"Fighting in so good a cause is one thing," he said slowly, "but hanging in cold blood is another." "Exactly," said Blair. "And that is the point of my dilemma." "Do you know what will happen if you let 'em go?" said Cathie brusquely. "I'm afraid I do, captain. And yet--even then---- You mean, of course, that they'll come back in larger force, and with a double incentive--plunder plus revenge." "That's it to a T, sir, and you know it. There'll be no peace and security till they're wiped out. Wipe 'em out at once and completely, and you're all right till a new lot comes along, knowing nothing of these others, except that they never came back. And when the new lot comes we'll tackle them same way. I'm not by nature a bloodthirsty man, but if there's one thing can set me afire, it's this kind of work. I've seen so much of it. They're not men. They're scum of hell--asking your pardon, ladies!" "Speak your mind, captain," said Aunt Jannet Harvey. "No good being mealy-mouthed when it's a question of life and death. I think they should be scuttled." "I've no doubt we all agree as to what we would like to have done, but whether, in our position, we are justified in pronouncing and executing judgment to the extent of death--it is a difficult matter to decide." "If you let one single man of them go, Mr. Blair, you're only breeding future trouble." "I know it, captain. And yet--at times--I have seen the attempt to clear the future of trouble lead only to greater. Is there no alternative?" "There's alternatives," said Cathie gloomily; "but they're only makeshifts--playing with nettles to get stung: you could fling all their arms overboard, and threaten 'em with worse if they come back. And they'll come. You could scuttle the ship and maroon 'em somewhere. You could bring 'em all back here and make 'em work. But there's trouble in it whatever you do, unless you hang 'em out of hand." "I'm afraid there is, and I would dearly like to rid the earth of them; but----" And Evans and Stuart felt as he did. They lacked nothing in courage, but to their minds this matter of essential right went deeper than any mere question of courage or future trouble. Jean, and Alison Evans, and Mary Stuart listened with grave, troubled faces, but ventured no opinion. These were deeper waters than any they had ever sailed on, and they felt rather out of their depths. "Well, we have some little time to think it over," said Blair, at last. "If any illumination comes to any of us, let the rest have the benefit of it. You will get all ready for what we may need to do, captain?" "All's ready, sir. Long Tom's loaded, and the men are keen to square things with these rascals if we can come up with them." "I suppose even these terrible men may have wives and children waiting for them at home," said Jean thoughtfully, as they rose. "Like enough, ma'am," said Cathie--"and so have the brown men."