We sat silent, almost solemn for a moment, so sincere was my speech

and so startling to them. But thanks to L'Olonnois and his saving

book, illusion came to us once more in time.

"Will ye be good brother and true pirate?" demanded L'Olonnois. "And

will ye take the oath of blood?"

"That I will!" said I.

"Brothers and good shipmates all"--broke in Jean Lafitte in a deep

voice--"what say ye? Shall we put him to the oath?"

"Aye, aye, Sir!" responded the deep chorus of scores of full-chested

voices. Or, at least, so it seemed to us, though, mayhap, 'twas no

more than Jimmy who spoke.

"Swear him, then!" commanded Jean Lafitte. "Swear him by the oath of

blood."

"We--we haven't any blood!" whispered L'Olonnois, aside, somewhat

troubled.

"That have we, mates," said I, "and the ceremony shall have full

solemnity."

I took up my keen hunting knife and deliberately and slowly opened the

side of my thumb, more to the pain of Jimmy, I fancy, than to myself,

as I could see by the twitch of his features.

"By this blood I swear!" said I: "and on the point of my blade I swear

to be a true pirate; to fight the fight of all; to divulge no plans of

the company; and to share with my brothers share and share alike of

all booty we may take."

"'Tis well!" said L'Olonnois, much impressed and delighted, as also

was his mate, very evidently.

"And now, my brothers," said I, "you, also, must swear to divulge no

secret of mine that you may learn, to tell nothing of my plans, or my

name, or the name of the port where I signed on the rolls."

"We don't know your name," said Jimmy, "but neither of us will give

you away."

Jean Lafitte was all for opening up his own thumb for blood, but I

stopped him. "This will do," said I, and stained his fingers and those

of L'Olonnois--who grew pale at sight of it to his evident disgust.

So, thus, I became a pirate, and we three were brother rovers of the

deep. I fancied my associates would be loyal. I was thinking of a

certain cousin of the younger pirate. Not for worlds would I seek to

pursue her now; but there had arisen in my soul, already, a sort of

strange wonder whether some intent of fate had sent this youngster

here to remind me once more of her, whom I would forget.

"Now," said I at last, "let us seek what fare the castle offers for

the night." I could see they were tired and sleepy, and so found for

them bath and clean pajamas--somewhat too large to be sure--and good

beds in the wing of my log house. And never, as I be a true pirate,

never have I seen so many and so various single-fire and revolving

short arms, in my life, as these two buccaneers disclosed when they

unbelted and laid aside their jackets! Even thus equipped, I found

them looking enviously at my walls, where hung weapons of many lands.

I sent them to bed happier by telling them that, in the morning, they

should select such as they chose for the equipment of our vessel.

"Gee!" said Jean Lafitte again. "Gee! Gee!" He was so happy that I,

too, was happy. It was L'Olonnois who changed that.




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