"When I asked to join you I believed you honest privateers. You are thieves
and murderers. I would sooner die than join you now."

"You are young to die so."

"Go where you can, die when you must," I answered in our Island saying.
"Better die young than live to dishonour."

He picked up my dishes and went out. But I could not see why he should have
kept me alive so long for the purpose of killing me now, and I would not
let my courage down.

One more attempt he made, three days later, without a word having passed
between us meanwhile.

"Your time is running out, mon gars," he said, as abruptly as before. "I am
loth to put you away, but it rests with yourself. You love Le Marchant's
girl, Carette. Join us, and you shall have her. You will live with us on
Herm, and in due time, when we have money enough, we will give up this life
and start anew elsewhere."

"Carette is an honest girl--"

"She need not know--all that you know."

"And your son wants her--"

When you have had no one to speak to but yourself for fourteen days, the
voice even of a man you hate is not to be despised. You may even make him