Have you come to surrender?" The splendid
impudence of the thing stunned Lafarge, but he said: "I suppose one or
the other ought to surrender; and naturally," he added with slow point,
"it should be the weaker."
"Very well. Our captain is willing to consider conditions. You came
down on us to take us--a quiet craft sailing in free waters. You attack
us without cause. We summon all hands, and you run. We follow, you
ask for truce. It is granted. We are not hard--no. We only want our
rights. Admit them; we'll make surrender easy, and the matter is over."
Lafarge gasped. She was forcing his hand. She would not understand his
oblique suggestions. He saw only one way now, and that was to meet her,
boast for boast.
"I haven't come to surrender," he said, "but to demand."
"M'sieu'," Joan said grandly, "there's nothing more to say. Carry word
to your captain that we'll overhaul him by sundown, and sink him before
supper."
Lafarge burst out laughing.
"Well, by the Lord, but you're a swashbuckler, Joan--"
"M'sieu'--"
"Oh, nonsense! I tell you, nonsense! Let's have over with this, my
girl. You're the cleverest woman on the continent, but there's a limit
to everything. Here, tell me now, and if you answer me straight I'll say
no more."
"M'sieu', I am here to consider conditions, not to--" "Oh, for God's
sake, Joan! Tell me now, have you got anything contraband on board?
There'll be a nasty mess about the thing, for me and all of us, and why
can't we compromise? I tell you honestly we'd have come on, if I hadn't
seen you aboard.
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