They came and the matter was laid before them by M.
de Cussy himself. Hagthorpe announced at once
that the proposal was opportune. The men were
grumbling at their protracted inaction, and would no
doubt be ready to accept the service which M. de Cussy
offered on behalf of France. Hagthorpe looked
at Blood as he spoke. Blood nodded gloomy agreement.
Emboldened by this, they went on to discuss the terms.
Yberville, the young French filibuster, had the honour
to point out to M. de Cussy that the share offered
was too small. For one fifth of the prizes,
the officers would answer for their men; not for less.
M. de Cussy was distressed. He had his instructions.
It was taking a deal upon himself to exceed them.
The buccaneers were firm. Unless M. de Cussy
could make it one fifth there was no more to be said.
M. de Cussy finally consenting to exceed his instructions,
the articles were drawn up and signed that very day.
The buccaneers were to be at Petit Goave by the end
of January, when M. de Rivarol had announced that
he might be expected.
After that followed days of activity in Tortuga, refitting
the ships, boucanning meat, laying in stores.
In these matters which once would have engaged all
Captain Blood’s attention, he now took no part.
He continued listless and aloof. If he had given
his consent to the undertaking, or, rather, allowed
himself to be swept into it by the wishes of his officers
— it was only because the service offered was
of a regular and honourable kind, nowise connected
with piracy, with which he swore in his heart that
he had done for ever. But his consent remained
passive. The service entered awoke no zeal in
him. He was perfectly indifferent — as
he told Hagthorpe, who ventured once to offer a remonstrance
— whether they went to Petit Goave or to Hades,
and whether they entered the service of Louis XIV
or of Satan.
CHAPTER XXVI
M. de Rivarol
Captain Blood was still in that disgruntled mood when
he sailed from Tortuga, and still in that mood when
he came to his moorings in the bay of Petit Goave.
In that same mood he greeted M. le Baron de Rivarol
when this nobleman with his fleet of five men-of-war
at last dropped anchor alongside the buccaneer ships,
in the middle of February. The Frenchman had
been six weeks on the voyage, he announced, delayed
by unfavourable weather.
Summoned to wait on him, Captain Blood repaired to
the Castle of Petit Goave, where the interview was
to take place. The Baron, a tall, hawk-faced
man of forty, very cold and distant of manner, measured
Captain Blood with an eye of obvious disapproval.
Of Hagthorpe, Yberville, and Wolverstone who stood
ranged behind their captain, he took no heed whatever.
M. de Cussy offered Captain Blood a chair.
“A moment, M. de Cussy. I do not think
M. le Baron has observed that I am not alone.
Let me present to you, sir, my companions: Captain
Hagthorpe of the Elizabeth, Captain Wolverstone of
the Atropos, and Captain Yberville of the Lachesis.”
