"Can't judge of outsides," replied he; "but it's a fact. They say that they will be all condemned if taken, from my not destroying the crews of the vessels we take; that they will be so many witnesses against them; and I cannot make up my mind to cold-blooded murder. I am bad enough; I rob on the high seas; I kill on the high seas--for we must kill when we fight; but I cannot commit deliberate murder either at sea or on shore, and so I tell them. If any one else could navigate the vessel, I should be superseded immediately." "I am glad to hear you say what you have, captain; it makes me less dissatisfied at finding myself here. Well; I have said all I can, and I must trust to you to manage with your ship's company." "It will be a difficult job," said he, musing. "Tell them," replied I, "that I was once a captain of a vessel like this (after all, there is not so much difference between a pirate and a privateer as you may think)--and that I will not be under the command of any one." "If they hear that, they will give you the command of this vessel." "I will refuse to take it; and give my reasons." "Well; I'll tell them that: I leave you to settle with them how you can; but," added he, in a low tone, "there are some desperate villains among them." "That I take for granted," replied I; "so now I leave you to speak to them." Toplift did so. He told them that I was a pirate captain, who had lost his vessel and been thrown on shore, but I refused to join any ship except as captain of her; that I would not serve as first officer, and would obey no one. He told them that he knew me before, and he narrated the business at Bordeaux when I commanded a privateer, extolling me, as I afterwards found, beyond all measure. The crew, having heard what he had to say, went forward, and, after consultation, came to Toplift and said that I must take the oath. Toplift replied that he had desired me so to do, and that I had answered that I would not. "But," said he, "you had better speak to him yourselves. Call all hands aft and hear what he has to say." This was done, and I was sent for. "I have told them what you said, Sir. I don't know your name." "I have no name," replied I, proudly, "except `Captain,'--that's my name." The fact is, Madam, I was determined to carry it out bravely; knowing that it is the best way to deal with such people as I now had in hand. "Well, then, Captain, I have told the men that you will not take the oath." "Take the oath!" replied I, with scorn; "no; I administer the oath to others. I make them take it. I make them swear fidelity to me. Such has been my conduct, and I shall not depart from it." "Well, but, Captain Toplift, you don't mean to say that he is to remain on board with us and not take the oath," said a surly-looking ruffian. "In spite of you, he shall take the oath, Captain Toplift."