"Aye, I know that's your lying tale." The Colonel sneered; and
then, observing Blood to continue his work unmoved, he grew really
angry. "Will you cease that, and attend to me when I am speaking?"

Peter Blood paused, but only for an instant. "The man is in pain,"
he said shortly, and resumed his work.

"In pain, is he? I hope he is, the damned piratical dog. But will
you heed me, you insubordinate knave?"

The Colonel delivered himself in a roar, infuriated by what he
conceived to be defiance, and defiance expressing itself in the
most unruffled disregard of himself. His long bamboo cane was
raised to strike. Peter Blood's blue eyes caught the flash of it,
and he spoke quickly to arrest the blow.

"Not insubordinate, sir, whatever I may be. I am acting upon the
express orders of Governor Steed."

The Colonel checked, his great face empurpling. His mouth fell open.

"Governor Steed!" he echoed. Then he lowered his cane, swung round,
and without another word to Blood rolled away towards the other end
of the shed where the Governor was standing at the moment.

Peter Blood chuckled. But his triumph was dictated less by
humanitarian considerations than by the reflection that he had
baulked his brutal owner.