Within the house, while the negotiations were in progress, there had been the trembling fear of the women, and the grave concern of the men. Marbury had told no one what he proposed to do, but, as the one controlling consideration was for the women, none cared so long as they were saved.  
"This pirate appears to be a well-mannered rogue," Constable remarked, peering through the hole in his shutter, "with all the airs of a gentleman, even to taking snuff in the most approved fashion. I cannot, however, say as much for his two followers—they are the scum of the docks."
 
"You put it mildly," said Parkington; "I should have said the scum of hell, even at long distance."
 
"I accept your modification, and may we never see them any closer."
 
"Amen, with all my heart!"
 
There was silence for a while, then Constable spoke again.
 
"They seem to be having a most amiable conversation," he observed. "Marbury will be bringing him in to breakfast, presently!... Look at the pirate, Parkington, he acts like a gentleman, he dresses like a gentleman, damn it! He must have been a gentleman, once!"
 
[Pg 142]
 
No answer from Sir Edward.
 
"Such a bowing, back and forth.—Lord! you would think they were dancing the minuet!"
 
No answer.
 
"And such a sword! It sticks out a foot farther behind his coat than is the fashion."
 
No answer.
 
"I say, Parkington, are you deaf or asleep?"
 
"I beg your pardon—what did you say—am I deaf or asleep? Neither, I trust."
 
"I have made three separate remarks to you, hence my inquiry."
 
"Repeat," said Parkington, over his shoulder, his eyes on the scene outside; "I am all attention."
 
"The last was as to the extraordinary length of the pirate's sword."
 
"Yes—I think this must be he," replied Parkington.
 
"What?" said Constable. "Must be he—what the devil do you mean?"
 
"I heard tales, in London, recently, of a famous buccaneer of these seas named Long-Sword," explained Parkington. "I think——"
 
"Great God! it is he, or I'm a sailor!" exclaimed Constable. "Do not let the women know."
 
Sir Edward smiled. "No! no!—As to that, however, a pirate is a pirate, the world over—there is little to choose between them."
 
"But Long-Sword has nothing in his favor—he is the cruelest, most rapacious pirate afloat."
 
[Pg 143]
 
"Or ashore," Parkington amended. "Ah! the council has ended—the pirate waits. Marbury has been successful."
 
When Marbury entered, the women crowded around him, but the men remained at their post, taking no chances.
 
"There will be no fight.—Silence! would you spoil everything?" he demanded. "They must not know there are women here." Instantly the glad cries were hushed. "My womenfolk are in Annapolis," he went on. "The pirate chief has consented to retire. Judith, will you gather together all our silver—not the Hedgely silver, just our own—and tie it up in a sheet, or two sheets, if necessary."
 
"Surely, Mr. Marbury, this is not the entire ransom?" said Mrs. Plater.
 
"A little matter of a few gold pieces—no, not a pistole from my guests, madame—I have the necessary cash."
 
"We will reimburse you——"
 
He shook his head.
 
"Why should you pay for us?" she demanded, as Marbury detached himself from the group and made for the stairs.
 
"Because it is my pleasure," he said, and hurried away to his room.
 
When he returned, with two bags in which were the twelve hundred sovereigns, the silver was in a pile on the floor of the dining-room. Platters and[Pg 144] candelabra, spoons and trays had been thrown into an indiscriminate heap, and bound up in a great table-cloth.
 
"Sam—here!" he said to a negro servant, and pointed to the silver. "Carry it behind me."
 
Sam's teeth were chattering, and his face took on the peculiar shade which goes with the negro's fear, but discipline prevailed, and he took up the bundle and followed his master, though quaking in every muscle.
 
Long-Sword was pacing slowly back and forth, his hands behind his back, his head upon his breast. As Marbury approached, he looked up and smiled pleasantly.
 
"It is a queer trade, monsieur, this of a pirate," he said. "Always over a volcano—never knowing peace and quiet—every man's hand against you, and yours against every man. You may not believe me, but I like it not."
 
IT IS A QUEER TRADE, MONSIEUR, THIS OF A PIRATE
"IT IS A QUEER TRADE, MONSIEUR, THIS OF A PIRATE," HE SAID.
 
"Then why do you follow it?" asked Marbury, handing over the gold, and motioning for the slave to put down the silver.
 
"Force of circumstances, drove me to it," counting the sovereigns.
 
"Which is the same thing as natural inclination," Marbury replied.
 
"You mean, that circumstances force one only where one wants to go?"
 
"Exactly!"
 
"And therefore that I am a pirate from choice?"
 
[Pg 145]
 
"Certainly!"
 
"Are you paying me this gold from choice, or from force of circumstances?"
 
"I, most assuredly, am not paying from choice."
 
"Neither am I a pirate from choice, monsieur. But, being one, I believe in being a good one."
 
"Which means, that you are a particularly bad one."
 
Long-Sword laughed. "You have no evidence of it, monsieur. Surely, I was not rapacious in my terms to you!—There are four sovereigns too many——"
 
"I know," said Marbury. "I gave you all the gold I had."
 
The pirate gravely returned them.
 
"It was to be twelve hundred, no more. This is the silver?" pointing to the bundle in white. "Very good—my men shall be immediately withdrawn. Monsieur, I have the honor to salute you, and to bid you farewell," and he bared his head and bowed low.
 
Then he put his fingers to his lips and whistled shrilly. Instantly, those of his crew in the rear of the house, marched down and joined the main body. A motion brought his two lieutenants forward—he gave one the gold, the other the silver, and they started toward their ship. He, himself, paused a moment to pluck a rose and admire it, before fastening it in his coat; then he turned, and,[Pg 146] again gravely saluting Marbury, who had retired to the doorway, followed after his men.
 
"May the devil take you!" Marbury muttered.
 
"And may he take him soon!" said Constable from his window. "Shall we call off the defenders?"
 
"Yes—I think so; but, to make sure, I will slip down and see them sail away. Keep a sharp lookout until I return. In the meantime, let all the horses be saddled and brought around—the women can escape, then, if necessary."
 
"Let me go with you," said Parkington.
 
They had gone but a short distance, when there came, from the direction of the river, a faint yell, followed by another and another, and yet another.
 
"Now, what is the matter?" said Parkington pausing. "Are they coming back?"
 
"God knows!" exclaimed Marbury, pausing also.
 
"And as He will not tell," remarked Parkington, after a wait, during which no further sounds came, "we shall have to find out for ourselves."
 
Under cover of the trees and bushes, which lined the driveway, they gained, at length, sight of the landing. Then, the reason for the cries was evident:—the pirates had lost their ship.
 
It was anchored farther down stream than they had left it, and beside it lay another vessel, which Marbury recognized as one of his own ships, The Whip, overdue from London. Not a man was visible on either, and, except for the [Pg 147]Royal George idly flapping in the morning breeze, there appeared to be absolute quiet aboard—save only that the two rogues, who had been left in charge, were swinging by their necks from the yard-arm.
 
The pirates were gathered in animated discussion—their first rage had quieted into sullenness. Their four boats still lay at the landing—quite sufficient to get them back to the ship in detachments, but scarcely enough for an attacking party. Long-Sword was standing apart from the others, trying to make out what force was against them. Manifestly, if he wanted to regain his ship, the thing was to go and take it—and, at length, he gave the order to attack. How admirable his discipline, was shown by their waiting for the word.
 
One by one, he designated the men who should go, calling them by name, until the boats could hold no more. Then he stepped aboard the nearest, and took the tiller.
 
"Give way!" he ordered—"and keep well apart."
 
It was the signal to the ships, also. Instantly, they came to life—and the two Long-Toms of the pirate, and the one on The Whip, were trained on the boats. The buccaneers set up a shout, and bent to their oars. The more uncertain the target, the more chance there was for a miss. A quarter the distance was covered ... half the distance....
 
[Pg 148]
 
"Please God, they do not fail!" said Marbury, breathlessly.
 
"Why don't they shoot!" cried Parkington. "Why don't——"
 
Crash! the one Long-Tom spoke.
 
"Hit!" shouted Marbury. "Hit!"
 
Crash! went the other Long-Tom.
 
"Two!" cried Parkington, as the boat disappeared in a cloud of water.
 
Crash, went The Whip's gun.
 
"Three!" cried both together.
 
The river was filled with the debris—with dead and dying pirates. Of the three boat loads, not half a dozen were sufficiently uninjured to be dangerous—and they were in deep water, with all they could do to care for themselves.
 
One boat remained—Long-Sword's boat. The ships could not reload the guns in time to reach it—they must sink it when it swung alongside, or meet the crew as they came up the ropes.
 
It was close distance, now. Long-Sword, transferring the tiller to his left hand, drew his pistol and fired quickly. A sailor threw up his arms and fell. He seized a fresh pistol, from the man nearest, and fired a second time, knocking the cutlass from another's hand. Again, he cut the bulwark at another's head. Then the rail hid them. The next moment, they shot in alongside.
 
Before they could seize the ropes, however, a man reared himself upright, just above them,[Pg 149] bearing in his arms a huge water cask, and flung it down into the boat.—And the boat disappeared, as if by magic, leaving its cargo of wounded and uninjured struggling in the water.
 
"Bravo! Jamison! bravo!" exclaimed Marbury. "You get a quarter's salary for that throw. Marry, how they struggle!"
 
"Look at Long-Sword!" said Parkington. "See, he is up the rope, hand over hand!... he makes the rail!... he is aboard!... his rapier is out!... he spits one!... he spits another!... My God! did you see it! struck from behind!—he is down! he is down!"
 
The fall of their leader ended the fight. The Coward and One-Eye had gone down with the boats—the former with his neck broken, the latter with his legs shot away. There was none to lead the few that had remained on shore, or who managed to save themselves from the river. Their one thought, now, was flight.—But where to flee!
 
Boom!
 
A ball from one of the vessels scattered the water at their very feet. They cut and ran for cover, leaving the wounded to follow, as best they might.
 
And Marbury and Parkington, brought to a sudden realization of their own danger, turned and made for the house, at full speed.
 
"Where are the women?" was Marbury's first question, as they dashed in.
 
[Pg 150]
 
"Gone!—they are safe at Maynadier's, by this time," said Constable.
 
"Good!—we may have to fight for it."
 
"What has happened?" asked Herford.
 
"En............