over here, and I think I know 'em pretty well. I've watched 'em
close, and it's my private opinion that before many days you'll see
your club-house sailing back here, with Queen Elizabeth at the
hellum, and the other ladies on the for'ard deck knittin' and
crochetin', and tearin' each other to pieces in a conversational way,
as happy as if there never had been any Captain Kidd and his pirate
crew."

"That suggestion is impossible," said Blackstone, rising. "Whether
the relief expedition amounts to anything or not, it's good to be set
going. The ladies would never forgive us if we sat here inactive,
even if they were capable of rescuing themselves. It is an accepted
principle of law that this climate hath no fury like a woman left to
herself, and we've got enough professional furies hereabouts without
our aiding in augmenting the ranks. We must have a boat."

"It'll cost you a thousand dollars a week," said Charon.

"I'll subscribe fifty," cried Hamlet.

"I'll consult my secretary," said Solomon, "and find out how many of
my wives have been abducted, and I'll pay ten dollars apiece for
their recovery."

"That's liberal," said Hawkshaw. "There are sixty-three of 'em on
board, together with eighty of his fiancees. What's the quotation on
fiancees, King Solomon?"

"Nothing," said Solomon. "They're not mine yet, and it's their
father's business to get 'em back. Not mine."