"Then you will go?" "No--I won't go." "And you?" to the Coward. "Sure, Captain, I'll go.--What are the terms?" was the prompt response. "_I'm not afraid._" "Tut! tut!" said the Captain, stepping between them. "What did I tell you about squabbling. I only wanted to try the temper of you both. I will go myself. Await me here," and he walked briskly toward the house. Marbury saw him coming, and went down to meet him. "Monsieur!" greeted the pirate, and bowed, his hat across his heart. Marbury's only response was a curt inclination of the head. "We have called, this morning, monsieur," the pirate remarked, "to collect his Majesty's taxes, if it will occasion you no particular inconvenience." "By 'his Majesty,' I presume you mean the Devil," said Marbury. "Precisely, monsieur. Your mind is very quick--it is a great pleasure to deal with one so exceedingly discerning." Marbury gave a shrug of deprecation. "What is the amount of the taxes?" he asked. "It rests with you, monsieur--how much can you pay for his Majesty's favor?" "How am I to know that it will buy his favor?" said Marbury. "You will have to take my word for it, monsieur." Marbury smiled. "The word of a pirate?" "Is doubtful security, you mean? I grant it, monsieur, but it is the best I can give you--you may take it or not, as you see fit. However, let me point out, that, by taking it, you stand to lose certain possessions but save your lives and the house; by not taking it, you will lose your lives and property as well. _Voilà!_" "Not exactly," said Marbury. "I may be willing to pay a reasonable amount to avoid a nasty fight, but, that is all. If we fight, we are reasonably sure of saving our lives and the cash, and of sending a goodly number of your pirate crew to hell--yourself among them." "There may be some casualties," was the answer, "but they will not be confined to one side, monsieur." "Possibly not, sir, but we fight under cover of the house, you in the open. You have doubtless observed that there are holes in the shutters--air holes, they are, but quite as serviceable for guns. But, what you do not know is, that behind every window, both front and rear, stands a man, with rifles and ammunition--and a slave to serve him--you can judge, better than I, what will be the result to an attacking party." "You have a large household, monsieur!" said the Captain, laughing incredulously. "At present, yes, to my good fortune. A party of gentlemen, engaged in hunting the fox, arrived late last evening and remained the night. With us, sir, you must know, a fox chase may last a week, the horsemen putting up wherever night overtakes them."--("That keeps the women out, thank God!" he thought.)