“Desperation, my dear Iberville, breeds miracles, as you should know.” Crawford spoke lightly, swiftly, for desperation was indeed driving him. “It is true that I have just come from Pentagoet, where I had the pleasure of looting the establishment of Baron de Saint-Castin. Bienville was a trifle hasty in jumping at conclusions, for the message that I bring you is from--myself. I am, by force of necessity, compelled to act the part of a pirate. Those men of mine, and others awaiting me on the coast, are destitute. Now, in this harbour below us there is an excellent ship, heavily laden with all things; and I’m going to have that ship. I think it is in your mind to tomahawk me, rescue your brother from a situation which might prove embarrassing to him, and summon your Canadians. But, I beg of you, postpone this action until you hear me out. To tell the truth, I’ve had a devil of a wrestling match with your Abnaki chief, and I’m still a trifle short of breath.” Iberville burst into a laugh, compounded of anger and amusement. “My faith, _monsieur_! I believe that you’re a madman.” “I might agree with you,” said Crawford whimsically, “and that would prove me sane! As it happens, Iberville, I have no quarrel with you or with Frenchmen. Indeed, several of my men yonder are from French Hispaniola. Nor have I any intention of pirating French commerce. The plain facts of the case are that you got ahead of me by a few hours, in capturing yonder bark, and now I must insist that you hand her over to me.” “I am not in the habit of yielding up what I have seized,” said Iberville coldly. “Precisely. Therefore, I would point out to you that the situation offers a most interesting opportunity of giving a _quid pro quo_. First consider, my dear Iberville, that habits are things which none of us like to break, but which all of us must sometime break unless they are to master us.” Iberville chuckled at that, and Crawford continued swiftly. “Then consider, I pray you: Item, I am not in the habit of murdering prisoners, or of shooting down boys. Item, those buccaneers who obey me are in the habit of doing both things. You perceive the obvious exchange? If you break your habit of keeping what you have seized, those pirates of mine will then break their habit of murdering; that is to say, if you turn over the bark to me, the Abnaki chief and Bienville go free. But if you refuse to break this habit of yours, then I am unhappily compelled to break my own habit--in effect, to kill the Abnaki and also your brother. The chief’s blood would not trouble my conscience in the least, while I know that you would go to great lengths to avoid his death, as a matter of policy toward your Indian allies; yet I confess that I would kill Bienville with the greatest of reluctance.”