"That piracy on the sea is not profitable in these days of the check
banking system," said Kidd. "If you can get a chance at real gold it's all
right, but it's of no earthly use to steal checks that people can stop
payment on. Therefore it was my plan to visit the cities and do a little
freebooting there, where solid material wealth is to be found."

"Well? Can't we do it now?" asked Abeuchapeta.

"Not with these women tagging after us," returned Kidd. "If we went to
London and lifted the whole Bank of England, these women would have it
spent on Regent Street inside of twenty-four hours."

"Then leave them on board," said Abeuchapeta.

"And have them steal the ship!" retorted Kidd. "No. There are but two
things to do. Take 'em back, or land them in Paris. Tell them to spend a
week on shore while we are provisioning. Tell 'em to shop to their hearts'
content, and while they are doing it we can sneak off and leave them
stranded."

"Splendid!" cried Morgan.

"But will they consent?" asked Abeuchapeta.

"Consent! To shop? In Paris? For a week?" cried Morgan.

"Ha, ha!" laughed Hawkins. "Will they consent! Will a duck swim?"

And so it was decided, which was the first incident in the career of the