"I wanted to point out to you that your home is still there,
with your wife and children ready to welcome you."

"I am not a man that ever forgets it," said Tob grimly; "and
because I've got them always at the back of my mind, I've sailed
this ship over the top of more than one pirate, when, if I'd been
a single man, I might have been e'en content to take the hap of
slavery."

"Oh, I know you're a desperate enough fellow," said Dason,
"and I'm free to confess that if it does come to blows we are like
to lose a few men before we get you and your cripples here, and
your crazy ships comfortably sunk. Our navy has its orders to
carry out, and the cause of my embassage is this: we wish to see if
you will act the sensible part and give us what we want, and so be
permitted to go on your way home, with a skin that is unslit and
dry?"

"You have come to the wrong bird here for a plucking," said
Tob with a heavy laugh. "We took no treasure or merchandise on
board in Yucatan. We stayed in harbour long enough to cure our sea
victual and fill with food and water, and no longer. We sail back
as we sailed out, barren ships. You will not believe me, of
course; I would not have believed you had our places been changed;
but you may go into the holds and search if you choose. You will
find there nothing but a few poor sailormen half in pieces with the
scurvy. No, you can steal nothing here but blows, Dason, and we
will give you those with but little asking."