass to end these wretches' doom. I am worried on your account. Dearest, when I bid you, steal to my cabin--you know where it is?" "Yes." "And remain there. 'Tis the only hiding-place I can think of. If they board us and rummage the ship--well, I must wait upon events. In a business of this kind the turns are sudden. All that I can plan now is to take care that you are not seen." I should have been glad to arm myself, but knew not where to seek for a weapon; but thinking of this for a moment, it struck me that if the schooner threw her people aboard us, my being the only man armed might cost me my life; therefore, unless the whole crew equipped themselves I should find my safest posture one of defencelessness. "Do these men never fight?" I asked Imogene. "There has been no occasion for them to do so since I have been in the ship," she answered. "But I do not think they would fight. They are above the need of it." "Yet they have treasure, they value it, and this should prove them in possession of instincts which would prompt them to protect their property." "God manages them in His own fashion," said she. "They cannot be reasoned about as men with the hot blood of life in them and existing as we do."