  At length, when we were left alone, Sin twisted with a hollow groan, And bade the Master save His comrades by some bold device, From the impending grave. Said Blood: “I never take advice, But every man has got his price; We must maintain the open door, Yes, even at the cost of war!” He shifted his position, And drafted in a little while A note in diplomatic style Containing a condition. Illustration: The African king seated with his foot on a skull, writing, and another African in attendance, armed. “If them that wishes to be told As how there is a bag of gold, And where a party hid it; Mayhap as other parties knows A thing or two, and there be those As seen the man wot hid it.” The Monarch read it through, and wrote A little sentence most emphatical: “I think the language of the note Is strictly speaking not grammatical.” On seeing our acute distress, The King—I really must confess— Behaved uncommon handsome; He said he would release the three If only Captain Blood and he Could settle on a ransom. And it would clear the situation To hear his private valuation. “My value,” William Blood began, “Is ludicrously small. I think I am the vilest man That treads this earthly ball; My head is weak, my heart is cold, I’m ugly, vicious, vulgar, old, Unhealthy, short and fat. Illustration: Blood and African King standing talking. I cannot speak, I cannot work, I have the temper of a Turk, And cowardly at that. Retaining, with your kind permission, The usual five per cent. commission, I think that I could do the job For seventeen or sixteen bob.” The King was irritated, frowned, And cut him short with, “Goodness Gracious! Your economics are fallacious! I quite believe you are a wretch, But things are worth what they will fetch. I’ll put your price at something round, Say, six-and-thirty thousand pound?” But just as Blood began with zest, To bargain, argue, and protest, Commander Sin and I Broke in: “Your Majesty was told About a certain bag of gold; If you will let us try, We’ll find the treasure, for we know The place to half a yard or so.” Poor William! The suspense and pain Had touched the fibre of his brain; So far from showing gratitude, He cried in his delirium: “Oh! For Heaven’s sake don’t let them go.” Only a lunatic would take So singular an attitude, When loyal comrades for his sake Had put their very lives at stake. The King was perfectly content To let us find it;—and we went. But as we left we heard him say, “If there is half an hour’s delay The Captain will have passed away.” |
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