"By all means, captain. Our capture of the _Narcissus_ is merely a
deplorable national necessity. We would not lose her for you for
anything."

"How about a British cruiser picking her up before we make connections
with your fleet?"

Herr von Staden shrugged. "That," he replied, "would be the fortune of
war."

"It would look like the picture of misfortune to me. And how about
the freight on this cargo you've stolen? Don't my owners get something
out of this deal to help pay expenses? You're going to play as fair as
you can with me, aren't you, Dutchy?"

"By all means. However, you are evidently in doubt as to the real
situation. Your charterers are responsible to your owners for the
freight money. If they do not pay it Mr. Cappy Ricks can sue them. As
for the cargo, we have not stolen it, since one cannot steal that
which one owns. We paid cash for this cargo before you cleared from
Norfolk, for our go-between would take no risks whatsoever."

"I see. Well, I suppose I'll have to grin and bear it. By the way,
don't forget to take back your blood money. It's in my trousers
pocket."

Von Staden was genuinely distressed. "Are you quite certain you want
me to do that?" he queried. "Five thousand dollars is quite a sum for
a poor sea captain to toss aside so contemptuously. Why not accept it
as compensation for that broken rib, and that bullet I put through