"Your humble servant, ma'am," said the strange man, smiling his crooked smile. "Captain Lingo, by name. A gentleman adventurer of the high seas. Owner of the treasure which you have discovered here in our little retreat. Known here on the Spanish Main as the Scourge of Ships, and loyal servant of his blessed Majesty King James, whom the saints defend. Your obedient humble servant to command." He made the lady a very courtly bow. Toby whispered into Freddie's ear. "He can't be so terrible bad, not with all that polite way of talking. Don't be afraid. We'll be all right with this pirate. Who on earth is King James?" Aunt Amanda was also much relieved by the pirate's polite address. "As long as you are my obedient servant," said she, "I'll thank you to help us to get out of here as soon as possible. We didn't want to come in the first place, and we are in a hurry to get out." Captain Lingo laughed heartily. "They are in a hurry to get out, lads," he said to his companions; and at this they all laughed uproariously. "I don't see anything to laugh at," said Aunt Amanda. "If we don't get out of here soon, we'll catch our death of cold." This made Captain Lingo laugh more heartily than before. "Ha! ha! ha! Their death of cold! That would be a rare fine thing, but a bit too slow, lads, eh?" And the other six laughed again, so that the walls of the chamber echoed with their mirth. "What do you mean by too slow?" said Aunt Amanda. "Madam," said Captain Lingo, "we are a little pressed for time. We really could not wait for you to die of colds." "What?" said Aunt Amanda faintly, her feeling of confidence beginning to ooze away. "Do you mean to say----?" "Madam," said the pirate, seriously, "I will put it to you plainly. Our treasure, which you have discovered, has taken a great deal of hard work to accumulate. We really couldn't bear to lose it. The people of this island, and a great many other people besides, have been trying for many years to find it. You have not only found it, but you have even gone so far as to open certain of our bags, in spite of the warning posted above your heads. Now picture to yourselves, dear madam and gentlemen, what consequences would certainly ensue if you were to leave--here--ahem!--alive." "Oh!" gasped Aunt Amanda. "Leave--here--alive!" "All the fruits of our industry would be lost, and our own safety would be imperilled. You will readily see that, of course. 'Tis a pity so many will have to die at once, for it will mess up the place very badly, and I always endeavor to be neat. But why, _why_ did so many of you come at once? Couldn't you have come, say two at a time? It would have made so much less trouble." "Ho!" said Mr. Punch. "Hif we 'ad only stopped at 'ome, hall of us!"