“‘Father, I think it’s about time to board her.’

“‘Are the scuppers running with blood yet?’

“Pedro the Second went and inspected the scuppers.

“‘No,’ he said, ‘not yet.’

“‘Continue firing till they are,’ ordered the Captain.

“After about ten minutes more, the mate reported the scuppers running with blood in the regular manner.  Then, and not till then, did old Pedro give orders to board.  That was why he was the prince of pirates,—­it was his attention to details, to the little things that make up the difference between a real pirate and a mere sea-thief.  You can see what an inheritance the third Pedro had,—­how he was brought up to reverence the best traditions of his calling.

“They laid the ‘Angel’ alongside the Spanish galleon, and grappled the two vessels together.  Old Pedro led the boarding party, and when they got to the poop-deck of the galleon they found the Spanish captain, the first mate, and the cabin-boy waiting for them with cutlasses.  The three Pedros, father, son, and grandson, engaged them according to rank, and finished them off at the same moment.  The rest of the Spanish crew had been subdued in the meantime, and it only remained to make them walk the plank, then transfer the treasure to ‘The Angel of Death,’ and sail away, leaving ‘El Espiritu Santo’ on fire, so she would blow up when the fire reached her powder magazine.

“When the officers were killed, and the crew and passengers of the galleon were lined up on deck, awaiting their fate, old Pedro strode down from the poop-deck, wiping his cutlass.

“‘Now,’ he said, knowing that all eyes were on him, ’we’ll feed ‘em to the sharks!’

“And he roared:  ‘Fetch out The Plank!’

“There was a pause.  No one moved.

“‘Blood and Bones!’ roared old Pedro, ’don’t you hear me?  Fetch out The Plank!’

“At this the bo’s’n, Aaron Halyard, stepped forward.

“‘Oh there you are, are you, Halyard?’ bellowed the pirate chief, ’well, why don’t you fetch out The Plank?  It’s your duty,—­you’re in charge of it.’

“The bo’s’n pulled at his forelock, and bowed to his commander.

“‘Beggin’ yer pardin, Cap’n,’ said he, ’kin I have a word with yer private-like?  Lemme whisper in yer ear, if I may make so bold—­’

“‘No whispering,’ returned his chief, ’no whispering here.  What’s the matter with you anyway?  And why don’t you fetch out The Plank?’”

‘"Well, Cap’n,’ said the bo’s’n, rubbing his hands together, nervously, ’you know me.  I’ve been with you ever since you begun.  I was with you in the days of the old ‘Panther,’ an’—­’ “’Cut it short!’ shouted Pedro.

“‘Well, Cap’n,’ the bo’s’n repeated, with his knees knocking together, ’I never was so mortified in all my life—­specially in front of all the gentry here,’ pointing his thumb toward the Spanish prisoners, ’but the fact is, Cap’n, I’ve clean forgot where I put The Plank!’