"If Monsieur will excuse me, it is scarcely so trivial as it
looks. Captain Barker is within ten paces of the powder-magazine.
Moreover, between him and the powder-magazine there is a door."
M. de la Pailletine jumped in his shoes. He rushed aft to the
companion leading to the captain's cabin and called on him to
surrender.
"Go away!" answered a very ill-tempered voice from below.
"But, sir, consider. Your ship is in our hands--"
"Then come and take it."
"--Your gallant officers have surrendered. You have behaved like a
hero and there is not one of your enemies but honours you. Monsieur,
it is magnificent--but come out!"
"I shan't."
"Monsieur, even this noble obstinacy extorts my veneration; but
permit me to inquire: How can you help it?"
"Very simply, sir. Time is of no concern to me. I have plenty of
victuals and ammunition down here; and if any man comes to take my
sword I shall kill him."
"You cannot kill five or six hundred men."
"No; when I am bored, I shall fire the powder-magazine."
"Monsieur--"
There was no answer but the sound of a man blowing his nose violently
and the ring of a ramrod as it was thrust home. It was absurd that
one man should hold a ship against hundreds.
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